Hints for Breedixg. 355 



When large numbers of one kind arrive they are sometimes to be bought at ridiculously low 

 prices, and the only way to collect rare specimens is to await an opportunity of buying them 

 on the spot. I once or twice found very rare birds at Mr. Hawkins', in Bear Street, Leicester 

 Square, and at Mr. Obermliller's, Great Portland Street, Regent's Park. 



For the conveyance of small birds, Mr. Hawkins has constructed a travelling-cage 

 which is perfection in its way, and cannot be too much recommended for all purposes 

 of transit. As shown in Fig. ']6, a piece of muslin on a sliding frame is inserted just 

 behind the wire front of the miniature box-cage. This muslin keeps out all draught, prevents 

 any seed being spilled by careless handling of the box, and behind this screen the most 

 nervous bird, while having sufficient light, will feel himself perfectly secure. The square 

 water-tin has a lid, with a round hole in it about the size of the bird's head. The lid 

 alone will prevent the water from spilling, but the immersion of a small piece of sponge 

 into the water will be a further safeguard against such an accident. I have sent valuable 

 and delicate tropical Finches in these cages, per Continental Parcels Post, from London to 

 Berlin and other distant places, and never met with an accident.* Starlings and the larger 

 soft-food birds I prefer to send without water, fixing an orange in the cage with a circular 

 piece, about the size of a sixpence, cut out, to enable the bird to suck the juice. Parrots can 

 do without water, and can travel safely for a couple of days with a damp sponge-cake and 

 some seed, but they must be sent in stronger boxes, having a screen outside the wire. 



DISEASES OF BIRDS AND DIFFICULTIES IN BIRD-KEEPING. 



Much has been written on the subject of diseases, and very little to any practical good purpose. 

 The outward sign of a healthy bird is that he looks bright, and that not a feather is ruffled, 

 out of place, or dirty. If a bird be out of sorts, my advice is to think over tHe probable cause, to 

 remove it, and let nature, proper food, pure air and water, and clean sand do the rest. In some 

 few instances castor oil may be given, and this is really the only medicine which I ever 

 employ. Two or three drops of castor oil can easily be administered by means of a quill tooth- 

 pick filled with oil. Parrots, being apt to resent handling, may be given castor oil by pouring 

 just sufficient over the drinking-water to cover the surface, which will oblige them to take it 

 with the water when thirsty. It would be superfluous to state when castor oil is requisite. 

 Egg-binding is the cause of many deaths in the aviary, but easily overcome by the introduction 

 with a camel-hair brush of a drop of sweet oil into the egg-passage. 



Birds when just imported are mostly out of condition, and often in sad plight. Crammed 

 in large numbers into filthy boxes, they frequently pull out each other's feathers, become dirty 

 and sickly. With proper care they recover in a clean cage, with pure food, water, and air, in 

 a surprisingly short time ; but they should never be put into an aviary or large cage with other 

 birds before they are fully recovered and fully able to take care of themselves, and, if need be, 

 to resent aggression. Nor should any bird be supplied with nesting materials or be given an 

 opportunity to nest before being in perfect health and condition. If feathers are broken, and 

 the moulting-time be far off, one or two feathers may be carefully pulled out every other day, when 

 nature will replace them at once. But the process, being painful to the bird, is not to be com- 

 mended, and the operation ought never to be performed except by very experienced hands. 



Parasites and vermin are due as often to weak health as to want of cleanliness. A 



* On one occasion the judges of a bird sliow at Berlin were so mucli struck with these Iravelling-cages, that they awarded 

 me a prize for using, and thus unintentionally exhibiting them. 



