Our  Canaries 
39 
notwithstanding  the  fable  of  the  bashful  dame  who  ^covered  her  pet  canary's 
cage  with  a  towel  that  he  should  not  behold  Hebe's  matutinal  ablutions,  this 
sanctum  has  been  seized  upon  as  a  last  resource  not  infrequently.  But  unless  the 
room  is  a  tolerably  large  one  and  is  provided  with  a  thoroughly  efficient  system 
of  top  ventilation,  so  that  it  is  impossible  for  steam  from  the  hot  bath  to  hang 
about  the  room  and  cause  dampness,  the  chances  against  any  permanent  success 
being  obtained  are  too  great  to  be  speculated  with. 
A  TYPE  OF  CAGE  USEFUL  WHEN  GETTING  BIRDS 
STEADY  FOR  EXHIBITION  PURPOSES. 
Dampness,  either  in  the  atmosphere  or  the  walls  of  the  structure,  is  always 
inimical  to  the  health  and  welfare  of  the  birds,  and  no  amount  of  care  and 
attention  will  counteract  its  baneful  effect.  The  one  and  only  rational  way 
to  deal  with  it  is  to  cut  it  off  at  its  source.  Free  and  ample  ventilation  to- 
ensure  a  regular  changing  of  the  used-up  and  vitiated  air  within  the  room  will  do 
much  towards  counteracting  any  tendency  to  damp  walls,  and  will  quite 
remove  atmospherical  dampness  and  stuffiness.  The  latter  effect  may  alsa 
be  aided  by  a  few  growing  plants  about  the  room,  among  which  should  figure 
a  small  pot  specimen  of  the  antipodean  blue  gum  tree  or  eucalyptus. 
If  no  means  of  ventilating  the  room  are  provided,  save  by  the  door  or 
open  windows,  great  care  must  be  taken  that  the  current  of  air  is  diverted 
