Baths, FoodholderSy fye. 145 



11. The horrible invention of hanging glasses has 

 doubtless killed many birds, and even, without dying, 

 to endure great thirst is the extremest suffering. For 

 my own part, I cannot bear that my birds should ran 

 the risks which have been already adverted to in 

 Chapter XIII. 



The zinc cages have little turning cylinders (which 

 clever birds walk out through), and these being fitted 

 with tin seed-holders, the seed is upset directly ; if they 

 have glasses, the birds, at least young ones, very often 

 hurt themselves against them. The little tin trays 

 in breeding cages, with the outside glasses, seem to 

 combine all the disadvantages possible to collect. 



In Edinburgh, a kind of cage-fountain is or was 

 much used, made of plain cut glass, with a well 

 polished edge, and presenting to the bird a constant 

 supply of water inside the cage. There is, also, a 

 kind of barrel seed-box, through a hole in the side of 

 which the bird obtains its food. The best plan, how- 

 ever, that I know of, suited to any good-sized cage or 

 aviary, is a box, made with a sloping top and a deep 

 drawer belonging to it, which should be lined with glass 

 or earthenware ; a row of round holes goes all along 

 just above the drawer, and either a similar vessel is 

 arranged for water, or a division in each separates the 

 part for the seed from that which contains the water. 

 A low perch goes along it, on which the birds sit 

 when eating. The whole affair, woodwork as well as 



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