176 



559. Prom the cock that wovild have been dead in two minutes after I had ordered 

 it to be killed (had I not caUed out) I cured of the Vertigo, the hen nearly lost iu every 

 sense of the word, I obtained my strain of black mottled tumblers, I believe not sur- 

 passed by any Fancier living. My young Fancier, I have two objects in view, in in- 

 forming you of this, the first is not quickly to despair of curing a bird ; the second is, 

 it is possible you may obtain a first-rate stud of birds, even through accident, if you 

 will only persevere and become A. 1. in the Fancy, (see paragraph 88.) 



560. With regard to canker, it arises from dirty feeding and putrid drinking, of 

 which the unclean Fancier ought to be ashamed, it is to be hoped he will never do so 

 any more. In a former part of this work I called your particular attention to cleanli- 

 ness. Eemove the cause that produces evils, the effect would follow. The Fancier 

 may say this advice comes too late, for his birds have got it, which nobody can deny ; 

 this unfortunately being the case, I will instruct him how to cure it : — take burnt alum 

 and honey, and rub the part affected every day, most Ukely it will be cured ; should 

 this not have the effect, dissolve five grains of Roman vitriol in half a spoonful of best 

 white wine vinegai-, add it the former composition, rub the part affected. Or take half 

 an ounce of burnt alum, half an ounce of gunpower, a gill of best white wine vinegar, 

 mix them well together, take one of your pigeon's flight or tail feathers you will find 

 about yofu- aviary or loft, anoint the part affected ; you must use one of these prescrip- 

 tions with the feather, anoint the inside of the throat twice a day. I do not object to 

 raising the scurf, and cause it to bleed a Uttle where it can be got at, believing it more 

 effectual. There are Fanciers who object to this, thinking it searching enough without. 

 You can try it without, if it does not succeed, then raise the scvuf a little ; fortunately 

 for me not having occasion to use these prescriptions, I have never tried the burnt 

 alvmi, gunpowder, and vinegar, but entertain a high opinion of its effects, owing to the 

 strong assurances I have received from some of the best Fanciers. It is absurd and 

 childish twaddle to assert that the canker arises from birds fighting ; call things by their 

 right name, then I do not object. You may say cocks fight, and get pecked on the 

 head ; this is true, if you like to call it sores on the head, I have no objection, and if 

 you apply the prescription, or use a little alum and water, wiU cure it, do not on any 

 account say it is the cause of canker, if you do, you assert anything but the truth. 



561. With cleanliness and care I think your birds will not be troubled with diseases, 

 besides the delight it will afford you of seeing your birds healthy, vigorous, and clean : 

 on the contrary — Woe be to you ! Fanciers differ with regard to the treatment of 

 birds, if unwell, some giving piUs made of rhubarb, others giving pills made of bitter 

 aloes, my favourite pill is a compound of both. The way I do is to take a good many 

 at once, when they are not breeding, I remove their water overnight, and keep them 

 some hours in the morning without, when I think they are very thirsty, give them their 

 water as usual, with this difference : dissolve some Epsom salts, and mix it with their 

 water, they being very thiisty will not discover it until after they have drank heartily ; 

 I cannot tell you what quantity to mix not knowing how many birds you intend giving 

 it to ; should you have any birds in your aviary, or loft, that are scoured or purged, 

 remove them while the salts is in the water, if any is left, throw it away at night and 

 let them have their water as usual without any salts, then restore the birds that you 

 consider too loose. 



562. I hinted before in a former part of the work it was possible I might have over- 

 done some things, on reasoning, I am not afraid of killing a pigeon, which I would 

 treat as mankind ; I will suppose my having a stomach full of hard old beans and a 

 pigeon with a stomach full of hard old beans, the pigeon got rid of the beans before I 

 did, (for ought I know the beans might kill me), the inference I draw the pigeon was 

 strongest, at all events its digestive powers ; although I should not be alarmed for fear 

 of kilhng an old bird, I should act cautiously where there were young ones, from one 

 hour to one week old, not give the salts and water where these young birds were, not 

 knowing the effect, it might purge and kill them. Were no young birds under three 

 weeks old, the feeders partaking of the salts and water, and then feeding these big 

 young ones, my opinion is, not any evil would arise, on the contrary good, inasmuch 

 as it might cleanse the craw, prevent canker in the throat, cool the young bird which 

 is very hot, freely purged, at the same time the Fancier can exercise his own judgment. 



563. Peppercorns are very good to give old birds, or those that appear cold, every 



