Supply of Water. 



37 



food whicli the birds may throw about, and in hot weather require frequent replenishing to prevent 

 the water becoming offensive and consequently unwholesome. Sometimes they are made with a 

 conical cover, but we do not like covers we cannot see through ; the tin might leak dry, or might 

 even be overlooked and not filled, and then the birds suffer or die from thirst. 



In the list of open water-vessels will also be found the glass and earthenware cups, which 

 require to be suspended in wire loops. These have the great merit of being very cleanly, but are 

 easily broken. No two of the glass ones are exactly the same size, and each must be fitted in its 

 own particular loop, which is a source of a good deal of confusion in a large room where there are 

 a great many cages. The earthenware cups are preferable in this respect, but most of them are 

 ornamented in such a vulgar style that there is no doing with them at any price. Their proper place 

 is among illuminated glass rolling-pins, china spaniels with red spots, presents "from Margate," and 

 other atrocities. There is room for Ruskin even in the bird-room. The covered-in round-topped 

 glass bottles, used for both seed and water in song-cages, we have a great objection to. They 



FIG. 14. — GLASS WATER VESSEL. 



FIG. 15. — SEED OR WATER GLASS. 



FIG. lb. — CONICAL FOUNTAIN. 



require to be fitted with such care, with the mouth of the bottle exactly opposite to the wire-hole, 

 that very little will sometimes displace them ; and it has seldom been our lot to visit a show where 

 these dangerous things are frequently used by exhibitors who do not understand their business, 

 without finding some bird suffering from not being able to get at its seed or water ; and a pitiable 

 sight it is to see the poor thing standing mutely appealing to some passer-by to put its food within 

 reach. We always feel disposed to smash them — accidentally. 



The well-known conical glass fountain, with projecting lip, is a rather expensive but admirable 

 reservoir, furnishing a continued supply of clean water ; and if the wire-hole be placed above the 

 cross-bar and adjacent to one of the perches, so that egg and other soft food which is soon 

 decomposed is not apt to be thrown into the mouth, we know of no better water-vessel than this, 

 especially for use in rooms where the attention is limited to a morning and evening visit. They 

 will hold a supply to last for days, and require nothing more than an occasional shake, to discharge 

 any foreign matter and clear the mouth. They may require a little attention during the very 

 hot summer weather, as all water-vessels do, but used in conjunction with roomy seed-hoppers, 

 they are valuable time-savers the year round to the breeder whose spare minutes are few. 



