THE BULLFINCH. 67 



His food should be of the best rape-seed soaked, and squeezed dry ; and a strip of 

 raw, fat pork, plentifully sprinkled with cayenne pepper, should be hung in the cage. 

 His drinking-vessel must be thoroughly cleaned, and replenished twice each day 

 with fresh drinking-water. During the run of the disease, green foods and fruits 

 must be withheld from him. A little crushed hemp may be given daily, to assist in 

 restoring his weakened constitution. He should be hung in a warm, sunny place : 

 and the gravel should be frequently renewed. For medicine, at first give him a few 

 drops of castor-oil, which will thoroughly remove from his system any traces of 

 poisonous vegetable matter. Add daily to his drinking-water a few drops of 

 paregoric, or in severe cases laudanum : continue the treatment until a change 

 is noticed in the appearance of the bird. A small cup of boiled milk, in which a 

 portion of light biscuit or stale bread has been soaked, may be placed in his cage, 

 and will act as a mild stimulant. After the run of the disease, the hemp-seed may 

 be increased to a daily ration until he is perfectly restored. When it is not 

 desirable to use hemp-seed, the egg-and-cracker mixture, as given the Canaries, 

 is very beneficial. 



Constipation is caused by unwholesome diet. The bird may be easily 

 relieved by administering a few drops of castor-oil for a few days, and feeding 

 daily on fresh green food or sweet apple. Do not feed any seeds but the fresh 

 rape during the continuance of the disease. 



Epilepsy, or Fits, is caused by frightening the bird in endeavoring to roughly 

 catch him out of the cage ; or he may be easily frightened by the appearance of 

 some intruder in the shape of a cat or other formidable animal. Or the disease 

 may come from overfeeding of dainties in the sugar or candy line. The Bullfinch 

 is a very sensitive bird ; and, although used to caresses and handling, he must never 

 be handled in a rough manner, especially by persons to whom he is not accustomed. 



When epilepsy occurs, which may be told by his painful struggles and convul- 

 sions in the bottom of the cage, he should be at once removed to the fresh air, 

 and carefully sprinkled with cold water. As soon as he revives, hang the cage in a 

 quiet place : it would, perhaps, be advisable to cover it over for a few days. Feed 

 on wholesome, fresh food. When the disease resolves itself into a chronic disorder, 

 it is exceedingly difficult to cure ; and severe cases have been helped by clipping one 

 claw close enough to draw blood. Overfeeding of dainties will result iu this 

 painful disease ; and, when such has caused it, the bird's diet must be at once 

 changed, and only the plainest of food used. 



Asthma or Lung Troubles result from the usual causes, hanging the bird 

 in draughts of air, or an abrupt change of temperature. It is first noticed by the 

 hard breathing and convulsive gasps. The little patient should be at once removed 

 to a warm place, and a few drops of glycerine and a tiny piece of rock-candy should 

 be added to his drinking-water. The food should be of the most generous nature 

 during the run of this complaint. If not attended to, it will gradually develop into 

 consumption, a disease which cannot be cured in Bullfinches. 



Surfeit is caused by rich food, and shows itself by the appearance of a yellow 

 ulcer or ulcers on the head. A change to plain, wholesome food is at once recom- 

 mended. Add daily a little iron tonic to the drinking-water. The ulcer should be 

 opened with a sharp knife or needle, and the puncture should be daily bathed with 



