On Taming Birds. 21 



to avoid startling them by sudden movements, or by 

 snapping the seed-boxes round, and hooking the 

 doors with a jar, and always to talk to them and 

 coax them while performing any alarming offices. 



I think it a particularly good plan, at any rate at 

 first, to have two cages similarly fitted up, and to 

 have one each morning entirely prepared for the 

 bird's reception, the seed for the day, and the water 

 ready, the floor well sanded, and even the green 

 food put in, so that when the doors of the two are 

 opened the inmates can just hop comfortably into 

 their freshly prepared breakfast room : it saves a 

 great deal of time and fluttering, if the birds are new; 

 and is an amusing scene, if they are impatiently 

 watching for the doors to open. 



10. This plan of course involves the slight expense 

 of an extra cage, but I think its effect is so good on 

 the bird's health and comfort, that, where several are 

 kept, it is well worth adopting. 



The cages get thus a chance of being thoroughly 

 cleaned and aired, as they should invariably be pre- 

 pared for use one morning, all but putting in seed 

 and water, and then be placed where they will get 

 plenty of air to freshen them, but without getting 

 damp, till they are used next day. As far as the birds 

 are concerned, twice a-week is sufficient for giving 

 this thorough cleaning, except in the heat of summer : 

 but if the cages are kept in a sitting-room, every-day 



