50 THE BLACKBIRD. 



selves, when they must be placed in separate 

 cages. 



Though of robust habit, the blackbird is 

 subject to many diseases, which, without due 

 attention, often prove fatal, particularly the 

 cramp ; as soon as the bird is observed to 

 be labouring under this complaint, he should 

 be taken out of the cage, and his feet held 

 in warm water, for five or six minutes, after 

 which they should be carefully dried, and 

 the bird returned to his cage, with some 

 clean straw at the bottom, and be kept 

 moderately warm. Blackbirds are also sub- 

 ject to fits : when a bird is afflicted this way, 

 he should be taken out of his cage as soon 

 as attacked, and dipped two or three times 

 in cold water ; after which, as soon as he 

 appears to recover, he must be returned to 

 his cage, and kept tolerably warm, by 

 being placed near the fire, giving him a 

 meal-worm or two, or a common house 

 spider, once or twice a day ; a garden snail 

 may also be given him now and then, par- 

 ticularly when he seems to shun his food. 



He should be plentifully supplied with 

 water, as he is very fond of washing him- 



