i6 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



above results are partly negative, in conjunction with other 

 general observations of the disease, considerable light has 

 been thrown upon the problem, particularly from the prac- 

 tical standpoint, and some important negative deductions at 

 least are possible. 



Disease Not Local. The first is that the original theory 

 of the disease, that it spread from an organism of purely 

 local origin, is not tenable. Upon this theory was based 

 the former use of the term "Alabama quail disease," which 

 originated from the fact that the disease was first noticed 

 in a consignment of five quails shipped from Alabama. 

 The "infection" was subsequently detected in shipments of 

 quails from Oklahoma, whither it was supposed to have spread. 

 But when it was found to exist in bob-whites imported 

 from Mexico, or from various other points, and, furthermore, 

 in several other species of quails, and also that other gal- 

 linaceous species, such as the ruffed grouse and prairie 

 chicken, were subject to a trouble similar and perhaps identi- 

 cal, it was clear that the theory was disproved. The fact, 

 however, that the disease is communicable indicates, ac- 

 cording to modern scientific conclusions, that there must be 

 some sort of organism as the first cause, which seems to be 

 found everywhere. As far as is known at present, it is a 

 disease of captivity, under artificial conditions and feed- 

 ing. 



Second Causes. Extended observation convinces me — 

 and this opinion is endorsed by such practical men as Evans, 

 Rogers, and Home — that the disease is liable to break out 

 anywhere under wrong handling or feeding of wild galli- 

 naceous birds in confinement. The practical problem, then, 

 is one of prevention, of so handling and feeding these species 

 under artificial conditions that the system remains in a con- 

 dition of vigour to resist invasion. We ourselves are said 



