208 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



of them were alive twelve months after their arrival? 

 I have made many inquiries, and have failed to hear 

 of even a single bird that survived for more than six 

 weeks, and the researches of a distinguished bacteri- 

 ologist have conclusively proved that this appalling 

 mortality is due to the presence in the blood of the 

 birds of incalculable myriads of a microbe whose 

 multiplication is encouraged, if not, indeed, initiated, 

 by crowding and insanitary surroundings. 



The infection is most persistent, too, and it stands 

 to reason that the places to which these poor moribund 

 creatures are brought on arrival must be centres of 

 contagion, and even healthy birds put there will con- 

 tract the disease and quickly die like the others. 



As there is, and can be, no doubt that the importers 

 have the remedy in their own hands and, by refusing 

 to buy birds that are brought over in an insanitary 

 manner, can stamp out the disease, it can only be 

 concluded that they do not choose to do so, for the 

 deplorable mortality goes on, and the Grey Parrot race 

 is really threatened with extinction. 



One ingenious dealer has said that the cause of 

 death is powdered glass given to the birds by 

 the negroes before embarkation, but that is simply 

 nonsense and the merest excuse. 



What is wanted is a licensing system and adequate 

 supervision by a competent staff of sanitary inspectors, 

 for the ship-fever can be stamped out, if it cannot be 



