I8l 



sheen of their plumage is a pleasure to see. I would 

 strongly recommend this species as a desirable aviary 

 pet. 



[This is a most interesting occurrence, and is the first time 

 this species has nested in this country. Aviculture provides 

 many such disappointments, yet it is these which give zest to 

 this fascinating hobb}'. The only species of Cowbird (I have 

 not looked up records), that has reared young, which lived to 

 be able to fend for themselves, is the Silky Cowbird {Mololhrus 

 bonariensis). — Ed. ] 



IRotes o\\ Bviau dbolcra. 



By H. Gray, M.R.C.V.vS. 



(See P. in. report, Pennant Parrakeets, T. Wihon). 

 The disease appears to be a form of Avian Cholera 

 of which there are four types, viz. the rapidly acute, 

 killing in a few hours ; acute, where a bird lives two 

 or three days ; sub-acute, where a bird lives from one to 

 several weeks ; and chronic, in which a bird gradually 

 wastes away and is said to be " going light." No 

 doubt the above bird died in the acute phase, 

 where infection remained latent, some cause such 

 as indicated above coming into play. The disease 

 is the bane of bird - keeping, whether the birds are 

 domesticated or semi-domesticated, and it accounts for 

 the greatest mortality among poultry and cage-birds 

 in this country. It is often confounded with Bird 

 Plague, due to an organism invisible under the 

 microscope. The latter is a truly contagious disease, 

 causing a heavy death-roll, and is introduced by birds 

 which have at some period of their life survived an 

 attack of the disease in dealers' cages, etc. 



As far as Avian Cholera is concerned, the term is 

 frequently a misnomer as there is often no diarrhoea, 



