3* 6



Post Mortem Examinations.



immediate cause of death. I should certainly advise keeping the

other birds on diet less nutritious for a while]. B Seemed ill on

Sunday. I caught it up, but it died in another aviary the same day.

[Acute inflammation of the liver caused death. The post-mortem

appearances you describe were identical with the one I examined : this

condition may be caused by either too stimulating a diet, or chill].



Gouldian Finch, a; Shamah, b. (Lady Louisa Feilding). a Apparently

well on Saturday, very mopey on Sunday, found dead on Monday.

[Was much emaciated. Enteritis was cause of death. It was a cock].

b Apparently well on Tuesday evening, found dead on Wednesday

morning. Been in outdoor aviary some weeks with Budgerigars, other

small birds, and a Red-vented Bulbul. [Bird died of shock caused by

external injuries at the back of the head. The Red-vented Bulbul is,

I should say, the culprit. I have proved them to be dangerous and

very uncertain companions for smaller birds].



Virginian Nightingale, lieu (Mr. N. S. O’Reilly). In my possession

nearly two weeks: appeared well until yesterday, when it seemed

mopey; this morning I found it dead. [It was rather relaxed.

Inflammation of the bowels caused death].



Violet Tanager, lien. (Miss M. Wilde). Was flying about yesterday in

our bird-room apparently quite well. They had built a nest, and were

fed on fruit, Abrahams’ insect food, etc. [Bird was excessively fat.

Inflammation of right lobe of liver; but immediate cause of death was

apoplexj']. _


Virginian NiGhtingalk, cock. (Mr. N. S. O’Reilly). In my possession 19

days, shewed symptoms of dullness only three days ago; fed on canary,

millet, ants’ eggs, banana, orange, apple, mealworms, sunflower-seed,

and a little hemp. [Your bird died of apoplexy, and I think your

food was too stimulating for him. I know these birds are fed on a

large proportion of insect food, sunflower-seed, and hemp. I have

never lost one although I have had many, and have fed only on canary,

millet, hemp, and fruit. They of course catch a few insects out of

doors. _


Bullfinch. (The Duchess of Bedford). [Cause of death was exhaustion

from want of food. The feeder being accidentally turned round was

most unfortunate, but there was not a trace of food in the body].


Budgerigar. (Miss Appleton). Bird found dead in nest on four eggs.

[Death was due to inflammation of the bowels caused by constipation].


Arthur Gill.



