NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES 



63 



feathers of the birds ; for if a nest of them 

 be disturbed during the day, tliey certainly 

 run oif in all directions, but only in a com- 

 paratively sluggish way, and are easily 

 killed. It must be admitted that these 

 insects are most undesirable tenants for a 

 breeding-cage ; but while fully admitting 

 that they are troublesome and irritating 

 to the birds, we are by no means prepared 

 to go so far as to support the assertion 

 sometimes made, that the}- suck the blood 

 from the young ones, and cause their 

 death by literally draining them. AVe can 

 call to mind several nests of exceptionally 

 strong birds Avhieh. when we had occasion 

 to remove them into more commodious 

 lodgings, we found had been reared over 

 a perfect ant-hill of insects that lined the 

 under part of the nest in a moving mass. 

 One would have thought their numbers 

 sufficient to have effected a massacre of 

 the innocents in a single night, but the 

 young birds had never shown the sliglitest 

 ill effects. It is hardly necessary to add 

 that this happened before earthenware 

 nest-pans were made. Nor are we, on 

 the other hand, prepared to support the 

 theory of many old breeders that birds 

 are never so strong and healthy as when 

 infested with these insects — that they are, 

 indeed, positive indications of robust 

 health. Candour, however, comiiels us to 

 state that though we would rather be with- 

 out them, and would, and do always, use 

 every precaution to prevent their appear- 

 ance, they would have to congregate in 

 very great numbers indeed to prove fatal 

 to a bird. We are, though, firmly of the 

 opinion that if not taken in hand they will, 

 and do, in time impair the health and affect 

 the plumage of a bird. The latter effect 

 is due in a large measure to the efforts 

 of the bird to rid itself of the irritation. 

 And now, what is the remedy for this 

 evil ? If when the cages are cleaned a 

 close look-out be kept for the 



„ ® . first appearance of the insects. 

 Remedy. ^ ' . 



much anxiety and trouble will 

 be saved. Sliould, however, a condition 

 of affairs be readied such as we have 

 described, drastic measures must be taken. 



Clean jierches must he supplied, and the 

 dusty spots painted over with turps or 

 equal parts of carloolic acid and water. 

 This will secure the instantaneous death 

 of the pests, and the danger is over. Some 

 fanciers use paraflui, with a piece of camphor 

 in it, in the same way, with good eilect, 

 but either of the two former is preferable. 



It will now be seen why we have been 

 so very jiarticular to condemn cracks and 

 crannies in the cages. There is no doubt 

 that the smaller the crevice the greater 

 is the likelihood of its becoming occupied. 



When cages are whitewashed instead 

 of enamelled inside a loose flake of white- 

 wash will form a certain cover for insects, 

 while unused wire-holes and similar minute 

 recesses are preserves which shoidd regularly 

 be beaten. One thing is certain, the insects 

 must go someivhere, and it is as well to 

 know where they do go ; hence some 

 breeders prefer to keep open one crack 

 that they may know where to find them. 

 Short work can then be made of them by 

 drawing the blade of a knife through the 

 crack. In a sound cage, however, the 

 places we have indicated are about the 

 only ones accessible, and a weekly exam- 

 ination will do the rest. Should the floury 

 ajopearance show itself on the outside of 

 the cage, round bad joints, or in similar 

 jilaces, nothing is better than to pass over 

 it a small paint brush, which has been 

 dipped either in turps, carbolic, or paraffin. 

 This is a simple method, and does its work 

 quickly, for the moisture soaks into the 

 crevice should one exist. 



It will be seen that this nuisance is pre- 

 ventible by the exercise of reasonable 

 care. It is only by neglect of ordinary 

 precautions that it attains formidable 

 dimensions, but if a cage should be found 

 to be infested, it is best to remove it and 

 give it a thorough washing with soap and 

 water, after which it should be rinsed in 

 clean water. Should there be any joints 

 or cracks which afford hiding-places for 

 the pests, they should then be well dressed 

 with a solution of bichloride of mercury, 

 or either of the solutions already mentioned. 

 If the cages have been previously enamelled 



