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PURCHASE AND RECEPTION. 17 



simple, oblong, wooden case, the front and upper side of which 

 are barred, and the rest usually lined with thin zinc when 

 intended for the larger parrots or for those much given to 

 gnawing. The top slopes off to the back in proportion to 

 the height of the bird, so that the back is only about two- 

 thirds as high as the front. Either the top or the back forms 

 a movable lid or door, through which the bird is taken in 

 and out. In front, below the bars, this case has a space for 

 food, separated from the floor by little boards or wooden 

 laths ; and, further back, a thick perch, immediately above 

 the floor. Most cages contain no water vessel, and often they 

 are without a food trough or perch. It is rightly supposed 

 that a parrot can do without drink for a short journey of 

 three or four days, whereas a water vessel might be injurious 

 to it, for in cold, cheerless weather the water sprinkled over 

 it by the motion might cause it to take cold or some similar 

 illness. Sometimes the endeavour has been made to prevent 

 this by means of a sponge ; but, as a rule, the parrot pulls 

 this out, and gets much more wet, or swallows it, and thereby 

 brings on worse illness. English dealers fill the drinking 

 vessel with bread, steeped in water, but this is not judicious, 

 for it becomes sour and causes diarrhoea and the like. The 

 pneumatic drinking vessel, which has lately been much used, 

 may be recommended for parrots which have to travel a 

 distance, but it must be entirely of metal, either zinc or 

 tinned iron ; the cage, also, must be much larger than the 

 customary ones, so that such a vessel may be put into it 

 without cramping the bird too much ; the longer the journey 

 the more space is required. For short distances it is best, 

 as said before, that water should be left out. For convey- 

 ance in cold seasons, special winter travelling cages are manu- 

 factured, the outer part of which consists of a double case 

 with a wired window, while the inner cage is a common 

 travelling cage. 



Reception. — For every parrot ordered, or expected, the cage 

 or stand should be in readiness, so that on its arrival it may 

 not require to remain longer in the travelling case. In taking 

 it out of the latter, and placing it in or on the former, especial 

 care is needed. If possible, forcible means should not be used ; 

 but, if it be found absolutely necessary, this part of the work 

 should be done by someone who is entirely a stranger — remem- 

 bering that the parrot will not forget it for a long time, and is. 



