308 BRITISH SONG BIEDS. 



DISORDERS OP CAGED BIRDS. 



Although we have appended to the description of each bird a brief 

 account of a few of the disorders they are subject to, we shall now 

 notice some of their complaints separately, so as to enforce them 

 more strongly upon the mind of the young bird-fancier. We also 

 give a list of the usual remedies that are applied, not only from our 

 own experience, but from the highest acknowledged authorities. 



HUSK, or ASTHMA, is a disease of not unfrequent occurrence 

 amongst caged birds ; it sometimes arises from cold, proceeding from 

 neglect, and sometimes from the birds having had too much hemp- 

 seed, which, although all birds like it, is very injurious, as it is over- 

 heating, and incites them to gorge. The curatives are aperients, such 

 as a spider or two every day, and endive and water-cresses ; occa- 

 sionally boiled bread and milk, and bread soaked in water, are very 

 good. Some persons recommend a drink, made by boiling linseed 

 and stick- liquorice in water, as being very excellent. The symptoms 

 are, shortness of breath, and frequent opening of the beak, and if 

 alarmed, keeping it open for some time. 



The PIP is a cold which stops up the nostrils, and hardens and 

 inflames the membrane which covers the tongue. The symptoms are 

 opening of the beak, its yellowness at the base, and the dryness of 

 the tongue. A composition of pepper, fresh butter, and garlic is 

 the best remedy, and a feather must be passed up the nostrils, for 

 the purpose of opening them. In large birds, such as domestic 

 fowls, it is usual to remove the inflamed skin, by tearing it off with 

 the nail. 



The SURFEIT is a disorder to which young birds are particularly 

 subject, arising either from giving them too much food, or from their 

 own gluttonous propensities, when they feed upon the same kind of 

 diet. The symptom of this disorder is a swelling under the belly, 

 owing to the bowels sinking down to the lower part of the body, and 

 sometimes turning black. The same kind of protuberance often 

 shows itself when the bird is suffering from a cold, and the disorder 

 is then termed a swelling ; in this case the swelling is at first white, 

 but it afterwards turns red, as in the surfeit. The utmost care must 

 be taken with the poor little sufferers, as few survive the last stages 

 of this malady. Some fanciers recommend whole oatmeal as a good 

 cleansing food during the first three or four days, putting saffron in 

 the water at the same time ; if, however, the bird is too loose, maw- 

 seed and bruised hemp- seed, with some groundsel, and saffron in the? 

 water, should be substituted. Boiled bread and milk with maw-seed 

 put in it is by some reckoned good, as are also millet, hemp, canary, 

 and rape seeds boiled together, with some hard boiled egg minced! 

 very small, and about as much lettuce- seed as any of the other kinds- 

 added. Treacle may be put in the water which you give the birds,, 

 before furnishing them with their daily supply of seed. 



SWEATING is a disorder to which some hen canaries are subject, 

 during the time of incubation, or while they are nursing their young- 



