Cages. 107 



cage is desirable, if it ever is, they might be service- 

 able. 



4. I must not, however, pretend to speak as of 

 personal experience in many kinds of cages. Those 

 that I infinitely prefer to any are the commonest ; 

 and though good materials and workmanship may 

 render them ornamental, my adherence to the plainest 

 prevents my knowing much of other kinds. 



The glass cages made by Mr. Hawkins look bright 

 and gay. I believe their price is about two guineas 

 and a half, but I do not know how the birds thrive 

 in them. The slightest chip, where even the perches 

 are glass, is very dangerous, and I doubt whether 

 they can be warm enough. To the Zollverein cages 

 which I have tried I have a great dislike, for birds 

 in general. The quantity of metal seems to chill a 

 bird so thoroughly ; thus letting alone the question*, 

 not yet quite settled, as to the paint being hard 

 enough to resist all pecks, they do not seem to me 

 safe cages for any bird to be allowed to roost in. 

 Some of mine never do so without catching cold. 

 And as to the facilities of cleaning, I do not think 

 that properly-tended birds need meet with any diffi- 

 culty in a plain wooden cage. 



I do not know if it is true that the cage was in 

 fault, as it was not a thing I wished to experiment 

 on further ; but some of my canaries in a zinc cage 

 suffered much from their feet, which seemed red and 



