CAGE BIRDS AND THEIR DISEASES. 425 
FLEDGING AND MOULTING. 
Though the growth of the first coat of feathers and the periodic 
change thereafter are natural functions, they produce a debility which ren- 
ders a bird peculiarly susceptible to disease. These changes make a special 
demand on the digestive organs, and an increased allowance of food should 
be afforded, though without any delicacies. A rusty nailin the drinking- 
water will be a useful tonic. Meat-eaters need more worms and ant’s eggs 
than usual. The Macena Biscuit is superior as food during these periods 
for those birds for which it has been recommended above. Keep the bird 
in a rather warmer atmosphere than usual as a precaution against colds, 
and insure rest and quiet, being especially careful not to excite the bird. 
LICE.—MITES.—PARASITES. 
When a bird is restless, particularly at night, and repeatedly puts its 
beak under its wings and on other parts, the presence of lice or mites. 
should be suspected, and a minute search be made at once. If they are 
found, blow gzre Persian Insect Powder thoroughly into the feathers, in 
smail quantities, and into all corners and cracks of the cage. Clean the 
cage very carefully and anoint all parts of it with kerosene oil, before using 
the powder. It is best to furnish a new cage after the eradication, until 
the infested one is surely free from all traces of the pests. Absolute clean- 
liness is, of course, one of the surest preventives. Both before and after 
the appearance of lice or other vermin, a supply of sand for dusting and. 
abundant opportunities for bathing are very beneficial. When a cage is in- 
fested with red mites, temporary relief can be afforded the bird by spread- 
ing a white cloth over the cage at night and removing it after a while. If 
mites are present, they will collect on the cloth and will be seen as minute 
red spots. Of course they should be destroyed when removed in this way, 
This is, indeed, a good expedient to discover their presence. 
DEFORMED CLAWS AND BEAKS.—INJURIES. 
If the perches are so small that the bird can reach more than three- 
fourths of the way around them, the whetting on the points of the claws 
required by nature is not afforded, and they become too long and deformed. 
The best treatment is to remove the cause by providing thicker perches. 
If the claws are so long as to present a deformity, hold them up between 
your eyes anda light,so that you can see the ends of the blood-vessels; 
then clip them off near those ends, using sczssors, not a knife. If bleeding 
Digitized by Microsoft® 
