151 



were not affected with the unction, will be continually coming to life and create a new 

 broody and overrun the birds again very shortly ; therefore, as often as any signs of 

 vermin appear, rub a little ointment on the belly to receive them, which will infallibly 

 kill all that touch it, by these means the Fancier will always keep his birds clear. 



450, This is particularly necessary for the hens, as many of them suffer, and are ex- 

 hausted so much by this little blood sucker, they wiU not breed ; upon cleansing them, 

 they recover their health and breed as well as ever. I have seen birds so devoured with 

 them, as to have large crusts or scabs formed by the ichor that flows from the wounds 

 these little animals inflict upon their bellies, under which scabs, forming a sort of 

 canopy, they run for shelter, and remain in safety when the bird is picking itself ; another 

 purpose is also answered by these incrustations, covering parts of the belly of the bird 

 in a circle beyond where the wounds are, by rendering the parts so covered softer to 

 the piercers of these little insects, and affording them a more ready as well as safe oppor- 

 tunity of satisfying the cravings of their voracious appetites. The blue ointment not 

 only destroys the vermin, heals the wounds under the crusts before mentioned in a day 

 or two. Some Fanciers are afraid of venturing upon this remedy, and have recourse to 

 usual ones of snuff, tobacco dust, snuff and hog's lard, smoking their feathers, &c. I 

 am satisfied these are of little, if any, use, because they are not fatal to the insect if 

 they come in contact with it ; besides, they are troublesome and prejudicial in the 

 application, by getting into the bird's eyes, nostrils, &c., disfiguring them and dis- 

 colouring their plumage, which must be turned back to get the snuff down to the quills 

 of the feathers. 



451. I knew a good Fancier that always used a strong decoction of tobacco water. 

 I formerly used sweet oil ; the heat of the body caused the oil to spread aU over the 

 skin of the bird ; the insects could not escape. I fancied the oil rotted the roots of the 

 feather and caused them to come off. I was informed if I used animal oil instead of 

 vegetable it would not happen ; such as neat's-foot oil ; I think this worth trying. Of 

 late I have used nothing but the blue ointment ; have anointed upwards of one hun- 

 dred at the same time, only on the belly, never having used it on the neck ; never saw 

 any of them tremulous or paralytic. There are Fanciers who have ventured to rub 

 some of the ointment about the neck feathers : if the Fancier does, it must be done 

 cautiously and sparingly, otherwise will affect the birds so far as to make them tremu- 

 lous and paralytic, and even kill them. I therefore recommend the young Fancier not 

 to apply the ointment to the neck at the same time he does to the belly ; wait two or 

 three days first. 



4.52. I am bound to acknowledge, after mature consideration, I cannot possibly 

 do better than give verbatim, some of the remarks on the management of the Almond 

 Tumbler, contained in a work now out of print, dedicated to the "Gentlemen of the 

 • Columbarian Society." Those remarks are so true, from observations, I shall add a 

 few ideas, which I trust will not be found unacceptable or unworthy of following the 

 excellent remarks I here allude. 



THE LOFT 



453 Should be very airy, at the top of the house ; if it is large, it would be better 

 to divide it, as the Fancier will find two rooms very convenient upon many accounts, 

 particularly in cross-matching, in the middle of the breeding season, if the produce of 

 his birds should not please him ; he will find his birds more familiar if they have not 

 too much wing room. When he wishes to catch any of them, he should entice them in- 

 to the area with a little rape or hemp seed, by which he will avoid hurrying them about 

 the room, may catch them at pleasure, and prevent the probability of a hen who is 

 near laying dropping her egg on the ground. The area should, if convenient, have a 

 south-west aspect, that the birds may have the benefit of the Sun in the Spring morn- 

 ings, when they are near laying, which will assist them if the weather should set in 

 cold soon after matching. Besides, it is great service to the young ones as soon as 

 they are able to fly to it ; if convenient, I should recommend a separate room or loft 

 for them, as soon as they are fit to be drafted off ; they will certainly thrive better, 

 where they have no old birds to contend with, and knock them about. The pens should 

 be two feet square at the least, with fronts to them, and a small place to go in and out 

 at, which should be made to fasten up as occasion requires. The lighter the work is. 



