106 Birds I Have Kept. 



seen them sip the drops of moisture that clung to the blades 

 of grass, which I have no doubt is their custom in their 

 native land, where, although rain may not fall for many 

 months in summer, heavy dew at night is the natural order 

 of things. 



Budgerigars are very hardy birds, caring little or nothing 

 for the severest weather in this changeable climate of ours, 

 providing they have an abundant supply of wholesome food : 

 they are, however, very subject to egg-binding, as well as 

 to convulsions, or fits. The latter complication is caused by 

 constipation, which is itself induced by continued feeding on 

 dry, and too often stale, food; the obvious remedy being a 

 change to a more succulent diet. I am utterly at a loss, 

 however, to account for the former troublesome and most dis- 

 tressing malady; for I have known it to occur in young as well 

 as in old birds, in aviary-bred as well as in imported specimens, 

 in fat birds and lean birds, in summer and in winter, in cages 

 and in aviaries, indoors and out: and I further believe that 

 a bird once attacked is ever after useless for breeding purposes, 

 and had better be at once destroyed, or, at all events, con- 

 demned to single blessedness for the remainder of her days; 

 otherwise the complication will sooner or later recur, and the 

 bird inevitably die. Eelief may be afforded by the applica- 

 tion of a drop or two of castor, or even olive oil to the 

 egg-passage by means of a small brush, or a feather, while 

 a drop may be administered internally at the same time; 

 which can be readily done by holding the bird with its head 

 on one side, and placing the drop of medicine on the beak, 

 when it will be immediately swallowed; but as soon as the 

 poor bird is relieved I would strongly advise that she be not 

 permitted to go to nest again. 



Budgerigars will exist on very plain food, such as an all 

 the year round diet of millet or canary seed, but can scarcely 

 be expected to successfully breed thereon. It is cruel to keep 

 such extremely lively birds confined in a small cage, where 



