A. E. Hamerton—Diseases of Aviary Birds 69



in telling them apart when on the wing. The Egret looks a much

bigger and lumpier bird altogether. An Egret and an adult Egyptian

Vulture passed me flying fairly close in the same direction this morning,

with the brilliant sun shining full on their white plumage. It was

interesting to note that the Vulture looked far more white and brilliant

than the Heron. Pied Kingfishers occur on the rocks in the Nile, but

are much more plentiful all round the Fayaum area, and nearer Luxor,

where there is more cultivation and consequently ponds and streams ;

here at Assouan the desert comes far too close all round, and many

birds very common in Lower Egypt are practically non-existent here ;

two notable instances are the Spur-winged Plover and the Bulbul.

Night Herons are probably common, concealed among the foliage

of the Lebek trees by day, and not stirring till dusk. There are numbers

of small Waders, running about on the sand-banks of the Nile, but

even with glasses it is difficult to identify them. A charming and very

characteristic bird which I had nearly forgotten to mention, is the grey

Egyptian Swallow which is always in evidence everywhere, either

hawking flies up and down the streets of the town, or swinging round

the big boulders about the Nile; I have also noticed one or two

European Swallows. But even from my prescribed area I realize that

Assouan is not a good place for birds : it is far too much shut in by the

desert on all sides, and compared with Lower Egypt the number of

species one sees is comparatively small.



DISEASES OF AVIARY BIRDS


By A. E. Hamerton, C.M.Gr., M.R.C.S.


Pathologist to the Zoological Society of London.


[This valuable article was written for and printed in the Veterinary

Journal and is reprinted by permission of the Editor of that publication

and the Author. — Ed., A.M.]


Diseases causing mortality among birds that are commonly kept in

captivity may be specified in order of frequency as follows :—


(1) Diseases of the Respiratory System, including (a) congestion and

oedema of lungs ; (b) pneumonia ; (c) bronchitis and bronchopneumonia.



