INTRODUCTION. 13 



board. This paste, which is very nourishing, may be kept a 

 long time without becoming sour or sticky; on the contrary, it 

 is always dry and brittle. As soon as a delicate bird is 

 brought in, some flies or chopped worms should be mixed with 

 the paste, which will attract it to eat. It will soon be accus- 

 tomed to this food, which will keep it in life and health. 



Although the notice of a universal remedy is generally 

 suspicious, the two following sorts of paste have been recom- 

 mended, and used with success, agreeing well with all, or 

 nearly all, tamed birds, if we except those which are con- 

 fined in cages on account of their beautiful songs. They are 

 not only very simple and cheap, but also prevent great loss of 

 time to those who possess a great number of birds. 



Universal Paste. — To make the first paste, take a white loaf 

 which is well baked and stale ; put it into fresh water, and 

 leave it there until quite soaked through ; then squeeze out the 

 water and pour boiled milk over the loaf, adding about two 

 thirds the quantity of barley meal with the bran well sifted out, 

 or, what is still better, wheat meal. 



For the second paste, grate a carrot very nicely (this root 

 may be kept nearly a whole year if buried in sand) ; then soak a 

 small white loaf in fresh water, press the water out, and put it 

 and the grated carrot into an earthen pan ; add two handfuls of 

 barley or wheat meal, and mix the whole well together with a 

 pestle. 



These pastes should be made fresh every morning, as they 

 soon become sour, particularly the first, and consequently 

 hurtful. 



Every morning, fresh water must be given to the birds, both 

 for drinking and bathing. When a great many are left at 

 liberty, one dish will do for them all, about eight inches long, 

 and two in width and depth, divided into several partitions, 

 by which means they are prevented from plunging entirely 

 into the water, and in consequence making the place always 

 dirty and damp. A vessel of the same size and shape will 

 do for holding the universal paste, but then it must have no 

 partitions. 



