10 



bread and milk, and a little smoked bacon, scraped off 

 with a knife, is very healthy. And for soft-bill birds, a 

 meal worm dipped in sweet oil, some berries, and ant's 

 eggs. Plenty of water for bathing schould be given 

 them. Birds that roll in sand (instead of bathing in 

 water), such as larks, quails, &c., require plenty of very 

 dry gravel. 



If it happens that the wing or tail feathers do not 

 drop, they may be pulled out, two or three every day. 

 Some birds change their feathers twice a-year, (fall and 

 spring.) These change their color also, being much 

 handsomer in summer than in winter. They are chiefly 

 natives of warm climates. 



2. Vermin. — A great trouble to birds in confinement, 

 are insects (small lice, of a reddish color), which often 

 cause the death of a bird, though persons do not know 

 what is the matter with them. They are generally 

 produced by uncleanliness, and will, particularly in a 

 wooden cage, increase very fast. The symptoms are, 

 that when the bird, during the day, is observed to be 

 often picking itself, and the wing and shoulders becom- 

 ing bald, the crevices and joinings of their cage becom- 

 ing dirty outside. The insects hide themselves during 

 the day, in those crevices, &c., creep out at night, crawl 

 up to the birds, and torment them most unmercifully. 

 They will suck the blood out of them, and prevent the 

 poor things from resting all night. The bird thus tor- 

 mented, will appear dull and heavy during the day ; 

 ceases singing ; and if rehef be not given them, it very 

 often causes their death. 



