Canaries and Nestlings. 
147 
I do not think Canaries are very often ill if you 
keep them clean, and give them air and light, 
keeping them out of draughts. 
If, however, they do happen to “ have fits,” 
especially while building, it is best to put the 
bird gently into a warm-water bath, keeping its 
head out, and holding the bird in your hand. 
Then have ready a piece of warm soft flannel, and 
put in the sick bird as much as possible as if it 
were in a nest. 
Perhaps it will lie on one side and seem very 
ill indeed ; but warmth is the best remedy, and 
it is very likely that it will soon recover. A sick 
bird in winter should generally be thus treated. 
In summer, however, you must consider if heat is 
the cause, and if so, sprinkle the bird, and drop 
cold water on its head, putting it in a very cool 
airy place, perhaps on a marble slab. 
After any injury, quiet is the grand thing, and 
a cage without more than one perch, and that one 
placed very low, is the best thing to use. The 
seed and water should be put close together to be 
got at most easily, and there should be also plenty 
of green food given. 
Sometimes a bird gets its feet clogged with 
sand and dirt. You should hold it then very 
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