Correspondence , Notes , etc.



5i



That seini-decomposing egg is injurious lam willing to admit, but what

other form of animal matter would not be equally injurious if decomposition

had commenced.


Many give their soft bills scraped meat. This should be quite fresh.

That mealworms given injudiciously are likely to cause serious effects in

some birds is beyond dispute, although Dr. Creswell evidently doubts it.

The cliitinous covering to mealworms is very indigestible to some birds, and

will produce swelled feet, fits, and even death in some cases. I do not want

to suggest that Dr. Creswell’s theory that septic enteritis may be caused by

egg food is incorrect, but am of the same opinion. I also think that to

imagine that to refrain from the use of egg food will mean a perfect

immunity from the disease, is unreasonable and far from having been

proved.


Will Dr. Creswell give his opinion as to why enteric (septic enteritis)

is more common amongst hard billed than soft-billed birds as I have before

suggested ?


I have the pleasure of knowing a member of our Society who has a

Flame-shouldered Marsh-Troupial, fully 15 years old, in perfect health and

feather, that has been fed largely on egg food; for 14 out of the 15 years

the Bacilli have been endeavouring to destroy him. Unhappy disappointed

Bacilli !


And last but not least : Should aviculturists generally survive the

shock, it will no doubt have disastrous effects on those whose living

depends on the sale of this commodity, which is rather a serious matter.

Prove first beyond doubt, and I shall be with many others ready to

accept it as fact. Arthur Giuu, M.R.C.V.S.



Sir, —I have read the article “ On the influence of diet on the Avian

Death Rate.” My hobby was to find out the length of time that Waxbills

and the smallest finches could live in confinement, and in one of the cages

I kept between thirty and forty birds. Part of the diet given was

“ Hofmeier’s Preserved Yolk of Egg,” and as my birds throve for nearly

nine years before the cat disposed of the lot, I certainly should not cease to

give this article of diet—but perhaps Dr. Creswell is writing of fresh

eggs, and I have had no experience with this as part of the diet of the

smallest foreign finches. W. T. Catueugh.


CAGE-BRED AZTEC CONURES.


Sir, —So far as I can gather—and my opportunities for reference are

few—the heading suggests a feat which is not of every-day occurrence.

East year, a cage 3|ft. wide at front, and sloping to 15m. at the back, i8in.

high and 2ft. deep, held seven Aztec Conures (Conurus aztec). On the back

of the same, and hanging the one over the other, are two H. & P. biscuit

tins, cemeted in each of which is a half calabash shell. A pair succeeded



