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Correspondence



birds, even with young chicks, it is quite simple to use an ordinary

medical glass dropper, the end of which is introduced a few millimetres

deep into the windpipe. The opening of the windpipe, at the base

of the tongue, can easily be brought forward by means of a rubber

band or a small piece of smooth wire. According to the size of the

bird treated, from 6 to 20 drops are so sent down the windpipe.


We found that every time it saved the life of the bird, which,

after a few hours, seemed to have completely recovered. However,

one or two injections may be necessary, as the gape-worm eggs which

may exist in the system of the bird have perhaps evolved and penetrated

the windpipe again. This cure so far has proved quite effective, and

no accident whatever need be feared.


J. Delacour.



SOME BIRD NOTES


Ten years ago I bought a number of Grenadier Weaver birds from

the late Mr. J. D. Hamlyn. A short time after this purchase a rat

(or I think it must have been an old rat with young ones) got

into my aviary and killed twenty-three foreign birds, including

some of the Weavers ; another Weaver had one wing nearly torn off.

I very carefully cut the wing off, and it made a good recovery, came into

colour, and was a very tame bird. It has just died, having lived ten

years with only one wing. It came into full colour each spring.


I sent two of these Weavers to a friend, and these were still living,

in full colour, a short time since.


Two Parrots came into my possession some years ago, in rather a

strange way. I received a letter from a girls’ orphanage in south

London, saying that a Parrot had flown into one of their open

windows, and asking if I had lost one or knew of anyone who had.


I called and saw a very fine Blue-fronted Amazon tied by one leg

with a piece of string to one of the forms in the schoolroom. Some

of the girls had tried with sticks and brooms to drive it out of doors,,

but Pollie refused to go, realizing perhaps that this was an orphanage!


I took the bird home, it was a beautiful bird, very tame, and a

good talker. It lived in my aviary for several years.



