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not correct, or even worse, distinct!}' unwholesome, 

 the change to a proper (i.e., wholesome) diet should 

 not be a sudden one, but while suddenness should be 

 avoided the process should not be unduly pro- 

 longed. As to the cages for quarantine purposes, I 

 strongly advise the semi-box type, and on no account 

 should a quarantine cage (however healthy its 

 occupant may appear) be introduced into the bird-room 

 proper. A good practice (very troublesome I admit, 

 but also ver3' safe) is to sterilise the cage or cages at 

 once, so as to be ready for the next purchases. 

 Personally, the method adopted is to paint the cage 

 inside and out with neat paraffin, well brushing it into 

 all crevicesleavingit thus for a day, then to thoroughly 

 swill every part, front included, with boiling water, 

 and lastly with cold water, leaving it in the open air 

 to dry ; after receiving a coat of washable distemper 

 there should be no danger of infection for another 

 occupant. The above seems very troublesome, but 

 the result is worth it, and it is not so formidable in 

 practice as it appears on paper, possibly some of our 

 members may have a less troublesome, yet equally 

 effective method. I may say, that so far, in my twenty- 

 three years avicultural experience, I have never had an 

 epidemic in bird-room or aviaries. 



In dealing with the foods for the various groups 

 of birds, I wish to clearly state that however emphati- 

 cally I may appear to put down my facts, dogmatism 

 if present, must be taken as more "'■ apparent than real." 

 To dogmatise is certainly far from my intent. So much 

 has been said in the introduction " How I feed my 

 birds " that it will onl)^ be necessary to review the 

 foods available for the various groups. 



