194 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



and then, if it is a soft-food eater, the insects and fruit 

 can be mixed with soft food to get it used to this. The 

 perch should run from end to end in a cage used for 

 taming birds, so that, when the front is uncovered 

 as the bird eats well, it always looks its owner in 

 the face, and sees that he feeds it. Thus it will 

 acquire some confidence, and soon get tame if not 

 incautiously approached or frightened. 



HANDLING BIRDS. 



Most ordinary cage-birds, like Finches or Parrots, 

 should be held gently by the neck, this being passed 

 between the fore and middle fingers with a small bird, 

 the body lying in the palm of the hand. In this posi- 

 tion the bird is quite helpless, and cannot hurt itself. 

 In handling Parrots care must be taken to get a good 

 hold, or the bird will manage to bite ; a cloth over the 

 hand is useful. Doves must be taken in the hand bodily ; 

 their necks are too slender and delicate to hold them by 

 especially considering the strength of their wings used in 

 resistance. If it be desired to open a bird's beak to 

 make it swallow food, etc., this should be done by prizing 

 it open at the side near the root, with some blunt flat 

 instrument ; or the bird, if not possessed of a formid- 

 able beak, may be induced to bite one's hand. Birds 

 should never be handled or caught if it can be avoided, but 

 if tame enough to be touched they much enjoy having 

 their heads tickled. If they have to be caught in a large 

 cage or aviary a hand-net should be used ; or a quite 

 small bird may be douched with water. 



