DRESSING THE BIRDS' BEAKS. 



clean fresh water daily should be supplied. 

 And in the matter of baths see that these are 

 emptied as soon after bathing as possible. If left 

 the birds will drink the dirty water. Another 

 thing that requires looking after occasionally, is 

 insect pests . I refer to the feather louse and the 

 body louse. The latter generally congregate near 

 the vent, the former mostly in the flight feathers. 

 But a dusting of Keating 's Insect Powder will 

 quickly settle them. You can purchase small 

 bellows from seed merchants to use with this 

 powder . 



Still another matter which requires occa- 

 sional attention, with some birds more often than 

 others, is the cutting of their beaks. Always 

 carry in your pocket a small pair of sharp scissors 

 for this purpose. The upper mandible of some 

 birds grows very long at the point, and for the 

 bird's comfort, and to enable it to pick up food 

 properly, this point requires cutting. But be 

 careful not to cut the quick or you will cause 

 bleeding . Just take off the horny portion . Some 

 birds do not require any attention at all in this 

 direction, but others require to be constantly 

 seen to. 



Just a few hints now as to mating up time 

 and breeding. There is no advantage to be 

 gained by mating up too early. In fact, quite 

 the reverse. I know that many Pigeon fanciers 

 associate St. Valentine's Day as the correct time 

 to mate up their birds. This is a pretty and 



73 



