THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
365 
early boyhood days, I determined to 
turn them to some account, and yet pre- 
serve them as souvenirs of liappy boy- 
hood days. After taking away from the 
body of the skate all the heel and toe- 
bands, and straps, I burned four holes 
wit' a heated wire poker through the 
wooden foot piece of the skate ; through 
these holes were introduced four long 
screws, which were screwed into the two 
hickory or chestnut stakes, or uprights 
shown in the illustration, Fig. 1, these 
stakes having been first firmly driven 
into the ground. After the skate was 
firmly screwed in position on the two up- 
right stakes, both it and the stakes re- 
ceived two coats of green paint, and the 
result was an excellent scraper for taking 
mud off boots and shoes. 
Fig. 2 shows how an old gate or barn- 
door hinge may be utilized for the same 
Fig. 2. 
purpose. This shows one wing of a strap 
hinge run through two upright pieces 
of wood. The mode of construction and 
means of fastening, are quite obvious. 
Canaries 
How to Keep and Breed 
Them.-V. 
BY GOKDON STABLES. 
ANAEIES can be taught a va- 
riety of little tricks after they 
have come to love you. They 
may also be taught the notes 
of various other birds, or they will learn 
tunes played to them on a bird-organ or 
flute or violin. In either case they must 
be taught while young, and they must be 
so placed that they can hear no sounds 
save those you wish to teach them. 
Cats, I may just remark, should be 
taught to respect your birds. Pussy often 
gets extremely attached to canaries, and 
will protect them, but never think of 
hurting them. I have seen a canary 
placed in a cat's pen at a show to keei) 
pussy company and sing to her. 
Let me conclude by mentioning a few 
of the ailments canaries are liable to, 
though these can mostly be prevented by 
avoiding their common causes, namely, 
1, damp ; 2, draughts ; 3, want of ventila- 
tion ; 4, the abuse of dainties ; 5, bad food ; 
and 6, impure water. 
Asthma.— A little glycerine in the wa- 
ter, with a rusty nail, and fifteen drops of 
tincture of gentian. 
Diarrhoea. — Two drops of warm castor- 
oil first. After a few hours, a 
small bit of gum arable, and 
about twenty drops of tincture 
of oi)ium in the water, or a little 
of the ordinary chalk mixture of 
the shops. 
Constipation.— This is a com- 
plaint which is more easily and 
successfully treated by change 
* of diet than by medicine. Give 
more green food in summer, and 
in winter a slice of ripe apple or 
well boiled carrot. If the case is 
urgent, give two or three drops 
of castor-oil. 
Inflammation of the bowels.— 
The bird is dull and drooping, perhaps 
lying on its belly on tlie perch, and evi- 
dently in great pain. The lower part of the 
stomach will be found red and swollen. 
Give a drop or two of castor-oil to begin. 
Paint the abdomen, by means of a camel- 
hair brush, with warm turpentine. Put in 
the drinking water twenty drops of wine of 
ipecacuanha, and a bit of gum aralnc; or 
put a drop of each of the former medi- 
cines, diluted in two or three drops of 
water, down the throat thrice a day 
Keep warm and handle gently. When, 
the bird begins to come round, feed on 
steeped biscuits of arrowroot and sweet 
milk. 
