Washing Canaries and Mules. 279 



You will of course see there is no particular pressure on any part of the body, on the belly especially. 

 Supposing now that you have the bird clean, squeeze the suds from the brush, and with it wash out 

 the soap with the water in the second basin. Finally, holding the patient (which by this time is 

 reduced to comparative tameness) in as perpendicular a position as possible, scoop the water in 

 the third basin over it with the right hand until it is perfectly free from soap ; after which, draw the 

 flights and tail gently through the fingers to remove as much water as possible before proceeding 

 to the drying stage. If preferred, a sponge may be used for the final rinsing, and the bird may 

 even be dipped and freely moved in the clean warm water — keeping the head out, of course, unless 

 for a moment. Remember, however you do it, that the great point is to get every least particle of 

 soap completely out of the plumage : any left in will hinder proportionately a good result. 



At this stage a heavy sigh may probably be heard from the " better half," and an anxious face 

 be seen watching the proceedings. Very likely the operator feels badly too, as he beholds the 

 miserable little object he has produced ; few men have ever " smole a smile " at this crisis of their 

 first wash. Never mind ; but having first "wrung out" the bird with the fingers, as it were (some 

 people draw the wings and tail through the lips instead), take one of the soft cloths, previously well 

 warmed at the fire, wrap the bird in it, and " dab " it gently between the hands, until the worst of 

 the wet is soaked up by the cloth. Be especially sure that the water is well absorbed from about 

 the belly, vent, and under the wings. An excellent method of " towelling " for effecting this 

 purpose is to place a second dry and hot cloth over the whole left hand ; then take the bird by the 

 right hand, with the two first fingers under the belly and the thumb over the root of the tail and 

 ends of the wings, when the patient will open its wings a little at the shoulders. At once you 

 pop in the covered left thumb under one wing (extending between wing and body), and the left 

 second and third fingers (also covered by the warm cloth) under the other wing (see Fig. 65), 

 which will, with a little judicious manipulation, rapidly soak up the wet all along the belly and 

 under the wings. After this the left forefinger, brought up over the right side of the bird's neck, 

 holds it securely while the right hand takes up the loose end of the cloth and wipes over the 

 head, down the back, flights, and tail. 



The wet being in the main soaked up, take another piece of hot dry cloth in the right hand 

 and stroke the plumage into position, and place the bird in the drying-cage, pretty near the fire. 

 See especially that the plumage lies right about the back of the neck and rump. The bird may 

 appear half dead, in which case some think it best to hold it quietly in a cloth near the fire till a 

 good pulsation can be felt in the heart again, when they place it in the cage. But very few — not 

 one in hundreds — really do die, and it is as well to place the bird in the warm flannel-lined 

 cage at once, oji its back on the flannel, with the tail pointing towards the fire. It will generally 

 lie there till the belly is pretty dry, when it will turn over suddenly, and hop either on the perch 

 or the wires of the cage, taking care of itself till the feathers assume their natural appearance. 

 Here a word of caution is necessary. The drying-cage must be very warm, the danger of chill 

 being considerable. On the other hand, if too hot, and especially if the wires get hot, such neglect 

 might cause suffering one shudders to contemplate. It is advisable, therefore, for the " better 

 half" to keep turning the cage round to avoid this. A very much better plan is to use a wooden 

 box open one side, and closed in every other part except a small window and the door. The 

 open side should be covered with clean unbleached linen, and the inside lined with clean stuff 

 and supplied with perches. Such a box may be opened to the fire till it is nicely warm, 

 when the linen front, drawn down or shut down, will shade off all fierce glare, yet keep the 

 temperature what is desired. Or a larger cage may be employed, and covered on all sides 

 but that towards the fire, when it will be found that a greater distance may be preserved. 



