KING PABBOT, OB PABBAKEKT. 
97 
they are regularly bred; but in all bird-matters we are, as yet, very 
far behind our Teutonic friends. 
Although, for its size, this species has not a yery large or powerful 
beak, it is, nevertheless, as partial as any of its congeners to “ whit- 
tling^’, and should always be provided with a piece of semi-decayed 
wood upon which to exercise its beak, and thus enable it to while 
away the time, which, doubtless, often hangs heavy enough — we were 
going to say upon its hands — but at all events it is, no doubt, fre- 
quently at a loss how to employ itself; occasionally turning round and 
plucking out its own feathers for want of something else to do. 
It happens now and then that a Parrot having moulted does not 
regain its plumage, and the owner imagines that the bird itself eats 
its feathers, which is not the case, the poor thing has not the strength 
to reproduce them, and after a longer or shorter interval of wretched 
nakedness dies. 
Such a bird is suffering from extreme debility, and requires in the 
first instance warmth; a temperature, say, of 70° Fahr., an abundance 
of nourishing food, chief of which is sound fresh hemp-seed, then sponge 
cake, canary-seed, lunch biscuit, apples, and nuts, and, for medicine, 
ten drops of Parrish’s Chemical Food to each ounce of its drinking 
water. We have seen port-wine, brandy, and quinine recommended 
among many other things, but the regimen we have just described, will, 
unless the poor bird be too far gone, soon restore it to health, and 
the owner will have the pleasure of once more beholding his favourite 
clothed as Nature intended it should be. 
As soon as the reparative process is comjfiete, the temperature of 
the place where the bird is kept — a warm conservatory makes a capital 
bird-hospital — must be gradually and cautiously lowered to that in 
which it is decided to keep it, but draughts must be studiously avoided, 
or inflammation of the lungs is certain to set in, when, in ninety-nine 
cases out of a hundred, and in spite of the utmost care and attention, 
the poor creature will die. 
Inflammation of the lungs, pneumonia, is much more readily pre- 
vented than cured in birds, but when it does occur, warmth and 
nourishment are the only remedies, and generally the sufferer will not 
feed, sometimes even it will not drink, though usually the thirst is 
excessive; in such a case we have seen it recommended to give milk 
and chicken-broth, and should be disposed to give the latter a trial; 
not cold, but just tepid, and if the bird would not take that, we 
should advise a small quantity to bo poured down its throat every now 
and then with a spoon. 
In a case that came under our own observation, the patient’s cage 
I. 
H 
