KING PARROT, OR PARRAKEJST. 97 



they are regularly bred; but in all bird-matters we are, as yet, very 

 far behind our Teutonic friends. 



Although, for its size, this species has not a very large or powerful 

 beak, it is, nevertheless, as partial as any of its congeners to "whit- 

 tling", and should always be provided with a piece of semi-decayed 

 wood upon which to exercise its beak, and thus enable it to while 

 away the time, which, doubtless, often hangs heavy enough — we were 

 going to say upon its hands — but at all events it is, no doubt, fre- 

 quently at a loss how to employ itself; occasionally turning round and 

 plucking out its own feathers for want of something else to do. 



It happens now and then that a Parrot having moulted does not 

 regain its plumage, and the owner imagines that the bird itself eats 

 its feathers, which is not the case, the poor thing has not the strength 

 to reproduce them, and after a longer or shorter interval of wretched 

 nakedness dies. 



Such a bird is suffering from extreme debility, and requires in the 

 first instance warmth; a temperature, say, of 70° Fahr., an abundance 

 of nourishing food, chief of which is sound fresh hemp-seed, then sponge 

 cake, canary-seed, lunch biscuit, apples, and nuts, and, for medicine, 

 ten drops of Parrish's Chemical Food to each ounce of its drinking- 

 water. We have seen port-wine, brandy, and quinine recommended 

 among many other things, but the regimen we have just described, will, 

 unless the poor bird be too far gone, soon restore it to health, and 

 the owner will have the pleasure of once more beholding his favourite 

 clothed as Nature intended it should be. 



As soon as the reparative process is complete, the temperature of 

 the place where the bird is kept — a warm conservatory makes a capital 

 bird-hospital — must be gradually and cautiously lowered to that in 

 which it is decided to keep it, but draughts must be studiously avoided, 

 or inflammation of the lungs is certain to set in, when, in ninety-nine 

 cases out of a hundred, and in spite of the utmost care and attention, 

 the poor creature will die. 



Inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia, is much more readily pre- 

 vented than cured in birds, but when it does occur, warmth and 

 nourishment are the only remedies, and generally the sufferer will not 

 feed, sometimes even it will not drink, though usually the thirst is 

 excessive; in such a case we have seen it recommended to give milk 

 and chicken-broth, and should be disposed to give the latter a trial; 

 not cold, but just tepid, and if the bird would not take that, we 

 should advise a small quantity to be poured down its throat every now 

 and then with a spoon. 



In a case that came under our own observation, the patient's cage 

 i. H 



