ores 



WOOD-PIGEON " DIPHTHEPvIA. ' 



Not the least of the aims of British Birds is the advance- 

 ment of the Study of Economic Ornithology, and the great 

 interest which was taken in our endeavour to penetrate the 

 mystery surrounding the so-called " diphtheria " in Wood- 

 Pigeons shows that our readers are in entire sympathy with 

 this most important object. 



The appeal which we made for material met with a most 

 hearty response ; and in the able hands of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst 

 this material was made to yield some most interesting and 

 valuable results. But, as may be seen from his Report, 

 published in our issue for August last, many points require 

 further elucidation ; and we feel that, having gone so far it is 

 our bounden duty to go further, till all possible facts have 

 been ascertained. We, therefore, turn again to our readers 

 for help in providing material which Dr. Ticehurst, once 

 more, has kindly promised to deal with. 



It has been contended that Wood-Pigeon diphtheria is com- 

 municable to man ; but, so far, Dr. Ticehurst's investigations 

 do not lend much support to this view. It is certainly 

 significant that it appears to be by no means so readily spread 

 among other birds — and notably game-birds — as was supposed. 

 Having regard to the importance of this aspect of the disease, 

 and to the statements which have been made thereon by 

 other workers with regard to the spread of the disease among 

 domesticated animals and man, further research is emphati- 

 cally to be desired. 



The importance of this enquiry must be perfectly obvious 

 to everyone ; and we may remark that its significance is fully 

 appreciated — as might be expected — by medical men. The 

 " Lancet," September 5th, 1908, in commenting on Dr. 

 Ticehurst's paper in our Magazine, expressed a hope that we 

 might be induced to continue what we had begun. And as 

 Dr. Ticehurst is again wdUing to place his skill at our disposal 

 we appeal to our readers for help during the coming winter in 

 fining up the schedules issued with this number. And it may 

 be remarked that we shall be as grateful for negative, as for 

 positive evidence. Further copies of the schedule will be sent 

 to any of our readers who may desire to enlist the sympathy of 

 others who, as yet, do not happen to be among our subscribers. 



The Editors. 



