398 



British Cage Birds. 



bottom liberally covered with a mixture of sand and fine 

 gravel, as the bird is naturally dirty in habit, and its 

 excrement very offensive. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — Cuckoos never live long 

 in confinement ; they do not appear to suffer from any 

 specific ailment, but evidently die from want of exercise, and 

 from not assimilating their food. If they could be tamed, 

 and permitted their liberty, like Hawks and other birds, the 

 case might be different ; but this cannot be accomplished, 

 as they never become thoroughly domesticated under any 

 circumstances. 



