213 



I must further add that all my birds, however 

 kept, get a continuous supply of gritty sand, crushed 

 egg shell, mortar rubbish, and cuttlefish ; and till this 

 season (in the early part of which I was confined to my 

 room) I have not had a case of egg binding among 

 my birds for seven years. 



Acclimatisation op Birds. 



My methods are, I fear, very rough and ready ; 

 but some care is absolutely necessary with new 

 purchases of freshly imported birds ; to turn such out 

 of doors immediately, even in hot weather, after what 

 they have been through during the voyage to this 

 country, their stay in the dealer's shop and a probably 

 long railway journey, is to invite 70 to 80 % of losses. 

 All birds should be kept in cages for a day at least, 

 to recover from the journey, and so have a supply 

 of food ready to hand. Newly imported birds should 

 be isolated for several weeks, and though they must 

 not be kept in either a dull aspect or vitiated 

 atmosphere, yet they should not be subjected to 

 cool winds or draught; their cage should be of the 

 box type, and all food vessels placed in such a position, 

 that they cajinot get fouled \ cages should have a daily 

 clean, and grit and water be given sparingly at first, 

 but after the first couple of days they can have a con- 

 tinuous supply. With the delicate Finches and Wax- 

 bills (by delicate, I mean such species as arrive in this 

 country in a tainted and exhausted condition), a supply 

 of green fly and other plant bugs, and living ants' 

 cocoons, will save many that would otherwise be lost. 

 Birds coming to hand in the winter, I consider best 

 kept in a room where a little artificial heat is available 

 during severe weather; but, I repeat again, not in a 



