PHEASANTS IN COVERT AND AVIARY 



distance in search of food, and one can easily conceive cases 

 of accidental poisoning occurring in this manner. There is 

 recorded in Tegetmeier's book on Pheasants, an instance of 

 lead poisoning, in which a score of Pheasants died from the 

 same symptoms, which were those analogous with lead poison- 

 ing in other animals, namely, paralysis of the legs and 

 emaciation, accompanied by drawing up of the feet, corre- 

 sponding to that of "Wrist-drop," observed in man. When 

 the birds were post-mortemed leaden pellets were discovered 

 in their gizzards which they had picked up in the coverts 

 after the latter had been shot through, a fact that it is well 

 to bear in mind when birds begin to die after heavy shooting 

 has been indulged in. 



Yew Poisoning 



The Yew [Taxzis Baccatd) is a perennial ornamental 

 shrub frequently attaining tree-like dimensions, and often 

 forming, when closely cut, dense hedges, surrounding 

 parks and gardens. The leaves are extremely small, 

 dark green on their upper surface, but lighter below. In 

 comparison to their size, they are thick, being only little 

 more than half an inch in length. The young shoots are 

 readily distinguishable from the older ones, being of a light 

 green colour. Many cases of Yew poisoning have been 

 recorded amongst horses, cattle and sheep, and some in 

 Pheasants. The deadly nature of the Yew is well known 

 to all veterinary surgeons, and the remarkable manner in 

 which horses succumb after partaking of it, whilst cattle 

 and sheep sometimes consume it with impunity, has been 

 the subject of considerable discussion. But cattle and 

 sheep do not always consume it with harmless effects, as 



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