D. Seth-Smith—Stray Notes



107



the Gardens, because care is required in these rapid runners to prevent

the bird getting over excited, and so avoid any risk of refracture in

future months through the original break in the bones. Had the bird

slipped and fallen in the months following the injury through trying to

run (as it did in January previous to my knowledge), it is highly probable

a refracture would have occurred ; and had such an unfortunate thing

happened it would be unlikely that the fractured ends of bone would

unite a second time. This case proves convincingly what can be done

to lengthen the life of a long-legged bird by attending to the fracture

scientifically with splints, and also careful after-treatment; and if any

future accidents occur in birds the Cariama case shows the desirability

of not hilling the bird, as was done in the case of the other, a Rhea of

South America, which broke its leg when running in an enclosure.

Both these latter were quite healthy birds. It would therefore seem

that if a long-legged bird falls with its leg doubled under it in certain

positions, comparatively little force is sufficient to snap the bone.


[The question as to whether it is advisable to attempt to set a

fractured limb by means of splints and bandages depends entirely upon

the nature and position of the fracture. In some cases a satisfactory

repair is impossible, and the bird has to be destroyed.— Eds.]



STRAY NOTES


Dr. Hopkinson is on his way home from Gambia, and will probably

have arrived by the time this is published. He is bringing home

a collection of birds, amongst which are Cordon Bleus, Firefinches

(Common and Spotted), Grey Waxbills, Combassous, Hyphantornis and

other Weavers, Yellow-backed Whydahs, Broad-tailed Babblers, etc.

He writes that he will be willing to sell some of these for the benefit

of the Avicultural Society, after paying the ship and rail charges,

which in these days are very heavy. He says he would prefer

that they should go to where there is a chance of their breeding, and

that he will not undersell the dealers.


Humming-birds. —-Amongst other rare birds brought to Europe by

Mons. Delacour were some Humming-birds, and of these he brought



