Practical Bird-Keeping.



319



Enquiry on Grouse Disease, some 2,000 birds were dissected, and

only in three examples were gape-worms (Syngamus trachealis )

found; yet as the Committee report: “This freedom from the

common pest of the Fowl-yard and the Pheasant coop is due to

the free and unconfined life of the Grouse, together with the

comparative paucity of earthworms on the Moor.” That the

above explanation is probably quite correct my experience shows,

for in captivity I have found Grouse and their allies exception¬

ally subject to the parasite. For several years in succession, the

“gapes” first affected the birds of the Grouse family in my

collection; Grouse and Willow - Grouse, Blackgame, Caper¬

caillies, then Partridges, Pheasants, Impeyaus and Tragopans

(I place the names in order of susceptibility), and finally it

spread to other species including Bustards and the young of

two species of Crane. In the cold weather we had no difficulty

in keeping all these species in health, but with the warmth and

drought of summer, in spite of free use of quicklime, etc., the

pest regularly showed itself. Therefore I had to cease keeping

some of my greatest favourites. I hope only temporarily.


When Pine branches are required for Capercaillies and

Blackgame, or Sallow or Birch for Willow-Grouse, it is a good

plan to sink champagne bottles filled with water up to their

necks in the ground, and to stick the branches therein. If this

is done in a shady place, the foliage will keep fresh for some

days even in summer. I have found Austrian Pine preferred

to Scotch Fir, and my birds would never touch Larch foliage ;

though I believe in Scotland the contrary has been noted,


I once had four hybrid chicks hatched from eggs laid

by a tame Redgrouse mated with a Blackcock. Circumstances

necessitated their being placed with the ordinary Pheasants in

the rearing field, and I believe they were exposed to too much

sun, which, in a hot summer, is a source of danger to these

natives of cool uplands, and they only survived a few days.


I now 7 pass to the Tragopans, than which there are no

more interesting Game-birds. I have for some years kept

examples of three species : Temminck s, Cabots’ and the Satyr

Tragopan. I have bred them all repeatedly. Ihey require

shelter throughout the year, such as they can find for themselves



