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British Cage Birds. 



Blackcaps are very sensitive and susceptible birds, and at times 

 lose their feathers on the slightest change of temperature ; 

 for instance, if a bird of this species, which has been kept in a 

 vp-arm room, be suddenly placed in the open air, even in the direct 

 rays of the sun, before the weather is quite warm., and where 

 the temperature is a few degrees lower than what it has been ac- 

 customed to, it will commence to moult, and probably keep on 

 losing feathers until the period arrives at which it would cast 

 its coat according to the law of Nature. 



Diseases and theie Treatment. — Blackcaps are prone to the 

 same ailments as their congeners, the Nightingales, Whitethroats, 

 Fauvettes, &c,, but, with the exception of the Whitethroats and 

 Robins, are probably the hardiest of their tribe. They live to a 

 good age when properly looked after and cared for. 



The moult is, perhaps, the most trying period of their exist- 

 ence, if they are neglected. Give insect food liberally at this 

 time, and a frequent change of diet ; ants' eggs, mealworms, 

 flies, and occasionally a spider, have a very salutary effect in 

 cheering and invigorating them. Keep them quite warm during 

 this period, and moult them in a box cage partly covered with 

 baize. Put a rusty nail and a few shreds of saffron in their 

 ordinary drinking-water. 



Consumption is caused by neglecting to give them a constant 

 change of diet, a frequent bath, an abundance of river sand or 

 fine gravel, and a liberal supply of fresh air ; also by depriv- 

 ing them of the direct rays of the sun at seasonable times. 



