84 Correspondence , Notes, etc.



RESUSCITATING APPARENTLY DROWNED BIRDS.


Sir, —Perhaps it may interest some of your readers to know that

Birds can be resuscitated after drowning much in the same way as human

beings.


A short time ago one of my Ruffs was frightened by something, aud

fell into a deep ditch, and was only recovered after it appeal ed to all intents

and purposes quite dead, floating with its head under water. The bird was

immediately taken into the kitchen, placed in hot flannels, and its wings

moved up and down with a gentle pressure on each side of its breast,

accompanying the movements. After some time (more than ten minutes)

a slight fluttering of the eyelids was noticed, and in about a quarter of an

hour afterwards the bird began to stagger on its legs, and in a short time

was quite recovered.


Maybe other of your members may be induced to try the same

experiment under similar circumstances. Farmers might also try resusci¬

tation when cattle and sheep are taken out of dykes or ditches apparently

dead.


William Ingram.



A CRID 0 THE RES 31 A HR A TTENS 1 S.


Sir, — I have received a letter from a Mr. Hargreaves, who however

appears to be at present not one of our members, asking me to identify for

him a Mynah which has been offered to him under the dealer’s name of

a “Fuscus” Starling.


Mr. Hargreaves describes the bird fairly minutely, states that it is

about the size of a Blackbird aud has a pearl or grey iris.


In the Museum Catalogue A. mahrattensis is said to measure ten

inches (the size of a Blackbird), but A. fuscus which has the iris yellow only

seven and three-fifths inches: on the other hand Dl\ Jerdon described the

Southern form of the Brown Mynah as a trifle smaller than the type.


It would therefore seem probable that both large and small races

exist with the iris grey and these should be recognized by ornithologists.


A. G. Butler.



CANARIES REARING YOUNG CHAFFINCH.


Sir, — As Dr. Greene was unsuccessful in rearing Chaffinches by

Canaries he may perhaps be interested in the following: —


One day in June last year I happened to run down to my home in

Kent for a little fresh air, and during my rambles round the hedges, saw

what I took to be a Linnet fly from her nest.


I could not be sure of her identity as she left the hedge on the

opposite side to where I stood, but on examining the nest I was almost



