Our  Canaries 
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fresh  supply,  so  that  in  a  state  of  Nature  the  "  bird's  teeth  "  are  being  con- 
stantly changed  and  renewed,  it  follows  that  in  confinement  a  supply  should 
be  given.  A  caged  bird's  greed  for  grit  after  a  period  of  enforced  abstinence 
goes  to  prove  its  necessity.  The  proper  use  is  to  have  a  supply  of  suitable 
sized  gnt  constantly  accessible  to  all  birds  kept  in  confinement.  A  mere 
powder  of  dry  sandstone  is  of  no  use  except  as  an  aid  to  keep  the  cage  floor 
clean.  A  proper  form  of  gritty  sand  should  be  as  free  as  possible  from  dust 
which  will  rise  in  a  cloud  when  a  handful  is  dropped  on  the  floor — this  kind 
is  apt  to  prove  very  detrimental  to  the  vocal  organs  of  singing  birds— and  should 
contain  grains  up  to  about  the  size  of  small  summer  rape  seed.  When  such 
a  gritty  sand  is  strewn  on  the  cage  floor  to  help  in  keeping  them  clean  the 
birds  will  help  themselves 
as  necessity  arises,  but  when 
sawdust  is  used  in  the  cages 
a  supply  should  be  given  in 
a  small  vessel  by  itself, 
and  changed  from  time  to 
time.  In  large  aviaries 
also  a  separate  grit  box 
should  be  kept,  and  an 
occasional  sprinkling  of  com- 
mon   salt    among   the  grit 
Numbered  Rings  for  Marking  Young  Canaries.    Enlarged     will   prove   a   very  refreshing 
from  proper  size.  appetiser. 
A  SOURCE   OF  SUPPLY. 
A  splendid  kind  of  grit  may  be  obtained  everywhere,  even  in  the  midst  of 
our  largest  towns  at  times,  simply  for  the  trouble  of  collecting  it.  This  con- 
sists of  the  heaps  of  grit  which  are  blown  off  newly-repaired  roads  and  streets 
into  the  channels  and  corners  of  buildings  by  storms  of  wind.  In  most  cases 
this  is  comparatively  free  from  dust,  and  only  requires  sifting  to  a  proper  size 
in  a  sieve  of  small  gauge.  The  modern  steam-roller  is  by  no  means  a  bad 
maker  of  grit  for  cage  birds,  as  these  road-sweepings  will  show.  Similarly,  a 
very  good  sample  of  grit  may  be  collected  from  the  channels  on  country  roads 
or  just  outside  towns  after  heavy  rainstorms,  with  the  additional  advantage 
that  it  will  be  ready-washed  and  clean  ;  the  dust  and  mud  having  been  washed 
away  and  carried  down  the  sewers.  The  samples  of  fine,  almost  powdery,  red 
sand  one  often  meets  with  are  better  avoided.  Besides  containing  an  undue 
proportion  of  dust,  which  is  very  injurious  to  the  vocal  organs  of  songsters,  it 
is  practically  useless  as  an  aid  to  digestion,  and  is  too  apt  to  discolour  the 
plumage  of  Canaries  intended  for  exhibition  if  used  at  all  liberally.    Of  course 
