Our Infirmary. 137 



years, we can confidently recommend their use to others. 

 Canaries, though to a certain extent tender birds, 

 require little in the way of medicine. Only give them 

 plenty of good sound canary and rape seed, with now 

 and then a little hemp as a treat, and not as their 

 general food ; a little green food, such as lettuce, mus- 

 tard and cress, or apple or boiled carrot according to 

 the season, with plenty of clean water and red sand to 

 bathe and dust themselves in, and you will have little 

 trouble about doctoring. Provided you keep them in 

 an equal temperature, away from all cold draughts of 

 air, than which nothing kills them sooner, in a light 

 cheerful cage in which there is plenty of room, and 

 where there is the cheering warmth of the morning 

 sun, no birds will be found hardier or require less care 

 or attention. We would advise no one, however, to 

 keep canaries, or, indeed, any other bird or animal 

 that is deprived of the means of taking care of itself, 

 who is not really naturally fond of such things, for if it 

 be only taken up from fashion, or through a momen- 

 tary whim, depend upon it after the novelty is over, 

 the attention they require will soon become a trouble, 

 and the trouble will cause neglect, and neglect will 

 cause much misery and suffering, if not actual death to 

 the once charming pet. No, to take a real pleasure in 

 such things you must be *' born, as it were, to love pigs 

 and poultry ;" it is a taste which cannot be acquired, 

 but being innate, will cause the necessary trouble it 

 entails to be a pleasure, and the care "a work and 

 labour of love." 



