Finches. 123 



on one side, so that the bird cannot reach the hole, for 

 this exhibits an amount of carelessness as to the com- 

 fort of our little prisoners which is not to be tolerated, 

 but because, if very full, the seed and water fall into 

 the cage, and if not filled up well, or if the water is 

 sprinkled about by the birds, they are often obliged to 

 stretch their little necks painfully to reach their food. 

 Sometimes, too, the young birds contrive to get into 

 the glass, and are in danger of suffocation or drowning, 

 as they cannot turn round to come out again. A foun- 

 tain in the middle of the cage looks exceedingly pretty, 

 when it is large enough to admit one ; and the self- 

 supplying fountain formed of a glass globe, with a long 

 neck inverted in a green china stand, with openings for 

 the birds to drink from, answers well, as it keeps the 

 water clean and always at the proper level. A bath, 

 wired round like the cage, should be fastened on the 

 doorway, and in this the birds should have a bath every 

 morning, unless on a very cold sunless day. When they 

 have all washed, however, it should be removed, as 

 some birds are so fond of washing, that they will go in 

 and out of the bath again and again, till they become 

 completely chilled. 



In winter, the water in which they bathe must never 

 be quite cold. It is well to have a second board and 

 two sets of perches for a large cage, as these can be 

 washed and dried after being splashed by the birds. 

 Coarse gravelly sand must always be spread over the 



