Treatment of Fowls on Ship-board. 
179 
fresh-water sand daily, and less corn given. Some turnips, swedes, or mangolds should be also laid 
in, and a portion given daily minced up into small cubes ; this will effectually supply the place of 
fresh vegetable food, and by attending to these simple precautions, and only feeding to the extent 
of eager appetite, the fowls may in most cases be sent long voyages and maintained in good 
condition. Barley or oats are unfit for the food of sea-going birds, and should be discarded. 
Before putting the birds in the coop, this should be thoroughly sprinkled with dilute carbolic 
acid, which may be repeated (on any fine day) if insects appear, some one holding the fowls while 
this is done. If the coop has to pass the tropics, some kind of light framework should support an 
awning a little way up from the top, and the deck round the coop be pretty freely watered during 
great heats, to save the birds as far as possible. These things cannot always be done on ship- 
board ; but often an arrangement can be made with some one to look specially after the fowls ; and 
it is well worth a reasonable sum to ensure that such few and simple essentials for their safe delivery 
are punctually attended to. 
