Canary Birds — Do not keep in a room that is being painted or has
odor of new paint. Do not hang over a stove or grate which
contains fire. Do not set cage in a window, and shut it down
upon it; the draft is injurious. Do not wash cage bottom, but scrape
clean with a knife, and then put on some fresh gravel ; the moisture
breeds red mites, and is injurious to the bird. Do not keep the birds
you intend to breed in the spring together during the winter. Do not
keep single birds in a room where others are breeding, or males and
females in mating season in the same room in separate cages, as it is
likely to cause pairing fever. Feed canary and rape seed, but no hemp.
For diarrhea put a rusty piece of iron in water dish, changing water
not oftener than twice a week, and bread boiled in milk as for the asth-
ma; boil it well in this case, so that when cold it will cut like cheese ;
give freely with plenty of vegetables.
Moulting is not a disease, yet during this period all birds are more
or less sick, and some suffer severely. They require plenty of nourish-
ing food. Worms, insects, and fruit to those which eat them ; and to
those which live upon dry seeds, bread dipped in milk, fruit and vege-
tables. — Airs. Mary Winget.
