46 OUR HOME PETS 



Perches arranged thus, all the same way, 

 across the cage, are more convenient for a 

 bird, and a great pleasure also, as he will show 

 by his constant use of them in all sorts of 

 lively frolics. 



The perches being placed, dishes for the 

 bird's use must be procured. I prefer the 

 open, straight -sided cups that are found in 

 bird stores, about two inches in diameter and 

 one and a half deep ; but if a bird scatters his 

 food, you will need another kind. The best is 

 a dish of the size mentioned, with a flat cover, 

 in which are three holes, perhaps three-quar- 

 ters of an inch in diameter. The bird gets his 

 food through the holes, while the cover pre- 

 vents his scattering. This must, however, be 

 watched, for if he eats mocking-bird food, he 

 will dig a hole under each opening, and be 

 unable to get more. You must look out that 

 the cover is removed when the food gets too 

 low, or turned a little, so that he can dig new 

 holes. These two dishes should be placed in 

 two corners of the cage, and so near the wires 

 that they will not be under him in any of his 

 ordinary positions on the perch. 



It is a good plan, if the cage is over a carpet, 



