vi FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



water should be washed with warm water daity, and every seed-pan if 

 necessary; perches should be examined to see that they do not get 

 dirty, and if the walls or wires of cages become foul, they should be 

 thoroughly washed, and in the case of such, as are made of wood, 

 freshly lime-whited. 



For food and water receptacles, metal hoppers and glass or earthen- 

 ware fountains are usually recommended; the former undoubtedly lessen 

 the waste of seed and are valuable for aviary purposes, but the latter 

 are difficult to clean and yet require thoroughly scouring out every 

 day, exactly the same as any other drinking vessel ; otherwise the 

 water becomes stagnant and fetid, producing that most fatal of all 

 bird diseases inflammation of the bowels. 



Undoubtedly the best plan for supplying water in an aviary, is to 

 have a fountain with a small jet, playing incessantly into a shallow 

 glass basin, and running over into a larger bowl, which carries it 

 down to a drain pipe: in my two bird-room aviaries I have adopted 

 this plan: for my other aviaries, however, I find a large zinc tray, two 

 inches deep, and daily cleaned out, a very satisfactory drinking and 

 bathing trough. 



As regards vessels for cages, most practical men who have a 

 large family of feathered pets to look after, have tried, one after 

 another, all kinds of patents for the reception of food and water, and 

 have finally returned to open pans. To my mind nothing is better 

 for both purposes than the little circular glazed earthenware pans sold 

 for Pigeons' food by many corn-chandlers. They have an inner lip 

 below the rim, which prevents seed from being easily thrown out, or 

 if large enough for bathing purposes, saves much of the splashing 

 over caused by a bird when washing : moreover, if dipped into a pail 

 of hot water, they can be cleaned without the least trouble, and wiped 

 dry with a flannel. I need hardly remind my readers that no open 

 pan should be placed below a perch, and wherever placed it should be 

 examined at least once a day to see that it does not get foul. 



One very important point, to secure healthy birds, is not to be 

 economical in the matter of sand: nobody, unless he had tested the 

 marked increase in mortality, resulting from the use of an inferior 

 article, would for a moment credit that it was possible. The best sea- 

 sand, not washed, but just as brought from the shore, is the most 

 healthful; and no other should ever be used. An attempt to sub- 

 stitute ordinary red sand, one year, in my aviaries; resulted in the 

 loss of no less than ninety birds between August and the following 

 May. 



