FOOD AX I) CAKE. 259 



FOOD AND CARE. 



MONTHLY SUGGESTIONS RESPECTING ALL KINDS OF BIRDS. 



OCTOBER NOVEMBER. 



ALL birds at this season require extra food. Canaries should have, all through 

 the year, German summer rape, Sicily canary, and millet seeds mixed in equal parts ; 

 and care should be taken to have the seeds fresh, and of best quality. You can 

 usually obtain these best at a bird-store, as a " bird-man " who uses seeds is more 

 particular than is the grocer or druggist. In addition to the seeds, feed Canaries, 

 daily, one-fourth part of a hard-boiled egg, both yolk and white, and mix with it 

 as much cracker-dust as can be taken up on a ten-cent piece. Fresh water, both 

 for drinking and for the bath, and plenty of coarse, washed gravel, daily, will 

 usually keep a bird in health. Twice a week give a small piece of sweet apple or 

 lettuce. 



If the bird has not yet finished moulting, keep him in an even temperature of 

 about sixty-five to seventy degrees ; and let him hang where there is no possibility 

 of a draught. 



If not yet in song, hang a half-inch strip .of raw, fat salt pork in the cage, and 

 let him pick at it for a week or so. There are also tonics for loss of voice, and 

 song restorers, that can be used with great benefit. There have been cases where 

 a Canary has not sung for two years, and proper treatment has fully restored his 

 voice. 



In addition to being fed as above, such a bird should hang where he can hear a 

 fine singer. 



When the little red insects so sap a bird's strength that he will not sing, use the 

 German insect-powder ; catch the bird, and dust it through his plumage, and 

 thoroughly wash the cage ; if it is a brass cage, have it regilded, a sure method 

 of destroying the vermin. 



Mocking-birds, Blackcaps, Japanese Robins, Thrushes, T roopials, and all soft- 

 bill birds which eat the prepared food, may be fed on the moist food just as it is 

 bought ; but they keep in better condition and song if an equal amount of raw car- 

 rot, grated, is mixed with the moist food. Carrot must be mixed with the dry food. 

 Give these birds daily a teaspoonful of ants' eggs soaked, and mixed with the food. 

 A meal-worm or two, and a little lean, raw beef, scraped fine, will also be an aid 

 to renewed song. Prepared-food cups ought to be washed every other day, to pre- 

 vent the food from souring. Plenty of gravel, and fresh water for drinking and the 

 bath, should be daily given. 



