46 



British Cage Birds. 



when a bird is out of sorts, or a change of diet is considered 

 necessary. It should be made of tin, but when meant for 

 a well finished cage, it is usual to put on a wood front, to 

 match the woodwork of the cage, and a bone or brass knob 

 is screwed into the centre of it, or a small brass picture ring 

 to draw it out by. These tins must be kept scrupulously 

 clean. 



Vessels of this sort are also made of glazed porcelain, 

 and they not only look well, but they can be kept clean with 

 very little trouble ; the greatest drawback which they possess 

 is that they are easily broken if they slip out of your hand, 



Fig. 26. Feeding Drawer for Soft Food. 



which happens now and again. They can be procured at 

 any of the potteries in Staffordshire or Lancashire. Hanley 

 is a good place to get them from. They are made in two 

 sizes ; the first size costs about 2s. 6d. per dozen and the larger 

 size more, but the latter are only required for large birds, 

 which subsist chiefly on soft food. It is a most essential 

 thing to keep these vessels perfectly clean ; hence those just 

 referred to excel all others in so much that they can be easily 

 scraped or washed out. 



Fig. 27 is an illustration of a scraper made of wrought-iron. 

 This is a most useful tool for cleaning out cage bottoms or 

 indoor aviaries, and should find a place amongst the appliances 

 of all bird keepers. 



A small fine hair sieve for removing the dust from seed: 

 a few grocer's tin canisters or stone jars with lids to keep 



