20 



and a large amount of discretion is 

 required in flying them during these 

 months. 



Barley and grey peas is the best 

 food to give them regularly. A 

 change of wheat and canary seed 

 half-an-hour before liberating them 

 will improve their flight, and make 

 them fly two hours longer than their 

 regular time of flying. If this re- 

 ceipe fails to make any difference to 

 them, it is because the birds are 

 not in good condition ; too much 

 flesh is principally the cause of it ; 

 dried bread crusts and barley will 

 reduce the flesh, and a sprinkle of 

 hemp seed after the barley will do 

 them good. A small quantity of 

 rue in the water will improve them, 

 and get them in flying condition, 

 and especially they will require daily 

 exercise. The proper time to feed 

 them in spring is eight in the morn- 

 ing and six o'clock at night. The 

 birds should be watched very 



