PAIRING AND SITTING 



107 



finger and the tail projecting between the 

 thumb and first finger, and hold her in 

 this position over the steam of boiling- 

 water in a narrow-neeked jug. The jug- 

 should not be quite lull of water, and a 

 piece of line nuislin should be laid over the 

 top just slack enough to allow of its 

 dropping slightly into the neck of the jug, 

 so that if the egg passes from the hen 

 during the operation — as sometimes hap- 

 pens — it is caught by the muslin, and so 

 saved. Expose the vent freely to the action 

 of the steam, and let the hen have a good 

 vapour bath in this way ; then, with a small 

 blinitly-pointcd thin stick, drop one or 

 two drops of sweet oil on the vent, holding 

 the bird practically upside down, so that 

 the oil penetrates well into the vent. 

 On no account insert the stick ; the parts 

 are too small, and will be too much in- 

 flamed to allow anything of the kind, 

 and also the egg, being so near expidsion, 

 might be damaged. One drop of equal 

 parts tincture of ergot and olive oil may 

 also be given direct into the beak. Gently 

 replace the hen in the nest, and the egg 

 will soon be laid, even if it be not dropped 

 in the muslin covering the jug. 



Some cases, however, may prove very 



obstinate ; for some there is no relief, 



and death inevitably follows. 



X reme j^^ such cases a post -mortem 

 Cases. ' 



carefully made will reveal the 



internal economy, and explain the diffi- 

 culties of the position. Heat is an ii"n- 

 portant element in bringing obstinate cases 

 to a sviccessful issue, and when things 

 look bad the hen should be wrapped 

 in warm flannel and placed near the fire 

 or on a wire frame over a jug or basin of 

 hot water. Early attention also is of the 

 utmost importance, as every minute in- 

 creases the difficulty and lessens the 

 chances of success. If, therefore, after 

 the treatment mentioned the egg is not 

 laid in half an hour, hold the bii'd's vent 

 over a jug of boiling water with the muslin 

 cover, and, with the finger and thtanb 

 placed gently on the bird's sides behind 

 the location of the egg. use a slight pressure, 

 but with great care. This often assists 



delivery, but it must be remembered that 

 the egg must on no account be broken, or 

 the consequences will be fatal, unless the 

 whole of the shell and its contents come 

 away at once. We have known this to 

 happen, and tlie hen inuuediately recover ; 

 but it is well to avoid such risk. The 

 ultimate saving of the egg, also, is a matter 

 of no moment compared with saving the 

 life of the bird, and she should not be 

 placed in her nest too soon, simply with 

 that object in view. 



One lesson to be learned from this not 

 unfrequent episode in bird-life is the im- 

 portance of an early visit to the bird-room. 

 Canaries soon get to know those who have 

 charge of them, and will not be at all put 

 out by a quiet visit, when a glance round 

 will show whether things are going on well. 



Many of these troubles can be avoided, 



even during severe trying weather, if half a 



teaspoonful of niger-seed, with 



urt er ^ pinch of maw-seed added to 



1 reatment. ^ 



hens about to lay, is given 



daily, and imtil the completion of the 

 whole clutch of eggs. This tit-bit, more- 

 over, will not be detrimental to the cock 

 bird who is running with the hen. 



In instances where a hen has had diffi- 

 culty in passing her egg. and shows signs 

 of weakness afterwards, bread and milk, 

 given on the day of the attack, and for 

 the next day — but not longer — will be 

 beneficial. The bread should be soaked in 

 the milk until it is cold, then lifted out in 

 the solid piece ; most of the milk should 

 be squeezed out, and three drops of tinc- 

 ture of gentian and a pinch of maw-seed 

 should be sprinkled over it. Milk, instead 

 of water, to drink should be given, but 

 it should be seen that this does not turn 

 sour before it is renewed. 



In no circimistances should a bird be 

 tampered with whilst laying, except to 

 save her life ; let Nature have her full 

 play before resort is made to artificial 

 means. Many a hen has been lost or 

 ruined through needless interference and 

 impatience on the part of the owners. We 

 have even known of their interfering and 

 tampering with a hen which ajjpeared 



