CAGE aNI? SXNtili^G BIRDS. 
1 
fear. A cold batli is one of the easiest and most effectual 
remedies : a drop or two of slierry wine, if the bird can be 
made to swallow, will generally restore it to consciousness, 
and help to prevent a recurrence of the fit. Nourishing 
food, and a few drops of spirits of nitre in the water which 
the bird drinks, are good in these cases. Some persons draw 
a feather or two from the tail at the time of the fit, but we 
do not recommend this. 10th, Overgrown Claws and Beali, 
— These, although scarcely to be called diseases, sometimes ' 
have as bad an eficct upon the health of the bird as if they 
were really such ; for the consciousness of possessing claws 
and beak of an undue length, and the fear of getting them 
entangled in the wires of the cage, or other objects about, 
will cause it to mope and refuse its food : therefore, they 
should be properly trimmed with a pair of sharp scissors. 
Care should be taken not to cut them so closely as to 
produce blood. This may always be avoided by holding the 
claw to be operated on up to the light, and seeing how far 
down the toes the vessels extend. Your grasp of the bird 
should be firm, yet very gentle, and all that you do should ; 
be done without haste or trepidation. 11th. Vermin, — Tb3 | 
most troublesome of these are called red mites, minute 
insects resembling house bugs, which get into the crevices 
of the cage, the plumage of the birds, the nests, and all 
- places which afford a harbour for them, and annoy the birds 
dreadfully. These little bloodsuckers carry on their warfare 
chiefly by night. When a cage is once infested with them 
it had better be burnt, for hardly any amount of cleansing 
will entirely dislodge the enemy. A pinch or two of pungent 
Scotch snuff under the wings and about the bodies of your 
birds will partially destroy them, but you must be careful 
that it does not get into the eyes of your songsters. The 
most effectual remedy is, perhaps, a solution of white pre-^ 
(upitate powder, washed over those parts of the canary | 
Avhere the mites are most likely to be, putting the cage in 
the sun, or before the fire, that the feathers may get 
thoroughly dry after the application. Recollect that this is | 
a strong poison, and guard against accidents when using it^ I 
Por lice, frequent bathing and great attention to cleanliness 
may be recommended : a little crushed aniseed with the sand 
at the bottom of the cage will often dislodge the intruders. 
