174 



board overhanging as there ia to a hopper, it is more lightsome, an important thing on 

 dark days, amongst the short days. 



652. With respect to the manner I water my Almond Tumblers, I use a kind of 

 earthen carboy with an earthen stand to receive it, (they are both made at the same 

 time at the pottery,) with holes all round for the birds to put their heads in to drink ; 

 it is a clever contrivance, when I give them water, turning the carboy upwards, the 

 stand receives it ; is easily filled, prevents making a mess on the floor. It appears the 

 makers of these drinking utensils have left off making, as I cannot obtain one. Some 

 Fanciers use a stone bottle, making a hole the height they wish their birds to drink, 

 say one inch and a half from the dish in which you place tMs bottle. You must make 

 it air tight at top, by placing a bung, sealing wax it over ; it is apt to make a mess on 

 the floor by filling. You can get a stand made of hoop iron, with three or five legs to 

 come into tlie dish from which the birds drink, should the legs not be sufl&cient to pre- 

 vent the birds from dirtying the water, which is very important, have a few wires fixed 

 to the stand, make the birds drink through them. Carboys can be obtained of the 

 chemist's, the size according to the number of birds you keep, having a stand judi- 

 ciously made is a good thing, otherwise a three-legged stool ; whatever you use, keep 

 the water clean and sweet. These are the most simple, at the same time the best way 

 I have discovered in feeding and watering my birds, besides partaking of their food 

 and water clean. I have an opening in my partition, (the carboy placed in the centre) 

 that the birds on either side of the aviary may drink out of the same utensU. 



553. I have observed of the great difference in the feather of two birds, the one fed 

 on beans, others on tears ; the plumage bird often fed on beans would be rich, bright, 

 and shining — the others fed on tares, on the contrary, would appear dull, cold, and 

 without any gloss on the feather ; the inference I draw is, that beans are to the plumage 

 of the Almond Tumbler, what nitre is to the horse's coat. 



554. It is admitted by Fanciers spring water is best for their drink, soft water best 

 for them to wash in. I was desirous, if possible, to put something in the water to 

 make it more stringent and bracing, without injuring the birds ; I consulted my old 

 friend the chemist, if he would inform me how I could carry my plan into effect, I shall 

 never forget how emphatically he answered me, (looking round the premises at the 

 time), by saying there was no.thing in his warehouses that would so effectually answer 

 the end, as putting in the water a handful of rusty old screws ; I adopted, with the 

 addition of a few lumps of chalk, some green rue put in their water, this may be very 

 well, but if let to remain too long it will become stinking and furr the fountains, or what 

 utensil they drink out of. Especial attention must be paid to keep the water sweet and 

 clean, have the utensil from which your birds drink, scalded and kept thoroughly clean ; 

 do not let them have more water than will last them one day, let it be so constructed 

 the birds cannot get in to wash, (which they certainly will, if not prevented, and make 

 it dirty.) There cannot be a doubt but that some of the diseases which unfortunately 

 takes place in the Almond Tumblers of some Fanciers, arise entirely from a want 

 of cleanliness on the part of the owner of these birds, the putrid state of the water 

 produces the canker in the old birds, by the slime adhering to their beaks. 



556, I object, for fear of adding to this fatal disease, (however clean your aviary or 

 loft may be swept), of making a constant practice of feeding the Almond Tumbler by 

 hand, as it it is called, of throwing the food on the floor, only letting the birds have as 

 much food as they will pick up at a time. The argument in its favor is, it keeps the 

 bird sharper, it will eat with greater avidity ; even if this was true I should object to it, 

 for however clean the floor of the aviary might be, when you begin to feed them by 

 hand, some of the birds would dung at the time of feeding, the beans and tares mixing 

 with the dung might cause or accelerate the canker or other diseases. I am sensible 

 you cannot avoid occasionally feeding them on the floor, for instance, if the mornings 

 are exceedingly cold, or the birds deep in moult, you are desirotis all your birds should 

 share alike when you gave them hemp seed to warm and make them comfortable, it 

 would be unwise to give them a hopper full as you could wheat ; under these circura- 

 stauces you would be obliged to throw it on the floor as the birds eat it, taking 

 care if the birds dung while eating, not to throw any near that place. Many 

 Fanciers to prevent their birds calling or going to nest, sooner than they want them, 

 adopt this plan, only feeding them once a day, which keeps them lower, and checks 



