Pofif Mortcw, Reports. 
271 
head ;uid the blue on hor tail have alsi) tvifiicd black. Tin; i)hn'k 
extends in streaks over the yellow of her breast. She looks altogether 
as if she had been soiled with soot. Would you tell mc, is this 
uncommori or not? The two cocks with her have moulted out into 
the most brilliant colours and are quite normal, so it cannot be the 
food. She is in a large cage and has been over here alxnit four 
years, hitherto her plumage has been quite normal. These are the 
first Gouldians I have kept and I should be glad to know if this is 
usual. The bird seems perfectly well and cheerful. 
(Miss) Augusta Bruce. 
There is considerable variat)leness, especially about the head 
plumage of this species. Some Black-heads are splashed with red 
and some Red -heads similarly splashed with black, but such plumage 
as that recorded above is quite abnormal, it is, however, very prob- 
able this bird will revert to normal plumage at the next moult. If 
the bird lives to i)ass through anothei- moult I hojie Miss Bi'uce will 
send a record of the plumage for publication. — Eu. 
Post-Mortem Reports. 
Vide Rules. 
For replies by post, a fee of 2s. (id. iintsi lie sent ; tli/s rule ii-ill nut be tirolccn 
under any condition. 
Post-Mortein Reports ran onty (ippeoi' in nc.rt issue toll en bodies are received 
by Mr. Gray prior to the 31st of any wontlt. 
It irould f/reatfy help me to elucidate co)ita(/ioiis di.'iea.'^es in birds if lupiubcrs 
of F.B.C. vere in seiidiwj me dead birds to state the sonrce they obtainrd the 
birds from and inhen. The names o f the gellers would be kept a secret. 
Two Gouldian Finches (Rev. John M. Patterson). The cause of 
death of the bird showing colour was pneumonia ; the other bird, in imma- 
ture plumage, had enteritis. No doubt the changeable, wet, or chilly 
weather had something to do with their illness. Your housing and feeding 
seem quite correct. Pay scrupulous attention to the ground surface of the 
aviary, especially where it becomes wet. I condole with you on your loss, 
more so when success seemed within sight. Gouldian Finches are ver^- 
delicate until thuy become acclimatised to an out-door aviary in our climate. 
Blue Sugar Bird (the Hon. Mrs. Bourke). The cause of deatli was 
pneumonia. The mortality has been fearful in the newly imported Sugar 
Birds and Tanagers One should be chary in imrchnsing fieslily im]ioi-te(l 
birds during inclement weather. 
Yellow Budgerigar ? (Hay ward W. Mathias). There wns cerebral 
congestion. Most pi(>b,ii)!y the bird died in a fit. The avary was not in an 
active state of ovulation. 
Indigo Bunting s (Dr. Easton Scott). The breast bone was very 
prominent, due to wasting of the pectoral muscles and indicating the bird 
had been ailing some time. The lungs were the seat of inflammation and the 
inflamed organ was consolidated, which is quite unusual in birds. 
