0)1 Ihr Krrpinfi oj f^ojI-lVilh in Cages. lO'.l 



liavc l)C(Mi salislicd. hul a kiiul iiiollicr slronirly ol.jV'otod to 

 my ki'cpiii,-' liii'ds ill ca-vs, as she llinii-lil tlirrc would 1)0 

 the dilliculty to piovido tliciii with adc:|uaJc I'ood, and a'tliou,i,''h 

 1 diMiiunc'd. I do iiol tliiidx she was alto^ndhcr wi-ouf,^ when 

 donyiiiii- iik^ this t'lcasui'c, coiisidctiii.i,'' my tender years. T am 

 all-aid that oven to-(hiy many a liiif l)ird's life is saerificed 

 owin-i' t<» its k(M']MM' not supplying it with suitablo food. ,My 

 advice thorerorc to all Ix'.i^'inncrs is " ^-o slow," study first 

 soini^ ,U(iod liird lilei'aturo, liecome a/"(|uainted with tlio habits 

 and leedin,i; ol the hird you ai'o desirous of keepinq-, make 

 tlie acquaint.anee of some hirddover who keep> the variety 

 you a]-<' anxious to cage, and g(»t some preetieal hints; these 

 ai-e often more valuable than all theory. Next start your 

 experiene(^ with an easily kept soft -bill, and liaving gained 

 success, then gradually mount the ladder. The essential points 

 to success are cleanliness, wholesome food, and regulai- atten- 

 tion. Remember you never come across a dirty bird at large; 

 some may develop dirty hab'ts when caged, but they are not 

 naturalh inclined to be dirty. Don't blame the bird; the cage 

 may be too small, or you do not give a bath freely enough, 

 or in the case of fruit -eating birds, you do not provide the 

 food in the right kind of vessel. The fault therefore lies 

 ■Avi/th you, and not the bird, and the remedy is in your hands. 



Some may consider these small matters too trouble- 

 some, but I can assure them thev are very important in keep- 

 ing birds, especially soft -bills, in good health and condition, 

 and no trouble in this respect should be too great, but made 

 a " Labour of Love," to make the life of your pets as com- 

 foi'table and as near to theii- natural habits as possible. 



Now the first and most important point after you have 

 decided what kind of bird to cage, is to know what food to 

 keep it on. Soft-Bills, as the name implies, are insectivor- 

 ous, and feed moS[tly on live insects. It would therefore be 

 out of the question to feed them on seeds, and, again, as human 

 beings, w^i'thout detriment to their 'health, could not for a length 

 of time exist on one diet alone, neither can Ibirds; there 

 must be variation, and also variation according to the seasons. 



Another point, the food should always be of the best 

 (luality anfl fresh, best is cheapest in the long run. There 

 are excellent preparations of ready-made food in the market 



