24 



INTRODUCTION. 



indeed, the loss of their feathers prevents their taking long 

 flights, and the reproduction of them occasions a loss of flesh 

 which must be repaired. An abundance of food is therefore 

 necessary, and, following this rule, during moulting, some 

 additional food must be 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 worms and ants' 

 eggs to those that eat insects; all should have bread soaked in 

 boiled milk, warmth, and baths. Nothing has succeeded better 

 than this regimen. 



Vertigo, or Giddiness. — This, without being properly a dis- 

 ease, is rather common, and is occasioned by the trick which 

 the birds of the first class have, of turning their head and neck 

 so far round that they fall off their perch. They may be 

 easily cured of this trick by throwing a covering over the top 

 of the cage, which prevents their seeing anything above them, 

 for it is with looking up that this giddiness comes on. 



Pairing Fever. — A disease which may be called the " pairing 

 fever" must not be forgotten here. House birds are usually 

 attacked with it in the spring, or at the time when the inclina- 

 tion to pair is greatest. They cease to sing, become sorrowful 

 and thin, ruffle their feathers, and die. This fever generally 

 first seizes those which are confined in cages ; it appears to 

 arise from their mode of life, which is too uniform and wearying. 

 They -may be cured merely by placing them in the window, 

 where they are soon so much refreshed that they forget their 

 grief, their desire for liberty, or for pairing, and resume their 

 liveliness and song. 



It has been observed that a single female in the room is 

 sufficient to cause this disease to all the males of the same 

 family, though of different species. Removing the female will 

 cure them directly. The males and females, at this season, 

 must be separated, so that they cannot see nor hear one another. 

 This, perhaps, is the reason that a male, when put in the 

 window, is soon cured. 



Parasitic Vermin. — If birds are sometimes restless, especially 



