106 Song Birds. 



Baths also are often difficult, because of their 

 weight, to manage. The use of papier maclie would 

 render them much lighter. 



3. Most cages are defective, I find, as to their 

 arrangements concerning seed and water. Little 

 shallow tins, from which the seed is continually spilt ; 

 and water vessels, made to hang on outside in such 

 a. manner that the slightest movement may turn aside 

 the mouth, and leave the poor little creatures within 

 to die of thirst in the sight of water. 



I do not think these glasses can be too much 

 condemned. The mere injury the birds often get in 

 striking against the rim deserves some little notice ; 

 and the danger of their not reaching the water is 

 -enough to make all who are fond of their birds 

 unhappy, when unable themselves to see to them. 



If they must be used, the only safety seems to 

 me to be in having a small glass kept filled inside 

 the cage as well, and that has many disadvantages. 



The zinc cages have little barrels which turn round 

 for filling ; and these are much more suitable, though 

 I do not think for cages anything is better than the 

 old-fashioned drawers with holes made in them for 

 the birds' heads to go through at the upper edge. 

 For water, the self- supplying fountains, or the same 

 covered drawers are also very fitting. 



The mahogany breeding -cages are often faulty 

 in these respects. Otherwise, when rather a close 



