Scrofulous. Such eruptions on the root of the bill and around the eyes, closing up the nostrils and injuring the eyelids, and sometimes causing blindness, are the result of uncleanliness and entire want of proper bathing arrangements. The only and best remedy for this is to wash the diseased parts several times each day with a so lution of caustic; one to two grains to one ounce of water.
Bird Lice. If the bird seems to suffer from vermin, it is best to give the cage a thorough cleaning. Restlessness and moving around the cage after sunset are a sure sign that these para sites, which keep quiet during the day, are at work, and are depriving our little favorites of sleep. In a clean cage vermin seldom harbor; should they, however, be found there, it will be well to remove the cage at once. Should this not suffice they must be got rid of by other means. In winter time they can be exterminated by hanging the cage (without the bird) out of doors during a few cold nights. At other times I would advise to give the cage a thorough cleansing, washing the same with hot water; to examine the extremities of the perches carefully, and rub them with oil, as this will kill the lice. Brass cages should be sent to the factory to have them renewed and revarnished.•After the cage has been well cleaned, and the bird placed in some other cage, strew its bottom with genuine Parisian insect powder. The best time for do ing this is the evening. Then cover the cage well with a clean cloth. The lice will leave the bird and take refuge on the cloth. This must be removed in the morning and washed in boil ing water. The process must be continued for eight days.
Worms in the Wind-pipe. The wind-pipe worm (Syngamus Trachealis, or Sclerostomum Syngamus) is one of the most terrible animals that annoy our favorite. The signs of his existence are a rest less shaking of the head, opening of the bill, gasping and coughing; in short, all the symp toms of a severe catarrh., In the early stages of disease it sometimes happens that the worm is coughed out; but later, when it has settled and increased in numbers, this is impossible. These parasites increase with wonderful rapidity. Whether the disease is contagious has not been fully ascertained; it will be well, however, to keep the birds thus affected separate from the others. Unfortunately, we are acquainted with no means by which these parasites may be de stroyed to a certainty. Cronon recommends to
feed these birds with meal-worms soaked in olive oil, or to directly put this oil on the wind-pipe with a quill. He says that by this means some birds have been cured.
Melancholy. The wonderful intelligence of birds affords a sufficient proof that they can suf fer from depression of spirits, and even die of melancholy. The numerous instances of these facts on record leave no further doubt on the subject. Birds which have lost their mate, or have been robbed of their young, have grieved unto death; others, taken from their playmate, have fallen into a fit of dejection; others pined from missing their usual attendants. Their removal causes sadness. While so suffering, it is advantageous to dress the cage with green branches. Fresh air, sunlight, variety of food, a more roomy place for exercise, are advisable.
Mocking Birds—Are the very finest of sing ing birds, when we take into consideration the great variety and wonderful modulation of their notes. They will easily catch the song of any singing bird and repeat it with fidelity. Thus if the famous nightingale be placed within hearing, the mocking bird will repeat the notes with the utmost fidelity, and as a night singing bird they excel the nightingale itself. The food of the mocking bird is insects of various kinds, especially grasshoppers, fruits, ripe ber ries. Berries especially should be liberally sup plied all during the season, and the carefully dried fruit may be softened in water and fed sparingly in winter. During the season when grasshoppers are about half grown, they may be caught in large numbers in a bag net, dried in the oven, and fed during winter, first being soft ened with water. A good mocking bird food, is to take sound, mealy potatoes, boiled, two-thirds, and yolk of hard-boiled eggs, one-third; mash the potatoes and then thoroughly mix with the egg. This is an excellent general food, and birds if fed al,o liberally on berries and insects, thrive wonderfully. Mocking birds should be supplied daily with pure water for bathing; must not be exposed to drafts of cold air, but should be kept where the air is pure and fresh. The cage should be at least thirty inches long by twenty inches wide, and if much larger it is bet ter, since if allowed the bird will be in continual motion while singing.