114 Soiuj Birds. 



15. The little cheap square cages do as well as 

 anything for a long line of school cages, and for 

 hospital cages, which are very essential for wounded 

 l)irds. A good plan is to take the wires entirely out 

 of one about eight inches square, and to sew round 

 the frame, at each comer, a tightly strained piece of 

 canvas or flannel. I much prefer the latter. The 

 top should he done in the same way, and a box or 

 tray, arranged to contain food, sand, and water, should 

 go along the door. 



The floor does best covered thickly with bran, or 

 even with coarse oatmeal, this being often cooling as 

 well as soft ; everything of wool is objectionable, onr 

 account of the hairs which twist round the claws. All 

 perches should always be moveable in this cage. If 

 a bird's leg is wounded, no perch should be left in 

 It ; but if it is the wing, one would be advisable. A 

 "water vessel, in which it could bathe if it wished, is 

 much to be desired ; but it should be at the door, or 

 liooked on, so as to cause no disturbance in filling or 

 refilling. If a bird is rather sick than hurt, the* 

 same arrangements may still answer well, but warmth 

 in this case is generally the principal thing needed, 

 and the bird should be laid on a piece of flannel, ancl 

 kept in a warm place, so that when there are many 

 birds, at least two hospital cages of each kind are- 

 desirable in order to change the patient from the one- 

 to the other. 



