THE CAGE. 23 



fluous, but even injurious, because it disturbs the comfort of the 

 parrot and lessens the space necessary for it to stretch its wings. 



Cages for the lesser and smallest of the parrots, which are 

 kept singly as speakers— also for the Alexandrine Parrakeets 

 and the tJndulated Parrakeets — should resemble in all the 

 arrangements the pattern cage of the " Ornis Society," of 

 which an illustration has be6n given, with this difference, 

 that the smaller the bird, the lighter should the wire frame 

 be, the narrower the space between the wires, and the thinner 

 the wire used ; also, for those kinds which do not gnaw, the 

 socles and the drawers may be of wood, because parrots are 

 known to belong to those birds which do not make much 

 dirt. On the other hand, the wooden drawers are incon- 

 venient for the bathing, and, therefore, a close grating must 

 always be placed under them, instead of a floor, upon which 

 the bath should be placed while the drawer is taken out. 

 The space left open by the absence of the drawer must be 

 closed by means of a trap door. In these cages it is more 

 convenient if the door closes by sliding down along the wire 

 bars. The drinking vessels should always be of glass or 

 porcelain. The ordinary flower-pot saucer of stone ware, or, 

 preferably, of porcelain, is the most suitable bathing vessel 

 for all kinds of parrots ; or a common spittoon may be used. 

 As these parrots do not alone climb, but, as a rule, like 

 to fly and hop, the cage must have three perches, one high 

 up, and the other two in the middle. 



Many amateurs wish their speaking bird to appear as an 

 ornament in the household decoration, and have, therefore, 

 the most splendid cage possible. In consequence, one sees 

 many thoroughly unpractical cages, either round or of 

 cylindrical, conical, or turreted form, made of brass plate 

 or wire. Apart from the fact that such cages cramp the 

 bird, or, at least, give it by no means suflScient space and 

 comfortable quarters, many dangers lurk in them. The metal, 

 as is well known, forms verdigris if not kept most carefully 

 cleaned and dry ; and further, the stuff used for cleaning 

 endangers the health and life of the bird. 



Cages of iron wire, either tinned or overlaid with zinc or 

 other metal, may also form a pretty ornament for the room, and 

 may, if wished, be painted according to fancy. Care must, 

 however be taken to use a hard and quickly drying lacquer, 

 and that the bird is not put into the cage until the colour, 



