278 



Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



body, the wings, and tail ; always working in the same direction as the feathers lie, and occasionally 

 dipping the parts being washed in the suds. Do this until the dirt seems got out ; then hold the 

 bird with forefinger and thumb, and remove the other fingers sufficiently and alternately, like 

 those of a violinist, to give space for the head and shoulders being washed, taking care that the 

 dirt is well removed round the beak : the third finger placed iindcr the throat will readily raise 

 the head for that purpose. It is no use attempting to be too particular about the eyes ; you 

 had better forget that the bird has any, except that you will of course take care the brush 

 itself does not come against those delicate organs. The soap will, and you cannot help it, so it is 

 no use fretting, and most sensible birds shut their eyes. Being satisfied that the back is clean, 

 turn the bird over in the hand (Fig. 63), with its head coming under the little finger towards the 



Fig. 65- 



wrist as before, and again commence brushing the wings and tail, opening the wings as much as 

 possible. Finish off with the throat and belly. 



Should the foregoing method of holding a bird be found awkward or difl^cult — and different 

 hands seem naturally to fall into different methods — there is another we have seen practised 

 with good results. In this method the head is passed between the thumb and forefinger of the 

 left hand, and the three other fingers spread out so as to support the flights and tail whilst 

 they and the back are washed with the brush (Fig. 64). Then close the last three fingers over the 

 back, and open the thumb and forefinger sufficiently to allow the head and shoulders to undergo 

 the operation ; and when it is done, turn the bird over and wash the under part of the tail, the 

 inside of the wings, and the belly, finishing off with the throat and breast. Should this method be 

 pursued, care must be taken not to press the neck-feathers too tightly with the fingers, or they 

 may become " frilled." 



So far all is pretty simple. At first one is almost as afraid to handle the Canary as average 

 men are to meddle with a new-born baby : it is hard to avoid a fear that the legs will come off, or 

 something else happen equally dreadful. Once get over this, and you simply have to get the dirt 

 out. There is no danger so far, and no great need for e.xtra caution, or any great particularity as 

 to which way the brush moves : if it move in the general direction of the feather, that is enough. 



