50 Post Mortem Examinations.


into a country with a much cooler temperature. Hence their natural

breeding season would be reduced. Moreover the Australian Doves, which

we propose to liberate, are far less robust in constitution than the

indigenous Woodpigeons which at present have the Parks to themselves.

It seems unlikely that they would spread much farther than the London

Parks if indeed they manage to hold their own there for any time, but

even if they ever managed to spread to the surrounding country they

could never do much harm, none in fact compared with the Woodpigeon.

Moreover, being rarities, they would be immediately shot Ity the ubiquitous

collector.


Again the introduction of these Australian Doves could not affect the

records of the occurrences of rare migrants such as the introduction of

foreign Palsearctic birds would be likely to do, for no one would expect

them to have migrated to this country of their own free will. If this were

the case we could understand Mr. Nicoll's objection. As it is, it is difficult

to do so. As before stated in this Journal, the Crested and Bronzewing

Pigeons have already been liberated and become more or less established at

Woburn. — Ed.].



vSir, — I am afraid the scheme of turning out Bronzewings, etc., will

not answer very well. My own experience has only been with Barbary

Doves, but I found after a few years that (after increasing up to about thirty

in number) the birds gradually decreased till only one was left. They had

perfect liberty, and there is a park close to our garden, so they had plenty of

space and were regularly fed.


I think, if any experiment is made, it seems a pity to do so with such

expensive kinds of doves as Bronzewings and Crested Doves, it would be

wiser to try with Java Doves or Barbary. R. ANDERSON.


[We imagine that the purely wild species would be more likely to

succeed than those which have been domesticated for centuries, such as the

Barbarv Dove and its white form known as the Java Dove. — Ed.]



POST MORTEM EXAMINATIONS,



Demoiseixe Crane. (Mrs. Gregory). There was extensive disease of the

mesenteric glands, and although your bird ate ravenously lie was

unable to assimilate the food given him. He died of heart failure

through weakness.


CURLEW. (Mrs. Gregory). Your bird died of syncope. No doubt the

emaciation and weakness were caused by the want of more insect food,

and although you ultimately gave him this in quantity it was too

late, he being too weak to digest it.


Young Gouijdian Finch. (Miss Alderson). Your young bird died as a

result of cold I expect owing to getting out of the nest too soon.

I did not find hemp very good for Gouldians.


Arthur Gii,i^



