490 



British Cage Birds. 



overgrown with reeds and floating herbage, as here the par- 

 ticularly graceful and pleasing movements of the birds can be 

 seen to advantage, which is not the case when they are confined 

 to an aviary. Care should be taken to pinion the birds if they 

 are to be allowed their liberty, as otherwise they are likely 

 to fly away if they are for any reason dissatisfied with their 

 quarters. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — If the Moorhen has no 

 pond or pool in which to revel daily it becomes liable to cramp 

 and attacks of diarrhoea, for the treatment of which see 

 Chapter V., on Diseases," In other respects it is a healthy 

 bird, not at all susceptible to cold, and rarely troubled with any 

 of the numerous ailments to which poultry are liable. 



