THE CANARY. 21 



rump, and which sometimes goes away of 

 itself; if, however, at any time it should 

 prove tedious, it may be opened with the 

 point of a fine needle, the matter squeezed 

 out, and a little loaf sugar, moistened in 

 your mouth, laid on the sore, by which it 

 will soon be healed. 



There is another disease to which young 

 birds as well as old ones are subject, and 

 which consists in a swelling of the body : 

 to ascertain whether this be the case, catch 

 the bird, and taking it out of the cage, blow 

 the feathers on one side ; when, if the body 

 appears to project beyond the breast-bone, 

 it is a sure sign that the bird is afflicted 

 with this disorder, for which, a little scalded 

 bread and rape seed, prepared as follows, I 

 have found to be an excellent remedy. Take 

 a small piece of stale bread, pour a little 

 boiling water over it, and when it has stood 

 a few minutes, squeeze it quite dry. Next 

 pour some boiling water over a little rape 

 seed, and let it stand covered over for five 

 minutes, when the w^ater must be poured off, 

 and the rape seed rubbed dry in a cloth : 

 when this is done, take a knife, and having 



