56 



CANARY BIRDS. 



cause a draught injurious to the bird), some gypsum-chalk 

 is mixed with the glue, whereby very good results have 

 been obtained. The superficies of the cover is generally pro- 

 vided with a printed sheet, having in the four corners draw- 

 ings of birds, and bearing the inscription thereon " Living- 

 bird," in large letters and repeated several times. When 

 the weather is very cold, some soft after-math or hay is, in 

 addition, placed between the cage and the inner walling 

 of the case. In such packing, already well-known to the 

 German Post Office officials, and sure therefore of their care 

 and consideration (stringent injunctions having been issued 

 to that effect), the birds traverse considerable distances, the 

 journey often occupying three to four days, without a renewal 

 of the food or water. Even in direct communication with Eng- 

 land, and therefore across the sea, the most favourable re- 

 sults have been obtained. Instead of the card-board cases, 

 wooden ones have now and then been used, but the post 

 offices have persistently discouraged the practice ; wooden 

 cases necessitate, from the very beginning — that is, at time 

 of packing — an arrangement which is injurious, because 

 terrifying to the bird. We allude to the hammering in of 

 the nails, in fastening the cover. Again, it is not easy to 

 mark them sufficiently, so as to prevent a hasty treatment 

 by throwing, or setting them on end ; they do not con- 

 centrate the heat as well as the paste-board cases do ; and 

 in a concussion, possibly occasioned by shunting, etc., they 

 are not as elastic, nor are they apt to deaden the blow as 

 well as the card-board. It is also not advisable to employ 

 wooden boxes one side of which is open, and railed in with 

 wire, because the above-mentioned drawbacks partly apply 

 to them also, and because the inevitable draught would 

 greatly endanger the birds. They do not, moreover, prevent 

 the introduction of unsuitable food which, through mistaken 

 pity, is given to the bird on the road. Great importance is 



