208



The Marquis of Tavistock,



In the case of very valuable or delicate parrots, a metal “ shield,’ 7

shaped like an empty book cover, is useful to put round the back and

sides of the cage as a protection against draughts, but on no account

should the cage be covered with a cloth at night. A large rectangular

cage, three feet or more square, composed of wire netting on a metal

framework and provided with detachable perches of hard wood, a

shield of the kind above mentioned, a sliding zinc tray, and a small

door in the front for the insertion of food, water and baths, will be

found very useful for birds requiring a fair amount of wing and leg

exercise. It is particularly suitable for new arrivals which need a

period of rest and quarantine before they can safely be placed in an

aviary, as well as for aviary birds which cannot be left out-of-doors

during the winter months.


All parrots should be kept constantly supplied with pieces of

soft wood to bite up and amuse themselves with and they should

be allowed baths. An unglazed earthenware dish, shaped like a pie

dish, makes the best form of bath. China dishes will do if nothing

better is available, but they are too slippery and the birds are often

afraid to step into them. Parrots which refuse to bathe should be

gently sprayed or sprinkled with tepid water, or in summer put out

in a shower of rain ; they ought afterwards to be kept in a fairly warm

place until quite dry. Budgerigars never bathe in the ordinary way,

and may be provided with a piece of wet turf in which they are

often fond of rolling. Caged parrots should, if possible, be allowed

out daily for exercise. This is not, of course, absolutely necessary,

but it is very beneficial, and all true bird-lovers wish their pets to'

find the conditions of captivity as little irksome as possible. It

must be borne in mind that parrots are very intelligent birds, loving

variety and amusement, and that when in a wild state many species

take a real pleasure in flying' for its own sake, and do not merely

employ their wings as a means of getting from place to place,,

and of escaping from the attacks of their enemies.


Macaws, on account of their huge size, cannot as a rule be

accommodated in cages, and are usually kept chained by the leg to a

stand. The spectacle of the unfortunate bird perpetually fastened to

the same hard perch until its legs grow stiff and its wings lose their

power is not a very agreeable one, and I would not therefore advise



