Correspondence.



157



“ If any Member of the Council does not attend a Meeting for

two years in succession, the Council shall have power to

elect another Member in his place.”


It was suggested that the sphere of usefulness of the

Magazine might be increased if articles were published dealing

with the general management of different groups in confined

spaces, which could be republished in pamphlet form for the

benefit of future Members. Before undertaking this we should

be glad to receive the opinion of Members on the subject.


T. H. Newman,


Hon. Business Secretary.



CORRESPONDENCE, NOTES, ETC.



The following letter lias been received from the Editor of British Birds.


WOOD-PIGEON DIPHTHERIA.


Sir, —Much public interest has been shown lately in the disease of

which Wood-pigeons have been dying so freely this winter.


. The subject is of considerable scientific interest; moreover it is quite

possible, although it has not yet been absolutely proved, that this disease,

which is most infectious amongst Wood-pigeons themselves, may also be

contracted by other birds and especially game-birds.


It is of great importance therefore to find a means of stamping out

the diphtheria. Before however any effective means can be taken to

eradicate the disease it is necessary to discover its origin.


To the January issue of the monthly magazine British Birds, Dr.

C. B. Ticehurst, of Guys Hospital, contributed an article on the subject of

Wood-pigeon Diphtheria, and explained that it was due to a specific micro¬

organism called Bacillus diptlierise colum barum. At the same time Dr.

Ticehurst points out that the Etiology of the disease is most incomplete and

that much has to be learnt as to how it originates, and when it comes, and

as to its distribution before we can suggest a remedy'.


It is one of the aims of British Bitds to induce co-operative observa¬

tion on subjects such as the nature of the food of birds, etc., our knowledge

of which can be little advanced by observations made at different times and

under different systems. The Wood-pigeon disease forms an excellent case

for a systematic enquiry all over the country, and schedules of the questions

to be answered have been posted to all the readers of British Birds.


We have thus received much information and many specimens, but

more of both are needed, and I should be delighted to supply schedules to



