CAGES. 35 



be allowed twice a week some water to wash 

 themselves ; a saucer is the best vessel for hold- 

 ing it. 



The female, while hatching, should not get 

 water to wash herself, as that might retard 

 the process of incubation, and even run a 

 chance of rotting the eggs. 



After pairing the birds, it will do very well 

 to put a lump of old mortar in the cage for 

 the hen to pick at, as it will help in the for- 

 mation of the shell of her eggs. 



CAGES. 



The forms of cages deemed suitable for 

 finches, are as various as the fancies of the 

 purchasers, or the tastes of the wire workers. 

 Some contend for their being small, while 

 others cannot have them large enough, the 

 former only regarding the singing ; the latter, 

 air and exercise. For their respective objects, 

 each has its advantages. The mere shape is 

 altogether a matter of taste, for it does not 

 signify much, unless for breeding, when an 

 oblong is evidently the only proper form. 



For this purpose, the kind now most in use 

 are about 18 inches by 11, and 12 in height ; 

 the perches are placed four inches and a half 

 from the ends of the cage, to keep the tails 

 clear, which will allow 7 inches of a leap, 

 which is long enough. The nest box is 

 placed on the outside, at the end of the cage, 

 and is not a fixture, but can be removed at 

 any time. Those cages with two perches 



