Canaries: Their Care and Management 17 



and sap the strength of the bird by sucking its blood. When their 

 presence is suspected a little coal oil, or kerosene, applied freely to 

 the cage with a brush may be sufficient to kill the pests. Or the bird 

 may be removed temporarily and the cage cleaned thoroughly with 

 a solution of 1 ounce of commercial carbolic acid in a gallon of 

 water, applied with a small brush, taking care to reach all crevices. 

 In severe infestations it may be necessary to immerse the cage for 

 several minutes in water that is boiling hot. Insect powder may be 

 used as for the gray louse. 



Where facilities for frequent bathing are offered and the cage is 

 kept clean, there is usually little trouble with either mites or bird 

 lice. When a bird is sick and neglects its customary bathing, clean- 

 ing, and preening, it is surprising to see how rapidly these pests 

 multiply. With care, however, they may be completely eradicated, 

 though fresh outbreaks are likely to occur when new birds are ob- 

 tained. In wooden cages cracks in the boards that have harbored 

 mites may be closed with glue to prevent 

 a return of the pests. 



CARE OF FEET AND BILL. 



As a canary grows old it will be 

 noticed that its claws become long and 

 catch on the perches and wires as it hops 

 about the cage. In a state of nature the 

 activities of the bird as it moves about 

 on the ground or among twigs and limbs 

 keep the claws properly worn down. 



Confinpd in a rafrp fhp, cannm is Ipw Fig. 6. — Diagram of foot of canary 

 ^omineu in d uge, me caiidiy ib iebs with overgrown claws A> Ter . 



active, and while the claws have the same mmai-biood vessel; b, point at 

 rate of growth they are here subject to ^ffij u t Iffiryf ay ^ trimmed 

 much less abrasion. It is necessary, 



therefore, to trim them with a pair of sharp scissors every few 

 months. It is important to watch the condition of the claws care- 

 fully, as by catching they may cause a broken leg. In each claw a 

 slender blood vessel extends well down toward the tip. This is in- 

 dicated in Figure 6 by the letter A, and may be seen on close exami- 

 nation through the transparent sheath of the bird's claw. In trim- 

 ming cut well beyond this canal (at the point B in the figure) and 

 take special care not to break the leg while handling the bird. 



In cage birds the horny covering of the bill, as well as the claws, 

 sometimes becomes distorted through growth without sufficient wear. 

 The tips of the mandibles may be pared down with a sharp knife, 

 but care must be taken not to cut deep enough to reach the quick. 



DISEASES AND INJURIES. 



With ordinary care in cleanliness, freedom from cold clamp drafts, 

 and a well-regulated food supply, canaries are subject to few ills. 

 In fact, most of their troubles may be traced to some untoward cir- 

 cumstance in handling them. Their diseases are very little under- 

 stood and correct diagnosis is difficult, and though much has been 

 written regarding them this has served mainly to reveal general ig- 

 norance on the subject. Present knowledge does not warrant an ex- 



