EXHIBITING 127 



of some sort is required. Some fanciers use the ordinary 

 box show-cage, others use breeding cages. I prefer a 

 small box made after the style of the store cages used by 

 bird-catchers, the box being of wood, the front only wire. 

 It should be two feet long, one foot high, and ten inches 

 deep from back to front. The door should be on the top. 

 A few perches should be fixed about two inches from the 

 bottom of the cage. The bottom of the cage should be 

 covered with a piece of loose flannel ; this will soak 

 up any excrement that may be voided, and thus prevent 

 the birds from soiling their plumage. The two cloths 

 that are to be used for drying the birds should be hung 

 on the drying cage in front of the fire ; this will warm 

 them and prevent any draught getting at the birds 

 whilst they are drying. 



All Things being Ready. 



All things being in readiness, some cold water should 

 be placed in each of the basins ; to this add sufficient hot 

 water so that you can comfortably bear your hand in it. 

 If the water is hard a tea-spoonful of glycerine should be 

 added to it ; this will soften and assist in removing 

 the dirt more freely. Take your soap, and with the 

 shavmg brush work up a good lather in the first basin. 

 Place a piece of flannel under the soap in the soap dish ; 

 this will prevent it from wobbhng about. You will now 

 be quite ready to commence operations. 



Never soap the Bird. 



First of all take the bird you intend to wash in your left 

 hand, with its head between your thumb and first finger 

 and the tail towards your wrist. Then immerse the bird 

 in the lather for a moment or two. This will loosen the 

 dirt. Dip the brush in the water first, rub it on the soap, 

 commence the process of removing the dirt by spreading 

 the right wing over the fingers, give it a good soaping 

 with the brush, then perform on the tail. Turn the 

 bird round in your hand and serve the left wing in the 

 same manner ; then place the bird on its back and apply 

 the brush to the under part of the wings, tail and body. 

 Attention should now be given to the head and neck, 



