12 



BIRD NEWS 



vent the opposiifi sexes from seeing 

 each other. There is an instinct of 

 affinity, which is as subtle as it is 

 imperious, and many a couple of 

 birds "pair up" mentally, thus frus- 

 trating the best calculations of the 

 breeder, for such selections are rarely 

 if ever eugenically desirable. Such 

 affinities if forced to accept other 

 partners, rarely make successful 

 "nests." This therefore is to be 

 avoided. Necessity of selection, not 

 local option must be your rule for 

 type breeding. The breeding cage 

 next demands your attention. The 

 essentials are room, privacy and fa- 

 cility for cleanliness. A single com- 

 partment cage will serve in most in- 

 stances and maybe all metal, or metal 

 with wood frame. If you have a 

 bird room, where you are monarch 

 of all your survey, then the breeding 

 cages with wire fronts are better. 

 The nest boxes being placed outside 

 thus admitting of easy observation 

 and cleansing. Such a cage would 

 need to be about 20 inches in length, 

 height 16 or 17 and width 10 to 12. 

 The water and seed furnishings are 

 perhaps better on the outside, as such 

 does away with the necessity of hav- 

 ing to put your hand inside the cage. 

 A draw board is better for the bot- 

 tom, but it must fit well and not 

 leave too much space when with- 

 drawn, or the future youngsters may 

 find such a convenient exit. Doors 

 at ends of cage as well as in front 

 are desirable. Where possible the 

 self-sliding door answers best. Hav- 

 ing got your cage, the next point is 

 to prepare it for the tenants. This 

 must be done by scraping, if pre- 

 viously used, then thoroughly scald- 

 ing with boiling water. An all metal 

 cage may be roasted in an oven, or 

 fired by burning spirits or paper in- 

 side. We are presuming the amateur 

 is using a wire front cage. Thorough 

 disinfection is absolutely essential. 



Itis always desirable to paint the 

 cage with a mixture or white wash. 

 Kerosene oil, oil of cedar, solution 

 of Synol so*p, or camphorated tur- 

 pentine; 1-2 oz. to 1-2 pint of turps, 

 with 2 to 4 ozs. of oil of tar, makes 

 an excellent wash and one which we 

 have employed for years. These pre- 

 parations must be painted well into 

 all crevices to prevent the harbor- 

 ing of red mites. 



Cages so treated must be exposed 

 for four or five days to air and sun- 

 light. 



A final coat of lime wash, i. e., 

 quicklime with a little carbolic acid 

 and glue size, answers admirably. 

 Some fanciers prefer the compart- 

 ment cage with two or four divisions, 

 these are convient, and especially in 

 mule breeding are very useful. What 

 ever form of breeding cage is select- 

 ed, the general rules above noted are 

 essential. Breeding cages must be 

 perched to suit nest boxes and food 

 end water arrangemetits. Style and 

 position of perches have already been 

 mentioned. 



The nest itself is not a matter of 

 indifference. Great latitude is avail- 

 able and many styles find their quota 

 of patrons. The great essential, how- 

 ever, is cleanliness, and to this end 

 the modern wire nest is perhaps best. 

 The fine wire cloth type requires 

 careful lining, otehrwise the feet of 

 the parents or young may become 

 entangled. The open wire frame is 

 free from this objection. The breeder 

 may safely select either of these, 

 line inside with a double layer of 

 thin unsized felt, moulding the felt 

 carefuly into the form of the nest. 

 Before finishing, sprinkle between the 

 layers of felt, some insect powder, 

 buhac powder, allspice or cedar wood 

 sawdust. This precaution will do 

 away with the red mite pest. 



(To be continued.) 



