74



Correspondence.



BURROWING OWL IN A FIT.


Sir,—I should like to tell you about one of my Owls. A few days

ago the male was suddenly seized with violent convulsions ; its wings were

stiffly stretched out, its beak dug into the ground, it could not stand ; this

went on for some time, then its eyes closed, and it drew its wings together

and seemed to fall or roll down the burrow. It lay there motionless from

about three to seven o’clock. We could see it just breathing : this seemed

gradually to get fainter, and we thought the bird was dead, but decided to

leave it alone till the next morning. I heard the hen bird many times in

the night, and began to wonder what I should do with her alone, as I feared

she would pine. Next morning, to my astonishment, I saw both the Owls

flying and hopping about apparently in the best of health. The male

seemed just as usual through the day, ate his food well, and has gone on so

ever since. Is it not extraordinary ; can you account for it at all ? Do you

think they do not get enough mice ? We never see any pellets in the

aviary. Perhaps Owls have a greater tenacity to life than other birds.


Octavia Gregory.


The following reply zvas sent to Mrs. Gregory :


Your Owl has had a very serious fit. You should have instantly

seized him, held his head well up, and dashed cold water freely over his face

and head.


For such a bird, strong quick-acting medicine must be administered

with as little delay as possible. Castor oil is the best, but the greatest care

must be taken not to soil the feathers. For this reason, Epsom salts are

preferable. But there is great risk in administering medicine to a sense¬

less bird, at some of it may go down “ the wrong way ” and be the means of

causing death. With the ring part of a key you may often force open, and

keep open, the mouth of these birds, and then, with a paint brush, the

medicine may be placed inside the mouth. Sometimes this may be done

with a quill. In any case, it is more easy in theory than in practice.


You feed too well or not correctly. Give as little solid meat as

possible. Mice are the best; also rats, rabbits cut up with the fur, heads,

etc., of fowls from the poulterers—j’ou must give fur or feather.


Remove all the water except a small dish. Put Epsom salts in this :

if he will not take it then j'ou must fall back on fluid magnesia.


These fits must not be neglected ; and please remember they are

almost always brought on by improper feeding in some form or another.


I know very well that it is more easy for me to preach than for you to

practise; but it is best to point out what is wrong, so that you may know

what to aim at. Reginald Phieeipps.


[This poor bird has since died. It is not often that a bird really

recovers from the effects of so serious a fit as that described.—R. P.]



