Preparing Birds for Exhibition. 373 



magnesia or Epsoni salts placed in the drinking-water a few 

 days before the birds are operated upon is also of much 

 service. If by accident the wing is caused to bleed it should 

 be bathed with warm water and dressed with a few drops of the 

 compound tincture of myrrh, applied by a feather or a camel- 

 hair brush. It is advisable in the case of an inexperienced 

 fancier or amateur to get an "old hand" to perform the 

 operation, if one is procurable. 



When the colour feeding is first begun, let the birds have a 

 supply of canary seed in addition to the prepared food, and 

 partly cover the cages with some thin material that will not 

 altogether exclude the light. When the colour feed is freely 

 consumed, remove the canary seed and substitute mustard 

 seed, and gradually lower the cover until it reaches within two 

 inches of the bottom of the wiring in front of the cage, but do 

 not exclude any light except the direct rays of the sun, as 

 light is necessary to health, but the direct rays of the sun 

 affect the colour and make it much paler. (See Chapter on 

 Moulting.) 



When the birds have completed the process of the moult, 

 the covers may be partly or entirely removed, provided there 

 is not a strong or direct light upon them, and the ordinary 

 seed diet may be substituted for the food used to produce 

 colour. A varied diet will also be found of great benefit at 

 this period. 



A few groats, a little linseed, hemp, inga, or rape seed should 

 be given sparingly once or twice a week. Great care must be 

 taken to keep birds intended for exhibition scrupulously clean ; 

 they should be supplied with fresh sand and good grit at least 

 once a week, and should have a bath twice a week, if the 

 weather will permit and the temperature is above freezing- 

 point. Before a bird is sent off to a show it should be washed, 

 if dirty, at least three days before it is despatched on its 

 journey, and if the tail is not tight and firm, the bird should 

 be caught and its tail immersed in pure water (warm is best), 

 and dried with a clean cloth, taking care to compress the 

 feathers firmly during the operation. If the feathers show a 



