xii. Introductory Notk. 



in both. The opportunity for these is, therefore, very necessary 

 to their health and comfort. Falconers know, for instance, tliat 

 their hawks will not fly well unless the\' have had their nioining 

 bath; in seeking other means of getting cool and clean they will 

 be apt to soar away out of sight and will perhaps be lost alto- 

 gether. A large bath of clean water must be provided for all birds 

 of prey, and for all kinds of gallinaceous birds large heaps of 

 sand or dry earth. Even the little passerine birds must have 

 enough sand to dust in, and a water vessel large enough for a 

 satisfactory bath. Birds differ much in their hours for bathing ; 

 some like to wash in the morning, others not until the sun is 

 warm, others again — our own robin is an instance — wash quite 

 late in the evening. But it is best to try and get the washing 

 over before the day turns cold, that feathers may be thoroughly 

 dry by bed- time. 



It is good to devise means for giving birds occupation, for 

 the more they can be kept amused and occupied the better will 

 be their health. When one comes to think of it, although birds 

 bred in captivit}'. who know of no other existence, nia\'^ be quite 

 contented, aviary life must be pretty dull for any bird that has 

 once known freedom. The more they have to work for — to 

 search for — their food the better ; it is better for a finch to be 

 pecking seed out of a millet spray than taking it from a food 

 vessel ; it is better for a falcon to have to pull hard at its food 

 than to be supplied with little pieces it can easily swallow ; it is 

 better for scratching birds to have to hunt for a portion, at any 

 rate, of their food in sand gravel or mould than always to find it 

 all lying in a heap in the open. 



It requires but little observation as a rule to tell when a 

 bird is out of sorts ; it shows this by ruffled feathers, a incked-up 

 look, half-closed eyes, neglect of food, drink or l)ath, and listless 

 movements. A sick bird does not shake itself. The bird that is 

 well has its feathers close-set to its body and looks " hard." 



Provided birds are well, and well fed, it is extraordinary 

 how great a degree of cold most of them (even from warm 

 countries) will stand. Frost affects them but little or not at all. 

 But two things no bird can stand : the first is a draught, and the 



