DISEASES. 49 



heat, a warm season, anxiety and excessive 

 care, with too close sitting upon the eggs, or 

 young ; all have a tendency to bring it on. 



If it arises from the latter cause, httle can 

 be done, as in attempting to remedy one evil 

 another may be created. In using endea- 

 vors to induce her to leave her nest, she may 

 be led to forsake her young. 



Both time and policy are required in the 

 invention and employment of many little arti- 

 fices, to wile her away from her pleasing but 

 perilous task. In her situation, air and exer- 

 cise are indispensable requisites, and to entice 

 her off her nest, the cock should be removed 

 for a few days, and hung up in her sight at 

 a short distance ; she should be supplied with 

 abundance of green food, to tempt her off the 

 young ones for the purpose of feeding them ; 

 and in consequence she will have the privi- 

 lege of air and exercise in the performance 

 of her duty. 



When she appears duly occupied with ma- 

 ternal cares, her mate may be restored ; and 

 even although she should not, he must be 

 restored for the sake of feeding the young. 



Weakness may at once be inferred, when 

 it is exhibited by the symptoms of damp and 

 ruffled feathers before the hen has had eggs 

 or young ones. It is not advisable to breed 

 with birds of this kind. To cure this malady, 

 in these circumstances, the bird is sometimes 

 washed with a solution of salt and water for 

 several mornings, the breeding cage is re- 

 moved to a more airy situation, all draughts 

 5 



