288 THE CANABY. 



former disease, is hardly less so in the end. It consists of an 

 obstruction in the passages by which the eggs are extruded, 

 which gradually increases in size till it results in the death of 

 the bird. A characteristic of this disease is, that the birds 

 often fancy they have laid, and begin to brood accordingly. 



3. The Yellow Scab on the head and eyes may be cured by 

 nourishing food. If, however, a small ulcer, like a grain of 

 hemp seed, should make its .appearance, it should be cut off, 

 and the wound anointed with a little fresh butter, or bathed 

 in urine. 



4. Sweating is a disease to which sitting females are liable, 

 and which often destroys the brood. If it be remarked that a 

 hen's feathers are wet, her body should be washed in salt and 

 water, and again, after the lapse of a few minutes, in fresh 

 water, which is allowed to dry in the sun. This is to be re- 

 peated once or twice a-day. The disease, however, is not so 

 detrimental as is generally supposed. 



5. Asthma, which often arises from a disordered stomach, 

 may be relieved by the use of soaked plaintain and rape seed. 



6. The Sneezing, which is produced by an obstruction in 

 the nostrils, may be cured by passing a very fine feather 

 through them. 



7. The Loss of Voice, which in the male is sometimes the 

 consequence of moulting, may be cured by the use of the food 

 prescribed for the young ones. Lettuce-seed is also a specific 

 for this disease, and some bird-fanciers put a bit of bacon in 

 the cage for the bird to peck at. 



8. Constipation is most effectually relieved by the use of 

 green food, especially lettuce and water-cress. 



9. Epilepsy is produced in Canaries, as in other birds, by 

 causes with which we are not acquainted. They seem, how- 

 ever, to be especially liable to it from their great delicacy and 

 timidity, as they are attacked by it when it is attempted to 

 clean their cages. Sometimes it even follows an exposure to 

 a draught. It may be cured by the means described in the 

 Introduction. 



10. Overgrown Claws and Beak. Both beak and claws oc- 

 casionally require to be clipped with a pair of scissors, though 

 in the latter case care must be taken not to cut too deep, 

 and so lame the bird by consequent effusion of blood. If 

 the part be held up to the light, the termination of the blood- 



