40



Notes on the transport of birds.



maize, and other cereals must be brought on board or purchased at

ports in sufficient quantities, allowing always for much greater waste

than would be reckoned with in a bird-room. For ducks, water-

fowl. and all larger birds, the food and water dishes should be of tin

and fixed to the front of the cages by means of a handle through the

slats, as otherwise, in a rough sea, the dishes are apt to get upset or

may be thrown about the cages and injure the occupants. Old

petroleum tins are very useful for this purpose and can be obtained

practically all over the world; they can be cut to any size, are

water-tight and very easy to clean.


(3) Cleaning.


This must be undertaken regularly and thoroughly, at least

once a day. On board ship, for some curious reason, the butcher is

the official who is in charge of all pets and animals, and it is wise,

at the beginning of the voyage, to discuss with him the feeding and

cleaning, in order to find out at what time it is convenient for him

to help daily with these operations. This is essential, as he can

easily obtain the food required from the ship’s stores, and also pails,

sponges, fresh water, &c., in fact, anything that may be wanted.

I always make it a point to meet the butcher at the time fixed and

work wfith him ; generally he will be found to be an intelligent man.

fond of animals, and to be trusted to do what he is told, in case it

should not be possible to be present oneself every day. I usually

prepare a list before going on board, with the number of the cage as

stencilled on the side, the number of birds in each, and the food

required for every cage; a copy of this list I hand to the butcher on

the first day and this enables him to requisition for the necessary

food every day.


Apart from the feeding hour, I always visit my birds at least

twice a day to see whether they require fresh water or more food,

the last time just before sunset, when I let down the canvas screens;

these are raised at dawn next morning by arrangement with a

steward or a member of the crew, unless it is too windy, when they

are left down until the weather improves, or some re-arrangement of

the cages is possible to screen them or place them in a more shel¬

tered place.


The floor boards of the cages should he washed down when-



