MANAGEMENT OF CAPTIVE BIRDS. 189 



the turf in the flight ; in a verandah cage on a sod of 

 turf put in purposely ; the splashing of the birds will 

 keep the grass fresh for some time. 



Food-pans should have the edges flanged over to keep 

 the birds from throwing the food about ; an enamelled 

 iron spittoon, with the centre moveable piece removed, 

 makes an excellent feeding-dish. If mice are trouble- 

 some in an outdoor aviary, and no ground-birds are 

 kept, the food-dishes should be put on little tables, or 

 hung up in wire flower-baskets. Food- vessels should be 

 put indoors. Food or water-vessels should never be 

 stood directly under a perch, to avoid fouling. 



In small cages for single birds, the food and water- ves- 

 sels should always be placed inside, not outside, as is 

 sometimes done with Europe-made cages. The receptacles 

 should be little cups, held in place by a peg passed 

 through the handles which are put between the wires of 

 the cage. The Chinese-made cups with curved sides 

 and a narrow mouth are best, as preventing waste. A 

 cage-bird's bath should be given to it in a separate larger 

 vessel every morning before the cage is cleaned out, to 

 avoid mess. 



FOOD AND WATER. 



These should always be looked to daily without fail. 

 The water is' best renewed in the afternoon as well as 

 the morning, as birds often like to bathe twice a day, 

 and much enjoy clean water. 



Seed-eating birds are of course fed on various kinds of 

 grain ; if larger than a Mynah, paddy and corn of similar 



