IGNORANCE OF NATURAL HISTORY 
a skin disease ? It may at times arise from a peculiar 
temperament, and be quite beyond the skill of the doctor 
to advise or find a remedy, as it is done almost without the 
knowledge of the individual who has acquired the habit, 
which appears analogous, if not quite identical, with that 
of feather biting. There is no doubt that some of these 
nail-biters, after they have nibbled to the quick their 
nails, would, had they feathers, soon reduce them to 
stumps. 
Treatment . — The old Story, what to Eat, Drink, and 
Avoid. — Feed the birds that bite their feathers upon 
canary-seed and water, which afford good and wholesome 
diet. As each seed requires to be shelled it occupies a con- 
siderable part of the day to obtain a sufficient supply of 
food; thus amusement, in part, is given, but in the case of 
the bird being unused to this seed care must be taken not 
suddenly to change its usual food, otherwise the risk may 
be run of half-starving a pet bird. Avoid hemp-seed, 
meat, fat, bones, and all kinds of food likely to produce 
irritation ; in warm weather let the bird be well syringed 
with cold water every day, a common garden syringe being 
used. This operation must, however, be performed with 
judgment and caution ; the bird must not be suddenly 
exposed to it, care and a daily increase being necessary, 
otherwise a fatal result may ensue ; a slight sprinkle 
being given on the first day or two. Caution must be 
taken not to expose the bird in a cold or draughty place 
after the bath, and let it dry itself in the sun. The bath 
should never be given after the middle of the day, and 
on no account in cold or wet weather ; the bird left in 
the open air during a warm shower of rain would be the 
best bath it could have. This treatment, with the cooling 
food, canary-seed and water, is the best and most success- 
ful one yet met with in preventing and curing the habit 
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