The Penn's Grove record., 1889-11-02
The care Of canariss.

People who keep canaries shonld at
tend strictly to their comfort. They
are clearly birds, andtheir cages should
always be neat and clean. They should
have . clean bath every day, fresh
seeds, and the bottom of he cage
should be cleaned and fine gravel and
small pebbles scattered there. IL neces-
sary, the water in the cups should be
changed several times during the day.
Never leave stale, dirty water in the
cups. When they are moulting q small
piece Of iron may be put in the drink
ing water.
Very little sugar, cake, and bread
should be given to canaries- Itis best
to mix the canary, hemp, and rape
seeds in the cup, giving them but little
of the hemp, Of which they are very
fond, but which makes them too fat for
health. A little apple, chickweed, and
tender lettuce leaves are all healthful.
This bird is very susceptible to sold
"a fact that people lose sight oil. They
are brought from q room with q stove,
and hung out Of doors in . bleak, cold
wind. When they need air, it is better
to hang them inside the window, not
outside, and thus they escape the
draughts that are necessarily in the
street. Then, too, they are not alarm
ed and made nervous by the noises in
the street. In hanging them outside
they are liable to be drenched by the
sudden rains that often occur. The
owner may not be at home, or she may
forget the bird, and for hours 1t Is en-
posed to the peltings Of the storm. II
You wi. hang your bird outside, be
sure to take it IN before you leave the
house. While birds need air and sun,
there is . right and q wrong way OF
giving it to them. They should never
be subjected to q hot sun, as it is no
pleasanter for them than it is for us to
be scorched by its rays. The cage
should be covered with paper, ii it is
put out when the sun is very hot. The
bird enjoys the in winter when the
cage is set inside the window, and
shows its appreciation by its lively
antics.
Strong, disagreeable odors are bad
for the bird. To some tobacco smoke
proves unhealthy, while others again
do not seem to mind it. They have
been known, however. to fall into TITS
when exposed to its smell.
No bird should be put in o very small
cage. It should have one sufficiently
large to enable it to fly from side &c
side with perfect ease.
The mites that infect the cage are q
matter Of great annoyance to the bird.
Once q month the bird should be re-
moved to another cage and the other
well scalded. This is as e~ffectual q way
Of getting rid Of these pests as any
other. The .perches should be well
scalded also. 1t must be remembered
that the perches should always be kept
clean, otherwise the birds feet will be-
come sore. Another remedy Is to re-
move the bird from the cage, and to
hold a lighted candle to every part of
it; this will destroy the mites. A rem
.dy which has proved effectuai is to
sprinkle the inside of the cage with sui
phur, but, after all, the scalding of the
cage is best.
1t is only natural that when evening
comes on, birds should go to sleep.
This they will not always do If exposed
to the gas-light. They may be quite
lively, but they are excited by the
light, not that they enjoy it, for they
do not. A cloth should be thrown owe
the cage, to shield the inmate from the
light; do this, and. you will soon find
the bird asleep.
No one should keep birds who is not
kind-hearted, careful of their comfort,
and willing to see that their cages are
clean.