Diseases. \ 45 



which in high-class birds frequently covers the eyes, and 

 thereby irritates them, causing inflammation, and it is among 

 such birds that the disease is observed. To me it appears 

 to have become to some extent hereditary in its tendency, 

 affecting plain-heads bred from heavily-crested parents. This 

 complaint is greatly on the increase, owing to the vast im- 

 provement so far as crest is concerned which has been made 

 within the past ten years in this variety. I am afraid there 

 is no appreciable remedy; for to remove the cause would be 

 to circumscribe the crests by introducing the blood of non- 

 crest-bred birds, which would, I fear, be distasteful to the 

 breeders of crested birds generally. 



When the first symptoms of this complaint are observed 

 the eyes should be washed or bathed with a lotion, made 

 as follows : Sugar of lead 2 scruples, rain water (aqua mollis) 

 half-a-pint, to which should be added drachm of the tincture 

 of belladonna. This lotion should be applied once or twice 

 a day for a month; a soft feather or a small camel-hair 

 brush are the best mediums for applying it. 



The eyes should be well opened, and the liquid placed on 

 the pupils. In some cases cataracts are formed which 

 could only be removed by a surgical operation by a skilled 

 practitioner. 



The first symptoms of cataract noticeable is that the bird, 

 before venturing to leap to the perch from the bottom of 

 the cage, looks up with its head turned on one side, and 

 appears to have some hesitancy, hopping along a lower 

 perch, looking up several times before attempting to reach 

 the upper one. Birds so affected appear tamer than usual, 

 and fly about less when you attempt to catch them in your 

 hand, and on closely examining the eye or eyes as frequently 

 both are affected a milky white film will be noticed on the 

 pupil. 



P. 



PARASITES. See under Chap. II., p. 52 ("Preparing Breed- 

 ing Cages "). Parasites are produced and propagated by the 



