5 8 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



in a panic from their snug retreats to fall terrified on 

 the floor, or bang themselves into a state of uncon- 

 sciousness against the wires, perches, and other furniture 

 of the aviary. 



As these birds are very quiet and move about very 

 little of their own accord, especially on the ground, 

 their claws, or nails, will often get so long that the 

 poor little creatures become entangled by them among 

 the perches, and would soon die from exhiustion con- 

 sequent on their vain attempts to escape, if their plight 

 were not discovered in time to rescue them from their 

 awkward and unpleasant position. It is therefore a 

 good plan to examine their feet occasionally and when 

 the nails are seen to be getting too long and curved 

 to cut them with a pair of sharp scissors, taking care 

 not to go too near the quick. 



If, instead of fitting up the cage or aviary with 

 straight perches, branches of trees were used, the Nuns 

 would be more apt to fly about, and would, necessarily, 

 be healthier and less liable to the fits that carry so 

 many of them off prematurely in confinement. 



If it is desired to breed these little birds, I think 

 the most likely plan to succeed would be to put a 

 dozen or more of them into a commodious aviary, or 

 a bright cheerful bird-room of sufficient size, and give 

 them no companions of any other species but their own. 



All kinds of nesting boxes, little German wicker- 

 cages, cocoanut-fyusks and even the shell of the cocoanut 



