Mrs. M. Kewley—Two Sad Happenings



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feathers straight up from her beak to the back of her neck. She had

no feathers round her eyes and her head was quite bald. This gave

her a most odd appearance. Of course this quite put an end to our

hopes in the way of a nest. Thus my hopes with two lots of my

birds were dashed for this year. I must add that in both cases I applied

to Mr. Seth-Smith for help, not knowing what to do, and he, with his

never ending courtesy and kindness, gave me the best of good advice*

which, of course, I took, with the result that the hen Many Colours-

grew a new lot of feathers, but showed no further sign of nesting.

I hope the Kosellas will profit by his advice next year.


I think all aviculturists owe Mr. Seth-Smith endless gratitude for

the more than kind way he always helps, and this in spite of all the

many things he has to see to in his work at the Zoo. I, for one, am

always most grateful to him.


It may interest our members to know what remedies were proposed

in these cases. As far as the Many Coloured hen was concerned, Mr. Seth-

Smith asked, when communicated with, under what conditions the

bird was kept. I replied that the aviary they were in was slightly

heated and kept as a rule up to 60° and quite dry. His

answer was that possibly the conditions were too dry, and to damp

the floor. We did this, with the result that shortly the lady’s head

became covered again with feathers. However, she showed no further

signs of nesting.


With regard to my second sad experience with the Kosellas versus

earwigs. I went to the Avicultural tea party at the Zoological Gardens,

and I talked to some of our members about my experiences and asked

their advice. I was told that I should get some cheap sponges and

put them in beer and sugar and place near the part these plagues are

in. They will then go into the sponges and should be shaken out and

drowned. I have also seen lately in The Times in reference to these most

tiresome insects that carbolic disinfectant poured on the ground,

round whatever it is wished to protect, will preserve it from their

depredations. These remedies I shall most certainly try next year.



