Cages and Cage-making. 



35 



Any railway servant would give them a drink of water during 

 a long journey. Seed should be thrown on the floor of the 

 cage together with a piece of breadcrust, soaked in cold 

 water and broken into small pieces; a bit of sweet apple may 

 also be put in the cage. It is a good plan to let in a piece 

 of glass at one end, and fasten over this a piece of perforated 

 zinc to prevent it from getting broken, as by this means the 

 birds can see to feed during a long journey. 



To accommodate four birds the dimensions would be cor- 

 respondingly less, say llin. by 7in. and 8in., and for two 

 birds only 9in. by 7in. and 7in., or for one 7in. by 7in. and 

 6in. wide. It is necessary in sending valuable birds a long 



Length, 15in. ; depth, 7in. ; height, 9in. 

 FIG. 19. TRAVELLING-CAGE TO ACCOMMODATE Six BIRDS, to be sent any distance. 



distance to allow plenty of space to prevent them from 

 getting cramped or damaged in plumage. For short dis- 

 tances an ordinary wooden box, with in. holes bored at each 

 side and a perch placed in the centre, would suffice. 



CAGES FOR SINGING - BIRDS. Those best suited for 

 canaries and mules are neat wire cages, with wood bottoms, 

 oblong in form, with arched roofs, waggon shaped; they 

 should have a draw -board, a seed-hopper, and a glass 

 drinking-trough those made of brass wire are very objection- 

 able, for, when they get wet, as they are sure to do every 

 time the bird washes itself, verdigris is produced, and it is 



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