Our  Canaries 
Although  the  insects  Hve  and  breed,  as  already  said,  upon  the  birds,  it 
must  not  be  supposed  that  they  cannot  be  spread  by  indirect  means.  As  a 
matter  of  fact  they  are  quite  easily  shaken  out  of  the  feathers  when  the  bird 
is  pluming  itself,  if  they  are  at  all  numerous,  and  a  badly  infested  bird  put 
temporarily  into  a  cage  may  leave  quite  sufficient  "undesirable  aliens"  behind 
for  some,  at  least,  of  them  to  find  their  way  on  to  the  next  occupant  of  the 
cage  and  found  a  new  colony.  A  peculiarity  of  this  pest  is  the  partiality  it 
shows  for  attaching  itself  to  weak  and  delicate  birds,  or  even  those  which 
happen  to  be  temporarily  run  down  in  condition.  Doubtless  the  true  explanation 
of  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  these  specimens  are  apt  to  neglect  the  bath  and 
their  usual   toilet  operations,  or 
perform  them  with  less  vigour  and 
thoroughness,    which    gives  the 
insects  the  little  advantage  which 
enables  them  to   resist  dislodg- 
ment  from  the  plumage.  With 
strong,    healthy    birds    kept  in 
clean   cages    and    regularly  at- 
tended to,  and  ample  opportuni- 
ties for  frequent  bathing,  the  grey 
louse  has  barely  a  living  chance. 
Not  so  with  the  red  mite — the 
strongest  and  most  active  birds 
have   little    chance   against  the 
attacks  of   these  ruddy  pilgrims 
^   ,       of  the  night. 
SEED  HOPPER,  o!  wood,  with  sliding  gla»»  back. 
TO  FIGHT  THE  FOE. 
Now  having  purposely  avoided  the  slightest  touch  of  scientific  or  technical 
description  in  these  remarks,  so  that  he  who  runs  may  read,  there  should  be 
no  difficulty  in  discriminating  between  the  two  varieties  of  pest,  and,  in  following  the 
proper  line  of  treatment,  to  thoroughly  eradicate  it.  If  a  cage  is  badly  infested 
with  red  mites  during  the  breeding  season,  comparatively  little  can  be  done  to 
clear  it,  unless  the  arrangements  and  cages  are  of  such  a  description  as  to 
allow  another  cage  of  the  same  size  and  pattern  and  with  similar  fittings,  to 
be  inserted  in  its  place,  in  which  case  the  birds  should  be  quietly  transferred  at  a 
convenient  time  and  the  change  effected.  For  this  reason  also,  it  is  most 
necessary  to  make  the  Spring  over-haul  of  the  cages  as  complete  and  efficient  as 
it  is  possible  for  it  to  be,  in  order  to  get  through  the  breeding  season  with 
the  least  chance  of  this  trouble  assuming  serious  proportions. 
