The Marquess of Tavistock—Some Problems of Mortality 187



It is interesting to hear the experiences—often profoundly different

from our own—of aviculturalists living in Australia or California.

Birds that we find hardy they often find extremely difficult. I cannot

resist the conclusion that aviculture in such countries is working under

an immense handicap owing to the lack of experienced post mortem

examiners and post mortem work. If such work were undertaken in

competent hands I believe many people would be surprised at the

result—and also greatly helped.


What puzzles me most is the reputation for delicacy in confinement

earned in Australia by such Parrakeets as Crimson-wings and Mealy

Bosellas. There is, I think, a widespread belief that change of diet

is at the root of the trouble. Now when it is a question of accustoming

a bird whose natural diet is live insects, or even a particular kind of

nectar, to a totally different artificial food, I can understand that there

may be a probability of serious digestive disturbances, but frankly

I cannot believe that a seed and fruit-eating Parrakeet which in this

country need never suffer from digestive trouble can in Australia,

perish wholesale when put on a diet on wdiich in this country it can

rear its young successfully and (if given the right nest) invariably,

from the tenderest age. Of course, one can imagine a wild bird being

too terrified to feed at all in confinement and dying of sheer starvation,

and for this reason I can understand the deaths from paralysis of

newly-caught Barrabands, for the most acclimatized of Barrabands is

liable to paralysis if it starts to feed voraciously after a period of starva¬

tion due to any cause other than illness. I have had cases of paralysis,

in Barrabands that strayed when at liberty and were returned half-

starved, and paralysis has occurred a few days after arrival in young

Barrabands bred by me and sent to American aviculturalists, it being

the custom of American railway attendants to neglect to feed the birds

entrusted to their care for long journeys. But the curious thing is

that the mortality complained of does not usually occur among birds

that are refusing food, and, although I write in great ignorance of

local conditions, it will take a lot to convince me that these mysterious

deaths are due to anything more than germ infection due to lack of

proper care and cleanliness in the trappers 5 outfit. Transport is

probably a matter of difficulty, and I can imagine the birds being



