126 CANARIES 



Two things are most necessary to the operator, namely, 

 a fair share of nerve, and plenty of confidence in his abihty 

 to bring the operation to a successful issue. 



Before attempting to wash high-class show specimens, 

 the operator should practise with a few common birds. 

 British finches are the best for the purpose, because they 

 are strong and lusty, and, if the attempt should end in 

 maiming, laming or killing either of these specimens, the 

 loss will not be great. If successful with these com- 

 moners, sufficient confidence will be acquired to put 

 more valuable specimens through the process. After 

 a short time the necessary confidence and knack of 

 handhng the birds will have been acquired, and the 

 washing of five or six birds will not cause more uneasiness 

 than will be felt in performing the same operation on 

 one's own self. 



A Steady Fire a Great Asset. 



For the purpose of drying the birds the fire should 

 be bright, yet not too fierce. In making up the fire it 

 should be well stirred with the poker and all dust removed. 

 The best way to make up a fire for drying birds is to use 

 equal quantities of coal and coke ; nice nobbly pieces 

 about the size of a tea-cup should be used. A fire made up 

 in this way will throw out a much steadier heat than one 

 made with coal only ; it also will produce less smoke. 



Whilst the fire is burning up, the few articles required 

 to successfully accomplish the task should be collected 

 together. These are three good-sized bowls — ^hand-basins 

 will do — one for washing and two for rinsing ; a tablet of 

 soap, a badger-hair shaving brush, a towel, two nice 

 soft cloths — old silk handkerchiefs or discarded chamber 

 towels will do — one jug of cold water, also a jug of hot 

 water. 



As to what soap is best, opinions differ. Pears', 

 Brown Windsor, Glycerine, White Curd, and other 

 soaps all have their devotees. One thing must be guarded 

 against, and that is common soap. The best-made soaps 

 are more free from alkah than the common ones. The 

 alkah contained in common soap draws the colour from 

 the plumage. 



In addition to the articles I have named, a drying cage 



