Washing Canaries. 369 



the tail as well. Some fanciers place the thighs of the bird 

 they are operating upon between their fingers whilst thus 

 engaged, but it is not advisable for a novice to attempt 

 this. Next wash the head and neck, and do not be sparing 

 with the soap lather ; get well into the hollows and about the 

 cheeks and sides of the neck; then turn the bird over and 

 place your little finger over the lower part of its body, and 

 begin to wash the throat, breast, body, &c. Do not be afraid 

 of giving it a complete lathering; never heed it if it gets the 

 soap in its eyes or a few mouthf uls of the lather ; it will not 

 be harmed thereby. 



After you have finished this part of the programme, you 

 must take the other flannel and go over the bird in the same 

 way as before, with clean water. Never be afraid of giving 

 it a good sousing with the pure liquid, for one of the principal 

 secrets in washing birds is to get the soap completely out of 

 the feathers. Having accomplished this part of the operation 

 to your satisfaction, you must proceed to dry the bird. Take 

 the long wing feathers, and pressing them gently together, 

 draw them between your lips to bring out the wet; having 

 done the wings, draw the tail through your mouth in the same 

 way ; then proceed to pat the bird as gently as you can with one 

 of the warm dry cotton cloths or handkerchiefs, spread out 

 the wings and tail as before, and dry them as well as you can. 

 Having got out all the moisture you are able, roll the bird in one 

 of the other dry cloths, leaving its head partly out, and hold 

 it to the fire pretty closely for about three minutes, with your 

 finger over the region of the heart very lightly. As soon as 

 you feel the pulsation return naturally you may release the 

 little prisoner, and place it in the drying cage. The whole 

 of this operation must be performed as close to the fire as you 

 can bear to be, for if a bird gets chilled it may die. 



Birds become very much exhausted by this process, and lie 

 panting for several minutes after they are admitted into the 

 drying compartment ; but you must not be alarmed thereby, 

 for I may tell you that I have washed hundreds of birds for 

 shows during the past thirty years, and never lost one myself. 



2 B 



