DISEASES. 51 



spirits of nitre into his fresh water for two or 

 three mornings. 



Some persons will recommend a feather or 

 two to be pulled out of the tail, but we do 

 not ; only draw a tail feather or two in case 

 of a fit, or dropping down apparently dead, 

 as that will fetch blood and sometimes reco- 

 ver the bird. 



EGG-BOUND. 



The complaint of egg-bound proceeds from 

 cold, and especially the coldness of the spring 

 weather, which is so very uncertain in this 

 country ; therefore, it is best not to put your 

 birds up too early, but to wait till the wea- 

 ther is settled a little ; the last week of the 

 March month is generally early enough to 

 put them into the breeding cage. Cold wea- 

 ther likewise causes the birds to have soft 

 eggs, that is, no hard shell when laid. There- 

 fore, begin not too early, especially as a room 

 without any fire is the best ; give the bird a 

 little moist sugar with the bread and egg, 

 which will cause a slipperiness and openness 

 for the egg. 



Should the hen be very bad and scarcely 

 able to move, or if she is down in a bunch at 

 the bottom of the cage, take her gently out 

 with a warm hand, and anoint the abdominal 

 part with two or three drops of warm salad 

 oil, or the oil of almonds. By this she will 

 generally be relieved, and the egg will be 

 found laid or dropped about the cage in the 



