General Rules for Bird- Treatment. 157 
We have to remember, moreover, a goodly supply 
of red sand or fine gravel. 
When it is plentiful, it is a most excellent thing 
to spread it quite thickly on the floor of the cage. 
The little birds scrape and dust in it, and enjoy it 
mightily. There is a tall glass with a spout some- 
times used in cages, for containing water. What- 
ever the arrangement is, however, it is best to 
preclude bathing in the drinking vessel. A little 
bath can then be put in on purpose, or better far, 
a glazed cage be hung on the door, containing one. 
It is amazing fun to see the washing that then 
takes place ; and perfectly shocking to witness the 
pretences some birds resort to. My Fiddie, for 
instance, is a clean small Goldfinch, and paddles in 
bis glass salt-cellar like a little cow, standing there 
flopping his feet about and making quite a noise ; 
but Dicky, who lives next door, gets sometimes 
laughed at sadly; because, when Fiddie washes, he 
only fluffs out his feathers, and dipping the extreme 
point of his bill in water, he shakes and shivers, 
and finally spreads out his wings to dry, while 
Fiddie, who is soused honestly, looks much as 
usual, and I believe laughs at Dicky ! 
All birds do best in a warm place at night. 
They cuddle in together, or sleep in nests, or any- 
