Cages. 113 



13. A family of Tom Tits and a pair of Water 

 Wagtails, in a good-sized bell cage, are extremely 

 amusing ; but it should contain a large dish of water 

 with a rock in the middle, which may support a tree 

 or branch for perching on. 



14. Breeding cages are best made of mahogany 

 or some polished wood. They have generally two 

 small square spaces intended for the nests, and a 

 long division in which the little birds of the first 

 brood might live. I think, however, it should never 

 'bo used for this, as the young birds do better in a 

 larger cage put so as to touch the other. To have one 

 ond, as well as the front, of wire, would be an immense 

 advantage in these too gloomy cages. They are made 

 with drawers too, which is a great mistake, as the jar 

 ;tind grating of removing them is injurious. I think the 

 best plan is to have " a slide," that is, a slip of wood 

 which pushes out and allows the sand within to be 

 scraped out. Laying a couple of sheets of gutta 

 percha, or even of stiff brown paper, on the floor all 

 ready covered with a layer of sand, answers well in 

 some ways ; in that case, the upper one being drawn 

 off, the lower one is left all clean. It is said, that a, 

 few drops of sweet oil dropped in the crevices of the 

 cage, painted on with a feather, or dropped on paper, 

 will effectually preserve the cage from any trouble- 

 some insects, which, if they ever come, are most to- 

 be feared just while the nest is there. 



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