Baths and Bath-Cages. 



47 



attach no importance to this, however, for the birds soon become so tame as not to take the 

 least notice of any such intrusion. There are very neat egg-trouglis made of earthenware, with 

 holes in the sides for the insertion of wire hooks (see Fig. 27) ; but we are not aware whether they 

 are generally sold in the trade or are made to order : we think there is nothing to equal them 

 in point of cleanliness. 



The bath-cage is a sine qua non, and can be purchased in a variety of shapes. It is practically 

 a small cage, the bottom of which forms a trough about two inches deep, and may be had either in 

 the form of a zinc trough wired over, or with a wooden bottom containing a zinc or earthenware 

 basin, and wired in the form of a cage, with one side entirely open. Two strong hooks in front 

 serve to attach it to the open doorway, but as the weight of the water it contains is considerable, 

 it is advisable to further support it by a hooked wire attached to the top of the bath and the 

 cross-wire of the cage. Several of these bath-cages will be required, according to the size of 

 the establishment ; for birds have their own ideas as to when is the right time of the day for 

 a wash. The replenishing of the water-tins is generally the signal for a dip, while the water is 



n 



riG. 28. — BATH-CAGES. 



clean ; and the Canary can manage a very fair shampoo through his water-hole. A thorough wash 

 is another thing, and it frequently happens that when one wishes them to wash they will take no 

 notice of the bath ; but at length, after a few preliminary sprinklings, in goes one bird with a 

 splash, and then out pops every head through its water-hole, and there is a general commotion 

 in the cages. This is washing-time, and the advantage of having several baths at hand to 

 indulge them while they are in the humour will be seen as soon as they are suspended from 

 the doorways. 



Nursery-cages, the use of which will be afterwards explained, must not be overlooked. These 

 can be bought much cheaper and better than they can be made. The cheap rate at which small 

 cages can be manufactured is owing to its being a home industry, in which the work of many little 

 hands is turned to account. Those we use as nurseries can be bought at about nine shillings a 

 dozen, and are nine inches square, with light wooden frames ; top, sides, and front of wire, and 

 back of wood. This same description of cage is made a size smaller, and proportionately cheaper. 

 They contain a fixed, open seed-trough, and require no other fitting but a water-tin. A stock of 

 these is most useful, as apart from their adaptation for nursery purposes they are always handy for 



