144



Correspondence.



In 1902 I was violently attacked in The Feathered World , by one of our

militant members for concluding that the berries had anything to do with

the illness and death of these birds; his conclusion was that I was substitut¬

ing propter quod for post quod. It was therefore with especial interest that

I received a letter from our member, Mr. E. J. Brook, in which he says : —

“Remembering that you told me that you had lost your Canadian Pine

Grosbeaks after giving them Mountain Ash berries, and seeing in your book

that these birds had all the appearance of being violently drunk after eat¬

ing the berries, you may be interested to hear of their effect on some Black

Game. “A brother-in-law of mine owns some property in the Duinfrieshire

hills and a few years since planted a quantity of Mountain Ash trees as wind

screens. This year there was an enormous crop of berries, and one da)', on

going to look at them, my brother-in-law noticed that a number of Black

Game that were sitting about on the grass looked queer. He approached

quite close to the birds and the wdiole lot of them, both cocks and grey liens

were “ stupidly drunk.” I quote his own words.


I11 a later letter Mr. Brook mentions that his Birds of Paradise have

been given Mountain Ash berries, about a dozen at a time, without bad

results. But he adds;—Possibly the numbers given were not sufficient;

anvway it is a matter of interest, and small points help to solve problems.


“ I have just mentioned this to my wife and she tells me that people

staving with us in Perthshire have remarked that the Rowan (Mountain

Ash) berry jelly we have made to be eaten with Venison, seems to be quite

alcoholic. There is certainly no alcohol used in making the jelly.”


It would be interesting to have a careful chemical analysis made of

these berries bv some competent man, to discover what it is which has this

stupifying and even poisonous effect upon certain birds, though apparently

not on others, while human beings are to a certain extent susceptible to its

influence. A. G. Buteer.



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS.


R U L E S .


Haeh bird must be forwarded, as soon after death as possible, carefully packed and post¬

age paid, direct to Mr Arthur Gill, Eanherne, Bexley Heath, Kent, and must be

accompanied by a letter containing- the fullest particulars of the case, and a fee

of 1/- for each bird If a reply by post is required a fee of 2/6 must be enclosed.

Domestic poultry, pigeons and Canaries can oniy be reported on by post.



Green Mexican Jay. (Mrs. Noble). This bird died of acute enteritis.

A nsteered by post :


Mary, Countess of Lovelace. Mr. G. H. Gurney.


Airs. Stanyforth. Air. A. Croft.


Arthur Giee, AI.R.C.V.S.



