26 THE PARROT TRIBES. 
jecting all round, forming a tray, and the body being of lac- 
quered brass wire ; while fig. 8 is entirely of zinc, in broad bands 
wound diagonally across. All these 
cages are made by Mr. Andrews, of 
Compton-street and the Pantheon, by 
whose permission they have been drawn. 
Unlacquered brass wire is frequently 
used in the construction of parrot cages, 
but this is an error which has caused 
many a fine bird’s death. It is impos- 
sible to avoid the accumulation of ver- 
digris on this metal, and this the bird 
will peel off. Although the effects of 
the poison may not be manifest for 
some time, even for a year, the bird’s 
constitution will be gradually undermined, his body will waste, 
and he will die. Let the cage be constructed of tinned wire. 
A ring of sufficient size should be suspended from the crown of 
the cage ; the bird will get within this ring and swing for an 
hour together. Attached to the perch, one at each extremity, 
should be the food and drinking vessels. They may be made 
either of tin, glass, or porcelain. The floor of the parrot cage 
should be well covered with coarse red sand, and the cage itself 
should be cleaned out every day in the summer, and twice a week 
in the winter. Some prefer to do with- 
out the cage altogether, and to attach 
the bird to an open perch (fig. 9) 
fixed to an ornamental stand. When 
this is done, care should be taken that 
a slight metal chain is used for the 
purpose, as any less durable mate- 
rial would speedily be bitten through 
by the parrot’s powerful beak. 
One of the most tiresome mala- 
dies from which birds of the parrot 
family suffer is diseased feet. ISTot 
only is it unsightly, causing the poor 
creature to squat down in an ugly 
manner, but the pain is sufficient 
to spoil the temper of the most amiable parrot that ever lived. 
In nine cases out of ten the sore feet are occasioned by some 
fault in the perch. It is not kept sufficiently clean, or it is 
merely a straight round stick. This latter shape should be 
