Post Morle7n Reports. 
59 
The new Bird-protection Act has spread great consternation ainongr the bird-dealers 
in Germany. One of them wrote to nie lately, " Of conrse it is a crazy law, bnt none will 
dare to break it." It is much more comprehensive than ours, extending from ist March to 
ist October, between which dates no Kuropean birds may be caught, sold, or even advertized 
for sale. It is quite clear that we shall no longer be able to obtain such birds as Sprossers, 
Hoopoes, or Hlue-throated Warblers from Germany, and this is the more to be regretted 
because the Germans are especially clever in their treatment of the insectivorous migrants. 
I have had Sprossers sent me from Germany, which, after a journey of forty-eight hours, 
were in infinitely better condition than anything I could get in r,ondon. Their method of 
packing ise.xcellent. The travelling cage has a very large base and low sides so that it cannot 
be upset. The wired portion over the food tins is uncovered and admits plenty of light. I^arge 
earthenware pots for water are provided. The soft food consists of scalded ants' eggs and 
niaw-seed with dead mealworms well mixed up in it. The I^ondon dealer usually sends out 
birds in a small cage, which is easily upset, wraps it in paper so that the inmates are in 
total darkness and throws in a handful of live mealworms wliich promptly make good 
their escape W. E. T. 
\ relative has recently sent me from the .Argentine four Great Tinamous {Rhyncoius 
>!(/i?ii:('«j), which arrived in excellent condition in a large crate. Two of them had lost a 
good many feathers from their backs when passing through the Tropics. This species is as 
large as a three-parts-grown Pheasant, rufous on the neck and breast and handsomely 
barred with black and buff on the wings. I hear they are locally called " Martinetas," but 
the real Martinela Tinamou has a crest. I,ike the rest of the Tinamous this species is 
polyandrous, the male performing the entire duties of incubation and rearing the young. 
Kggs of this species have teen several times hatched in this country and attempts have 
been made to acclimatise it in Kssex and Hertfordshire. W. H. T. 
post flDorrcin IKeporti?. 
( Vide Rules). 
For replies by post, a fee of 2/6 viust be sent ; this regulation will not be broken under 
any condition. 
H. W. Matliias and W. R. Temple aiiswerdl by post. 
Bl<UK-wiNGKD LovKBiRD. (H. \V. Matliias). Cause of deatli, fatty de- 
generation of the liver. 
Whydah. (H. V. Johnson). Cause of death, pneumonia and fatty de- 
generation of liver. 
Bui.Bur<, Redpoll and Grcsbrak. (W. E. Tescheniaker). Cause of death, 
in every instance was pneumonia and fatty degeneration of liver. 
\Vhitk-p:akp;d Conurp:. (^Nlrs. B. Croysdale). Cause of death inflammation 
of bowels and fatt}- degeneration of liver. The sex was a hen. 
Black-headed Goui^dian Finch (cock). (Dr. J. Easton Scott). Cause of 
death pneumonia and jaundice. 
Red-headed Goui.dian Finch (hen). (Miss Drunimoiid). Cause of death, 
pneumonia and jaundice. A fairly matured egg was iu the oviduct. 
Cock Madagascar Weaver. (H.V.Johnson). Cause of death, extensive 
double pneumonia, 
