22 INTRODUCTION. 



inhabitants of the aviary, and a variety of wholesome food be 

 provided for them. 



9. SORE FEET form one of the maladies to which Cage-Birds 

 are particularly subject, and which can be prevented only by a 

 strict attention to cleanliness. The thick scales in front of the 

 legs become loose every year, and ought to be removed ; great 

 care being taken not to break the skin. 



10. TYMPANY. In this disease the skin of a part, or the whole 

 of the body, is puffed up by an accumulation of air beneath, till 

 it is stretched as tight as a drum. The remedy which would na- 

 turally suggest itself is also the best ; namely, to prick the 

 skin with a pin, and let out the air. I have known Larks, 

 which were dangerously ill of this complaint, begin to sing 

 within a quarter of an hour after the operation was performed. 



1 1 . GIDDINESS is perhaps rather to be considered a trick or 

 bad habit, than a disease. It sometimes happens that birds of 

 the first class acquire the habit of looking up to such an ex- i 

 tent, as frequently to turn round backwards on the perch. 

 There is no better means of preventing this, than by simply 

 covering the top of the cage with a cloth ; by which the 

 looking upwards, which is the cause of the giddiness, is effec- 

 tually checked. 



12. PARASITIC INSECTS may be suspected to exist in Cage- 

 Birds if they are restless at night, and frequently peck the 

 various parts of the body. The irritation thus indicated, 

 may often be traced to the presence of small yellow lice 

 in the skin, or concealed between the feathers. The most 

 effectual remedy is to syringe the birds with water, in which 

 a little quicksilver has been allowed to stand, or to expose them 

 repeatedly to a mild fumigation with tobacco smoke. Frequent 

 bathing, a careful attention to cleanliness, and a daily supply 

 of fresh dry sand, are the best preventives. 



13. EXCESSIVE CORPULENCE. If it should be noticed that the 

 birds become exceedingly fat, as with some species is frequently 

 the case in autumn, the best plan is to mix a larger proportion 

 of carrot in the paste, and to put dry ants' eggs in the drinking 

 vessel. 



14. THE PAIRING FEVER generally attacks Cage-Birds in the 

 month of May, in which the desire to pair is at its height. 

 The birds affected by it usually cease to sing, grow melancholy, 

 allow their feathers to become and continue rough, waste away 



