296 DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



the bird to its natural size, so that the malady is easily 

 cured. No mischief is likely to attend the operation, which 

 may therefore be performed without fear. 



Giddiness or Twirling. This is rather a bad habit 

 than a disease, although, if not checked, it sometimes causes 

 death, and may therefore call for serious consideration. 

 Seed-eating birds are most addicted to this habit of twist- 

 ing the head and neck so far back as to lose their balance, 

 and fall from the perch. The readiest means of effecting 

 a cure is to cover the top of the cage, so that nothing can 

 be seen above it. 



Parasites. Cage birds are sometimes much troubled 

 by lice or mites, which keep them in a constant state of 

 irritation and restlessness, so that their health suffers. 

 When there is much shifting about on the perch, and a 

 frequent application of the beak to the back, wings, or 

 abdomen, there is reason to suspect the presence of these 

 tormenters, and an examination should be immediately 

 instituted. Should the little yellow and red insects be dis- 

 covered upon the skin, or between the feathers, give them, 

 by means of a syringe, a good dose of weak infusion of 

 tobacco, or water in which quicksilver has been steeped. 

 This should be repeated for several days, letting the bird 

 have a bath frequently, and taking care that its cage be 

 scrupulously clean, and strewn with fresh sand every day. 



Bad feet more frequently arise from want of oppor- 

 tunities for bathing than perhaps any other cause : dryness 

 causes the scales to contract, and great pain and irritation 

 ensues. Sometimes it is gout which occasions the feet to 

 swell and become painful ; in either case warm fomentations 

 should be resorted to, and frequent cleansing, taking care 

 to remove all the loose scales and diseased skin; this should 

 be done very tenderly. When a bird's foot is bruised or 

 broken, it should be shut up in a small cage, having a 

 smooth even bottom and no perches, and put in a quiet 

 place, where there is nothing to disturb and cause it to move 

 about. In this manner a cure will generally be effected 

 without the aid of plaster or bandages. In cases of bad 

 feet, the plan of having a cage with a movable tin bottom 

 which could be partly filled with tepid water, has been 



