28 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
wliich he duly administers to them — these, we say, in a state 
of captivity, have surely pleasures peculiar thereto, and may 
without wrong* or injury be so kept. All creatures were 
given by God for the use and pleasure of man, and provided 
he subject them not to unnecessary suffering-, he may legiti- 
mately exercise over them that power which is his divine 
birthright 5 the canary and the nightingale, as well as the 
horse and the dog, are his, and if he desires to fill his home 
with melody, and delight his ear with sweet sounds, when 
the forest birds are mute, or he cannot go forth to listen to 
them, surely he may do so without offending the great God, 
whose all-seeing eye lets not even a sparrow fall to the 
ground unnoted. Unquestionably he may, but in doing this 
he takes upon himself the responsibility, too often forgotten, 
of caring for the little captives, providing for their wants, and 
attending to their ailments, many of which may be attributed 
to the artificial diet and mode of life to which, /or his plea- 
mre, they are compelled to submit. We trust that the few 
simple directions which are here given will assist him to 
])eriorm this duty, for it is no less. The diseases specified 
are such as occur to cage birds generally 5 some birds are 
more peculiarly liable to certain of them tlban others, and we 
have in many instances noticed this in treating of the species. 
To the canaries, and also to the parrots, we have judged it 
necessary to append special directions under this head, as the 
mode of treatment prescribed for them is in some cases diffe- 
rent from that recommended for cage birds in general. 
The Pip. — This disease generally proceeds from a cold ; 
its prominent symptoms are a yellow tint at the root of the 
beak, which is frequently opened ; the hind feathers m.ucli 
ruffled, the nostrils stopped up, and the tongue hard, dry, and 
coated. A pill, composed of butter, pepper, and garlic, 
should be administered, with infusion of hoarhound, or 
speedwell, as a pectoral drink ; the diet should be warm and 
nourishing, but not such as is heating to the system, or likely 
to ngg'ravate the fever with which the poor bird is parched 
up ^ oatmeal should be given if the bird's bowels are confined, 
with a few grains of salt in it. This disease more frequently 
affects large than small birds, and the most effectual remedy 
usually practised on barn-door fowl and tlie like, is to strip the 
tongue of the outer skin, begnnning at the palate ; tins opens 
