The Java Sparrow. 151 



kill them if any are present: it may safely be dusted over 

 eggs and young birds, providing the latter are not actually 

 gaping at the time when it is being used, for if it were to 

 get down their throats it would certainly not have a bene- 

 ficial effect upon them, if indeed it did not kill them outright. 



I have already mentioned the diseases to which I have 

 found the Bengalis subject, and would merely further remark 

 under this heading, that it is unwise to turn them at once 

 into a large aviary after purchase; for they have so long 

 been used to a confined space, that they , seem to have par- 

 tially lost the use of their wings, and are lost and bewildered 

 when they find themselves turned loose, and not unfrequently 

 perish from absolute inability to find their food. 



The better plan is to transfer them into a cage about twice 

 the size of the one they have been accustomed to, and to 

 go on gradually increasing the dimensions of their abode until 

 they are able to use their wings, and make their way about. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



THE JAVA SPAEEOW. 



THESE really handsome birds axe very old favourites with 

 fanciers, and were comparatively common in Bechstein's 

 time. "There are few vessels", said that excellent authority 

 on bird-matters, toward the close of the last century, "coming 

 from Java, and the Cape of Good Hope, that do not bring 

 numbers of these birds, which have as bad' a character in those 

 countries, and particularly in China, their native place, as 

 the Sparrows have amongst us, on account of the ravages they 

 make in the rice fields. They have nothing attractive but 

 their beauty, for their song is short and monotonous. They 

 cost four or five pounds sterling a pair in Germany." 



