250 



CA NA RIES A XI) CA GE-BIRD8. 



awakened, so he may guard his tender charges against their chief enemies, cats and 

 rats : the first are easily disposed of ; as they are readily coaxed into his ffift-bearino- 



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hands, and port-holes are easy means by which to get rid of them. Dead men tell 

 no tales : dead cats are likewise silent. But rats are his most wily enemies : and, 

 when they make their appearance, many sleepless nights have to be lived through. 

 A constant watch has to be kept on these pests, and even then they do their 

 deadly work so noiselessly that birds are killed under his open eyes. Ship-rats 

 never, devour birds, though they are the most voracious of their race : but the 



Tommy has killed fits Last Bird (already) 



absence of fresh water keeps them thirsty ; so the} 1 are ever on the alert for drink, 

 and bird's blood is their especial delight. They open a bird's neck, and suck the 

 blood to appease their thirst. Let one or two once taste the blood, and they return, 

 bringing the entire tribe. Many schemes are devised to drive them away, but these 

 rarely succeed. Usually a string is tied behind the cases, and all the available 

 tin-ware fastened along the line ; and Fritz, at one end, jerks the cord, and makes 

 night hideous in his endeavors to frighten his plagues away. Fritz and the Old 

 Salt don't agree on the question relating to rats : the Old Salt will not put his foot 

 aboard a craft free from rats, as he feels sure the ship is about to sink : Fritz, on 



