EXHIBITING AND WASHING 



187 



generally look theiv best a day or two after 



washing, and on this account it is well to 



wash all, or nearly all — there are a few 



exceptions — three clear days before they 



are to be shown. They ought to be covered 



up to keep them clean and from knocking 



themselves about in tlie meantime. 



A word is necessary about the general 



condition of birds irrespective of their 



plumage. We have already 



Oenera ex]>lained the wisdom of hav- 



Condition. ' 



ing them in a plump, but 



not over-fat. condition. It is equally 

 essential that they shoidd not be in a too 

 forward condition. Life and sprightliness 

 have their good qualities in assisting a 

 bird to show itself off well : but a bird 

 fed up until it is practically in breeding 

 condition is a mistake, for then he 

 thinks more of ]:ieering through the 

 wires of his show-cage at his next door 

 neighbour, or, if in an all-wire show-cage, 

 dancing from one side of the perch to the 

 other, singing, than he does of show- 

 ing off his good points. This is what we 

 mean by a too forward condition. Great 

 care should be exercised in the use of 

 stimidating foods, such as egg and maw- 

 seed. If a bird is a bit down and buck- 

 ward in condition, these may Ije given it 

 fairly frecjuently in small quantities until 

 the bird is fit enough to show itself off 

 well, but not mad to be through the cage 

 wires at the other birds. That high 

 concert j^itch should be avoided. Very 

 backward birds, which are wanted ready 

 for a certain show with time going 

 apace, may occasionally have two or three 

 dro])s of Parrish's Chemical Food mixed 

 with a little egg - food. This has most 

 beneficial effects, as has also a pinch of 

 niger and linseed with a little maw ; but 

 these nuist not be over-done. Daily use 

 of the bath for a week, if the bird will 

 bathe, also assists to the desired end. 

 A tonic in the water, too, is beneficial ; 

 say 10 drops of tincture of steel and 5 drojis 

 of tincture of gentian on alternate weeks 

 in 2 ounces of drinking water, fresh daily, 

 are good, given at intervals during the 

 show season to birds doing a lot of travel- 



Selection for 

 Exhibition. 



ling, especially the gentian. In some cases 

 a teaspoonful of good port in the drinking 

 water works wonders in keeping a bird 

 in condition when travelling. 



In selecting birds for exhibition it is 

 always well to choose several, and place 

 each se]iarately in a show- 

 cage and stand them side 

 by side, for some birds 

 show themselves off better in the box or 

 flight cages they live in than they do in a 

 show-cage, and vice versa. This method of 

 selection will often prevent the leaving of 

 a good show bird at home. 



In the Crested variety some of the crests 



are apt to get a little untidy. The wash 



will put some of them right, 



"Grooming" ,^,j^j ^.^ require nothing 



Crests. - ^ ■ 4.U ■ 



more. Others require their 



crests " groomed " or " dressed " — that is 

 to say, the feathers trained to lie neatly 

 in their proper place. There are many 

 supposed secrets held by fanciers for 

 dressing the crest feathers, but we have 

 found nothing to excel taking such Ijirds 

 in the hand, blowing the feathers into their 

 ]>roper position, and then placing a small 

 l>iece of sponge, wrmig out in moderately 

 hot water, over the crest. This should be 

 held on the crest, the feathers being in 

 their proper places, until it is thoroughly 

 warm and soft \vitii the vapour from the 

 sponge ; the tip of the warm sponge should 

 then be worked round the crest and the 

 feathers smoothed into their proper places. 

 A few dressings of this kind usually have 

 the desired effect. Some fanciers use a 

 fine tooth-brush for this purpose, made 

 warm by dipj)ing in hot water and then 

 shaken almost dry ; either plan answers 

 well. Of course, there are some unruly 

 feathers in rough crests which nothing will 

 bring into subjection, and unscrupulous 

 persons pluck these out and then tell fan- 

 ciers they have a secret for making such 

 feathers lie down. This is " faking " or 

 " trimming," and not legitimate dressing of 

 a crest. 



In almost all varieties a bird will at 

 times twist or fray its tail feathers. These 

 can be straightened and )3ut right again 



