Moulting. 167 



of ten will produce the effect desired. It is considered a 

 commendable practice to put a small quantity of soot in the 

 drinking water to encourage a free moult. I have also found 

 the following mixture of great service : Yinum colchici, 3dr. ; 

 sp. ether nit., oz. ; water sufficient for six ounces. Give a 

 fceaspoonful of this to every fluid ounce of water in place of 

 the ordinary drinking water. 



MOULTING Box FOB LONDON FANCY. I am convinced that 

 much depends upon the health of a bird for reaping the full 

 advantages that are to be derived from moulting, both in 

 colour and feather, and I cannot help thinking that too much 

 close covering is bad for birds and pernicious in its conse- 

 quences. A fine muslin or thin calico cover, that will admit 

 the air freely, can in no way prove injurious to them, and 

 may be found useful in helping to keep them clean. In 

 moulting LcnJon Fancy canaries, it is the practice to place 

 show specimens in cages made expressly for them. These 

 cages have solid wood backs, ends, and bottoms ; the top like- 

 wise is made of wood, but the front half of it is so con- 

 structed as to turn back at pleasure, as it is hung with 

 hinges; the front is wired closely, and a small frame, wired 

 in the same way, is made to fit into that portion of the top 

 that folds back; a framed glass slide is made to cover the 

 front, and after the birds are placed in the cages these slides 

 are put a little way over at first, and closed up until they 

 gradually extend across the entire front; the lids are then 

 propped up a little way when the weather is sultry to let 

 in a supply of fresh air; this is termed "box moulting." 



It is doubtless very necessary that birds of this variety 

 intended for exhibition should be kept quiet, and to effect this 

 object they require to be pretty closely covered; but I have 

 a decided aversion to "box moulting," and entertain the idea 

 that a bird of this kind can be moulted quite as well and 

 quite as advantageously in an open wire cage, with a thin 

 calico or holland cover made to fit over it, similar to a night- 

 cap, but open at one side and tied with strings; a piece 

 should be notched out where the seed and water vessels fit 

 on, so that they can be removed without disturbing or 



