84



The Marquess of Tavistock—Facts and Figures



As is usual in a well-managed collection, the summer and early

autumn months have been the most fatal and the cold months the most

healthy, owing, presumably, to the fact that low temperatures are

inimical to many bacteria harmful to birds. By “ a well-managed

collection ” I means one where the birds are not only correctly housed

and fed and not overcrowded ; but where individuals dangerous to

each other are not forced to occupy the same quarters and delicate

species are not obliged to endure temperatures too low for their safety

and comfort. I provide abundant heat for all newly-imported birds

and, in the aviary shelters, for the Lories, late-breeding Hooded,

Swifts, Grass Parrakeets, Racket-tailed Parrots, Red-breasted Conures,

young Derbyans, and Birds of Paradise. The Banksian Cockatoos and

many of the young Broadtails have very slight heat in their shelters,

as have the Queen of Bavaria Conures, Blue-fronted Amazons, and all

the members of the Ringneck family during periods of intense frost.

The provision of a little warmth during hard frost is desirable for

members of the Ringneck family (absolutely essential for Malabars)

to protect their toes from damage, spoiling them for show, and

in bad cases for breeding. The causes of death from disease

were :—-


Septicaemia, 7 cases ; enteritis, 4 ; paratyphoid, 3 ; congestion of

the lungs, 3 ; pneumonia, 1 ; infectious disease of the liver, 1 ; colon

infection, 1 ; gastritis, 1 ; pericarditis, 1 ; and heart failure, 3.


Septicaemia claimed a newly-arrived Rock Grass Parrakeet, 2 young

Rock Peplars, 2 young Yellow-mantles, and 2 young Adelaides ;

paratyphoid, 2 young Crimson-wings and a young Adelaide ; con¬

gestion of the lungs, a young New Zealand, a Rock Grass, and a Yellow-

belly ; pneumonia, a young Ringneck ; infectious disease of the liver,

an Adelaide ; gastritis, a young Swift; pericarditis, a young Ringneck ;

colon infection, a Rothschild’s Bird of Paradise ; and heart failure,

a New Zealand, a Splendid, and a Roseate Cockatoo.


January was responsible for one casualty from disease ; February,

March, and April had no deaths ; May had 1—a new arrival; June, 2 ;

July, 8 ; August, 6 ; September, 3 ; October, 1 ; November, 2 ; and

December, 2, one of which was a rickety, newly-fledged youngster.

This casualty list is a fairly normal one for a tolerably healthy district,



