202



Miss R. Alderson,



First let us take the birds that come. When any bird is

being sent to you be sure and arrange with the sender beforehand

the date and the time of the train the bird may be expected by, and

if possible meet the train, or arrange that the bird is sent down

from the station at once. Even in a town where there is a public

delivery it is not advisable to always make use of it, for the con¬

veyance will probably take a long time delivering parcels, and your

bird will be exposed to delay and draughts, which on a cold day may

prove fatal. Be sure and have your cage all ready, well sanded, and

with a perch of suitable thickness, and fresh food and water inside

the cage before the bird arrives. If you put these in the cage after

the bird is in it you will give it an unnecessary fright. It will con¬

clude in its poor tired little mind that the horrid catching up when

it left its home is all to be gone through over again, for birds are so

easily frightened, and if we except parrots, are not as intelligent as

animals.


If your bird arrives after dark put it in the quiet corner of a

room where there is a light (and if in winter) a fire, that the bird

may eat and drink and get warm. Avoid coming too much near the

cage just at first.


Suppose the bird arrives in a nailed-up box, just with little

air-holes, the question arises how to get it out into the cage without

catching it ? The plan I generally adopt is to loosen the lid, forcing

it with a screwdriver till it is quite free, but still on the box; then

holding the lid still on, turn the box very gently on its side and

holding it to the cage-door, which has previously been opened, slide

the lid away, when the bird generally hops in, and gives no further

trouble. If this is done carefully there is no damage, nor any

fear of the bird escaping, though in any case I should always close

door or windows and put a guard on the fire. Parrots are sometimes

tiresome, and will cling to the box and refuse to come out for some

time, when it is best to leave them, propping the box behind, so that

it does not slip away from the cage.


If it is cold when the bird arrives the cage should be put near

the fire, and a cloth thrown over it before the bird is left for the

night, as if it has come out of a heated aviary the room will feel

cold before morning.



