298 GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 



given to house birds, appropriate to the different species 

 millet or canary-seed, a little hemp- seed, white bread 

 soaked in water, and lettuce or endive, to those which feed 

 on seeds ; with a few more meal-worms or ants' eggs to 

 those that eat insects. All should have bread soaked in 

 boiled milk, warmth, and baths. This will sufficiently 

 indicate the line of treatment, at this the most critical 

 crisis of bird life ; warmth and nourishing diet are the 

 chief requisites. The drink should be water impregnated 

 with iron. 



Age. This is a malady, if it may be so termed, for which 

 there is no cure. When their time comes, birds like men 

 must diB ; but the period of life depends greatly upon the 

 care taken of the patient, the nature of its food, &c. Of the 

 average duration of life which obtains among wild birds, 

 we have no means of judging correctly, and there are so 

 many circumstances which affect that of those in confine- 

 ment, that we cannot take it as a criterion : we know that 

 Parrots have lived in confinement for a century or more, 

 and several kinds of Finches for twenty-four years, and 

 even the Nightingale, that most delicate of cage birds, has 

 attained that age in a state of domestication, and cannot be 

 taken as a standard. 



We must here bring our practical remarks to a conclu- 

 sion : let us do so with a few 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 



Give cage birds as much air and light as possible, with- 

 out exposing them to cold draughts and glare of hot sun- 

 shine. Take care that they have no sudden changes of 

 temperature, and that the air they breathe be free from 

 noxious vapours. The smell of fresh paint will quickly kill 

 them, as will often that of escaped gas, or any other offensive 

 odour. Never let them hang in moist reek or steam. When 

 newly caught they must be accustomed gradually to the 

 confined air of the house. Keep them clean. Feed them 

 regularly and sparingly ; if you cram them you kill them ; 

 and treat them at all times ivith the greatest gentleness and 

 tenderness. 



