Breeding and Management. 53 



water to which soft soap and soda have been added. Either 

 preparation must be laid on with a small new paint-brush; 

 rub well into all the crevices of the cage, where the parasites 

 or bird vermin usually harbour, so that they may all be dis- 

 lodged and destroyed, as there is great difficulty in rearing 

 birds where those troublesome pests exist in large quantities. 

 After this is done, allow the cages to be exposed to the 

 weather for not less than forty-eight hours, but a few days 

 would be still better; next wash them out with warm water 

 in which a small quantity of washing-soda has been previously 

 dissolved. B/iiise off with pure water ; and, lastly, whitewash 

 them out. 



Another remedy is to slightly coat the crevices and corners 

 or joinings of the cage with turpentine or wood naphtha with 



FIG. 36. SMALL IRON RAKE for Cleaning Dirt out of Cages. 



a painter's brush, and then fire with lighted paper; but this 

 is rather a rash experiment, and needs care and caution in its 

 use. It is undoubtedly an effectual remedy. Quicklime, when 

 procurable, is best for whitewashing ; when not, use common 

 whitening and pipe-clay in equal proportions, and add a small 

 piece of alum. After the cages are quite dry, they are ready 

 for use. 



Be sure always to sprinkle the bottom of the cages 

 liberally with coarse sand the coarser the better or very 

 fine gravel. I prefer sea-sand myself, but any kind will do. 

 Sand or gravel is essential to assist birds in the process 

 of digestion. Powdered cuttle-fish, the shells of the eggs 

 of fowls crushed fine in a mortar, but not made into a 



