THE BIRD-ROOM 12$ 



kind together. While they were cooling, 

 ready to receive the food, I took out every 

 perch that was soiled, scraped it and washed 

 it in the suds, using a brush for the purpose. 

 In the winter I piled them on the register to 

 dry ; when I had no fire, I stood them against 

 the window-pane in the sun. 



By this time my dishes were cool, and I 

 filled each one with fresh water, or the pre- 

 pared food, or replenished the seed, accord- 

 ing to the need. 



Then I began with the seed-eaters, who are 

 neater than the soft -food birds, and cleaned 

 every tray thus : emptying the gravel on to a 

 folded newspaper, I washed the tray in the 

 hot suds (using the mop), wiped it, and dried 

 it over the register ; then, using a small sieve 

 I sifted out all the dirt and shells, and returned 

 the gravel to the tray, adding a shake or two 

 from the box of fresh gravel. About once a 

 fortnight I threw this all out, and began again 

 with fresh gravel. When one tray was in or- 

 der I replaced it, adding the food and water 

 dishes that belonged to it, and then proceeded 

 to the next. 



So I went through the room, leaving every 



