THE PARROT. Ji 



consequent itching sensation, which the parrot re- 

 lieves by pulling out its feathers. The or ly remedy 

 for parrots addicted to this habit is to feed them on 

 either raw or boiled carrots and well-roasted pea- 

 nuts. These are both cooling foods, being entirely 

 free from grease of any kind. They also require 

 showering with cold water from three to six times 

 per day ; and, as they should only be showered with a 

 spray of water, it would be well to put a piece of rub- 

 ber tube on the end of a faucet, and, holding the fin- 

 ger nearly close across the end, cause the water to 

 fall in a spray upon the bird. When it is not con- 

 venient to thus shower a bird, a mouthful of water 

 blown over the bird will answer every purpose. 

 Should your parrot be attacked with diarrhoea 

 (which, if he is properly cared for, he will not be), 

 he should have all green food, fruit, &c., taken 

 away, and be fed upon milk which has been boiled 

 away, say at least a quarter, and thickened with the 

 least 7nite of Graham flour, so called, with the ad- 

 dition of a very, very little red pepper. If this does 

 not effect a cure in from one to three days, then 

 give him stale bread soaked in warm sherry-wine, 

 which has had a very little burnt sugar added 

 thereto, — not, however, giving this until the other 

 has failed. 



Even these remedies usually efficacious have failed 

 at the time when a parrot was shedding his feathers ; 

 and whole peppers and spices of various kinds are 

 given the bird, but without the desired effect. The 

 last remedy for this painful disease is laudanum or 



