NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES 



71 



WHITE EARTHENWARE BASIN 

 FOR BATH-GAGE. 



the open door of the cage, about two or 

 three inches from the top of the bath-cage. 

 This wire — which projects about an inch 

 — forms a rest for the sliding wire door 

 of the cage to rest upon. There is thus 

 no possible fear of the door dropping 

 down when the bath is in jiosition. and 

 so shutting the bird in the bath-cage or, 



what would 

 be worse 

 still, drop- 

 ping on to 

 tlie bird as 

 it passed 

 through the 

 doorway in- 

 to the bath. 

 Several of these bath-cages will be re- 

 quired, according to the size of the estab- 

 lishment ; for birds have their own ideas 

 as to the right time of the day for a wash. 

 The replenishing of the water-vessels is 

 generally the signal for a dip while the 

 water is clean ; and the Canary can 

 manage a very fair shampoo through his 

 water-hole. A thorough wash is another 

 thing, and it frequently happens that when 

 one wishes the birds to wash they will 

 take no notice of the bath ; but at length, 

 after a few preliminary sprinklings, in 

 goes one bird with a splash, and then out 

 pops every head through its water-hole, 

 and there is a general commotion in the 

 cages. This is washing-time, and the 

 advantage of having several baths at hand 

 to indulge the birds while they are in the 

 humour will be seen as soon as the baths 

 are suspended from the doorways. 



A square white 

 glazed earthenware 

 basin suitable for 

 use in the bath- 

 cage is illustrated 

 herewith. 



Another most 

 useful accessory to 

 the breeding-cage 

 is a small wire rack 

 to hook on the 



WIRE RACK FOR BUILD- ^''""'^^ ^^ ^^"^ ^agC. 



iNG MATERIAL. iu whicli doe-hair 



Miscellaneous 

 Requirements. 



or other building material may be placed. 

 The birds will pull this through the Avires 

 of the cage, and use it 

 to build their nest with. 

 Where coarse-cut saw- 

 dust is used for covering the bottom of 

 the cages a sujiply of sharp, gritty sand 

 must be given 

 in a tin or 

 eart h c n \v a r c 

 vessel stood in 

 the cage. Avery 

 useful earthen- 

 ware vessel for 

 such is here 

 illustrated. 



Nursery cages, the use of which will be 

 explained later, must not be overlooked. 

 These can be bought much 

 ciica])cr and better than they 

 can be made, vinless one is very 

 handy indeed with tools. The cheap rate 

 at which small cages can be manufactured 

 is due to its being a home industry, iu 

 which the work of many little hands is 



EARTHENWARE VESSEL FOR 

 SAND. 



Nursery 

 Cages. 



THE NURSERY CAGE. 



turned to account. The cages we use as 

 nurseries can be bought at about 9s. a dozen, 

 and a handy size is nine inches long, seven 

 inches wide, and nine inches high. They 

 have light wooden frames, with the bottom, 

 top, and one end of wood, except for a space 

 of about two inches, between the top of the 



