62 Practicai, Rird-Kkkping. 



so, and leiiioviiig the seed and sand trays first of all, afterwards 

 sponging the cage dry before returning the food, etc. 



I know a Jardine's Parrot, and on visiting it one da>', I 

 suggested to the owner that the bird looked as if a bath would 

 improve its appearance. " I am so afraid of its catching cold," 

 was the reply. I pointed out that it would on the contrary be 

 more inclined to prevent its doing so, especially as it is a very 

 tame bird and can be taken on the hand to flutter its wings and 

 so shake off any superabundance of water. 



I called another day, and the bird looked fifty times better 

 in his plumage. Of course one must be sure that a parrot is in 

 good health, and if it has been used to ablutions of this sort, the 

 water (if it will not or cannot take its own bath) should be only 

 slightly sprinkled at first. But I have Parrots whose plumage 

 is so tight and so accustomed to a syringing, that one has to 

 spray with force before the feathers are apparently wetted: and 

 although individual birds do not always approve of a shower- 

 bath at the moment, they evince great pleasure directly it is 

 over, shaking themselves and preening their feathers and often 

 attempting another bath in their drinking water! 



It is unnatural to keep a Parrot indoors all through the 

 year without a bath, when one thinks of the drenching tropical 

 rains through which they fly, and the daily baths in some 

 motmtain stream or forest pool which they enjoy. 



And in Australia, where Parrakeets are often far from 

 water through a great part of the day, there must be a certain 

 amount of dew-drenched grass through which they run and 

 scramble when seeking their breakfast. Parrots' feet too keep 

 in better condition if they are syringed. 



Not long ago, I received a pair of Hooded Golden- 

 shouldered Parrakeets from the Continent. They are acclima- 

 tized birds, and it was delightful to see how, when I hooked a 

 roomy bath on to their cage, they lowered themselves into the 

 water and splashed and splashed. One felt the vibrations of their 

 pleasure very strongly. But newly-imported birds must not be 

 treated in this way, not at least until they are thoroughly strong 

 and decidedly health}', by which time they have probably ceased 

 to be newly-imported! 



