120 



CANARY BIRDS. 



or inhalation, or of some other parts of the body ; it may 

 also result from a suppuration of the gland of the croup, and 

 can therefore be cured only after the various causes have 

 been ascertained and removed. 



Disorder of the Gland of the Croup commonly 



Called "Pipps" — (Fatty gland)— this latter yields the 

 fat necessary for the preservation of the plumage, and, in 

 the case of all caged birds, it easily gets out of order. 

 Most frequently the gland becomes too replete with masses 

 of fat which get hard and then suppurate so that the gland 

 resembles an ulcer, erroneously called "pipps," and which 

 is, irrationally enough, cut off, or squeezed out, with a view 

 to healing it ; this process often endangering the life of the 

 bird. Cure : Careful inspection as to whether the gland 

 really contains pus, or only hardened fat. In the former 

 case, warm olive-oil should be spread over it twice or three 

 times a day, much green food should also be given. Ex- 

 ercise must be promoted, and the effected part cautiously 

 bathed in tepid water ; but if there really be pus in the 

 gland, then a careful cut should be made, the gland gently 

 squeezed out, and, according to Zuern, brushed out with a 

 solution of acid of " Bor " (1*100). In case of an inflamma- 

 tion of the croup-gland (mostly attended by diarrhoea), the 

 nearest feathers should be removed, a poultice of goulard 

 water or lead-water put on, a solution of carbolic acid will 

 be spread over the part (1-100) (Zuren). Then grease will 

 be laid on, or an ointment of glycerine or of zinc. Those 

 who are charged with the selection of birds, will sometimes 

 find on the belly a small wart of a fatty appearance, which 

 is only found upon males, and is perfectly harmless. 



The Sickening of Females While Laying. — 



Causes : Females who are yet too young or which are weakly, 

 faint, or sickly, or, on the other hand, females affected with 



