52 THE CANARY BIRD. 



course of a few hours, or, at the farthest, by 

 next morning. 



With a maiden hen this frequently happens, 

 and if the above means fail, the last resource 

 is, to pour down her throat, through a reed 

 or quill, one drop of castor oil. 



MOULTING. 



Moulting sometimes exhibits a diseased 

 type. 



Birds bred up in the manner we have di- 

 rected, in a good healthy air, as near as pos- 

 sible to a state of nature, moult oft' strong, 

 clean, and without any assistance; but at 

 times, even the best require attention. Cold 

 is the greatest danger to which in this state 

 'they are exposed ; therefore all draughts of 

 air should be carefully guarded against. 



In itself it cannot be prevented, and when 

 it happens in due course of nature it should 

 be encouraged rather than checked. Nature 

 has, however, no objection to borrow at times 

 the hand of man to assist her feathered off- 

 spring in throwmg oft* their glossy coats. 



The top and sides of the cage may be co- 

 vered up with paper to keep the birds warm, 

 and the cleaning of the cage may be omitted 

 for two or three weeks. A httle saft'ron in 

 their water, a little nourishing bread, egg, 

 and maw seed, will speedily clothe the birds 

 in a plumage more beautiful than that in 

 which they were. 



The covering of the cage should not be 



