Process of ]\Iouljing. 89 



pushing part of the machinery at work from the inside, we should try the pulling plan from the 

 outside. 



The importance of keeping up the moulting action will be obvious. Heat is a powerful agent 

 in assisting it, and the gas-stove should be kept in full operation at high pressure. Colds and 

 chills at this time are more than usually fatal in their effects, and additional precautions must be 

 used to ward off their attacks, as the bird is now in a state which renders it very sensitive. As a 

 precautionary measure it is well to cover the front of the cage with a substantial screen, and 

 particularly at nights, when it must be remembered the bird has to sleep with a short allowance of 

 clothes. A covering also serves to keep the new plumage from being soiled by dust or smoke, 

 which will find its way into rooms in towns, despite every effort to exclude it. What may be the 

 chemical effect of light upon the colour we cannot explain, but we have always found our birds do 

 better when covered up than when exposed. Nothing can exceed the spotless beauty of a bird 

 when fresh moulted, before anything can have affected the bloom on its leathers ; and for this, if 

 for no other reason, we recommend covering up and perfect quiet, that the bird may literally 

 have nothing to do but to moult. The addition of a blade or two of saffron in the water is 

 considered to have a beneficial effect in assisting the casting of the feathers ; indeed, we have 

 known a very strong solution to be used throughout the whole time, but we do not understand 

 its action. We think it quite possible there may be many things of use in facilitating this, 

 as well as of service in assisting the deposition of colour by acting as precipitants. Sugar given 

 in excess is said to act in this way ; and in searching for agents of this nature their chemical or 

 physical action is what has to be considered, and this it is which should lead us to something more 

 than a superficial inquiry into the true character of every feature in connection with this page of 

 bird-life. 



Some breeders make a point of covering the cage-bottom with chaff or some similar clean 

 material, with the object of raising no dust or dirt of any kind to soil the feathers ; but we cannot 

 see the wisdom of depriving the bird of the sand or grit necessary for the trituration of its food. 

 This should, however, be as clean as possible, and as free from earthy matter as it can be had. 

 Where fresh sea-sand can be obtained there is literally no dirt, but other kinds should be washed 

 and dried when extreme care is intended to be exercised. 



We spoke of the head as being the last part to cast its feathers. The whole process occupies 

 about a couple of months, and frequently a considerable portion of the whole time is taken up by 

 the head and neck. So long as a single pin-feather is visible protruding through the others, so 

 long is the process going on, and so long must the cayenne food be continued. Even when the 

 bird appears " fine," if it be caught and " blown " it will be seen that there are still an astonishing 

 number of young feathers enveloped in their little sheaths not yet expanded. This formation can 

 be most clearly seen on the head of a crested Canary ; and we have known exhibitors open them 

 one by one with a sharp penknife and blow them out on the eve of a show, so as to produce a 

 respectable crest. As the work of reproduction approaches completion, the bird begins to regain 

 its sprightliness, and its appetite, which will have been rather fastidious, will return and demand a 

 supply of substantial food. The more dainty regimen must now be gradually discontinued till 

 the bird is once more on its hard seed ; and what cayenne it still has should be given in the form 

 oi cake, or, if mixed with soft food, only at longer intervals. The metamorphosis the bird has 

 undergone will be seen to be truly wonderful. Wherever there exists a tiny pigment cell there 

 will the subtle action of the blood have conveyed its complement of colouring matter, while the 

 theory that the leg-scales and other featherless parts are composed of the same material as the 

 feather and are physiologically but cell developments, will receive verification from the evidences 

 12 



