156 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



precautions, and administering to their little 

 wants, you will soon have your feathered friends 

 in good health and beautiful plumage; and they 

 will amply repay you for your care and attention, 

 by their enlivening and cheerful songs during the 

 ensuing winter. 



MOULTING OF THE OLD BIRDS. 



The old birds generally moult about the begin- 

 ning of autumn. They require also nourishing 

 food at this period. Give them freely of rape- 

 seed, a bit of bread dipped in milk, and occa- 

 sionally a bit of hard-boiled egg, and lettuce or 

 cabbage. Sometimes it happens, that from some 

 cause, this operation of nature is retarded or stop- 

 ped, and the bird does not shed his old feathers, or 

 does it very slowly, in this case I have found it 

 efficacious to put a few cloves in the water, and 

 give them plenty of green stuff. If the weather 

 is cold when they moult, do 'not expose them to 

 it ; but if mild and warm, I have found it bene- 

 ficial to an old bird, when moulting, to be kept 

 outside of a window or door ; at least, let them 

 have plenty of free air, and keep a rusty nail in 



