Administration of vitamin C to juvenile castrated pigeons leads to a fall in the adrenal epinephrine level, but no significant change in the norepinephrine level is noted. Since the role of vitamin C in converting dopamine to norepinephrine is anticipated, it has been surmised that the bursa of Fabricius (thymolymphatic organ) might be responsible for the inability of these young birds to respond to vitamin C treatment. © 1986 Indian Academy of Sciences.