There should be always a little bed of rather fine dry oatmeal for the bird to stand on for a moment when its bath is over; this dries the feet, and in all ways is useful, while its dusting the feathers does not the slightest harm.

Broken Limbs. - When a bird meets with an accident of this kind, it should be taken very tenderly and placed in a cage without perches, with a little soft hay or flannel (anything thready or hairy must be avoided, as the bird is apt to get its feet entangled) to lie upon, and its seed and water-cups on the floor near it so that it may help itself without being obliged to flutter about, sprinkle some of the seed about on the floor of the cage also. Plenty of green stuff, chickweed and watercress, may be given at such times. Warmth and quiet with this treatment will, with the aid of nature, often effect a cure in a few days.

A strange cat last winter by some extraordinary means made its way into my room one evening in the twilight, and before I knew of its presence, it had sprung upon and knocked down a cage from a table near. One bird flew away unhurt, but the other was injured by the falling cage, and had its leg broken. It was taken up and given to me quite gently, and without even attempting then to examine the injury, I laid it in a cage just such as I described, and kept it close beside me for the next ten days: talking to it seeming to comfort and amuse it mightily. The leg was stiff and useless for a long time after, but when once it had begun to bathe, the recovery was rapid, and the bird now is a very fine and healthy one, and has built and hatched this summer.

In the spring of the year birds sometimes become mopish, and without any apparent cause stop singing and allow their feathers to become, and to continue ruffled. Hanging the bird in the window, or near some green plants, will often effect a change.

Fits. - Sometimes, especially if a bird builds early in the year while the weather is cold, she will be subject to a sort of fit when she begins to lay her eggs or sits; probably cold weather renders her much more exhausted. In the cold spring this year, one of my birds was very ill indeed ; she lay on her side with all her feathers fluffed out, and did not even stir when her mate in the excess of his affectionate disquietude perched himself on her shoulder, and setting his feet firmly together, took her wing in his beak and tugged it with all his might to induce her to get up. I thought such nursing, however, might be dispensed with, so having got some warm water, and with exceedingly great care given the bird a bath (of course holding her in my hand the while), I wrapped her up, insensible as she was, in a very warm piece of flannel, and having kept her warm all day, I had the pleasure at night of seeing her eating crumbs of sponge biscuit (which was her favorite refreshment), with considerable appetite. She has never, I am sure, forgotten that day's nursing, for she is the only bird who now makes no fuss at all if I take her up. The others kick and scratch and peck as hard as they can, maintaining firmly the difference between being taken, and coming of themselves.

Gapes. - Young birds are excessively liable to a disease which resembles that called in poultry "the gapes," though it does not seem to be at all the same thing in reality. The bird mopes and is uncomfortable, ruffles up its feathers, and keeps opening its bill as if it wanted air. The bill is generally dry and yellowish underneath the eyes, and the bird has a generally miserable look about it suggestive of its real disease, an exceedingly bad cold. Some strong black tea without milk, linseed, poppy seed, plenty of green stuff, and a little liquorice in the water, are amongst the best remedies, but perfect warmth is the greatest requisite. I think this complaint is contagious, and, therefore, should always recommend removing any other birds from the same cage, or if in an aviary, placing the sick bird in hospital.

Parasitic Insects. - Canaries who are diseased, or not kept clean, are apt to be troubled with small yellow lice in the skin, or hid among the feathers. The birds are constantly restless, and peck at different parts of their bodies. Frequent bathing, or water from a syringe, and a little aniseed mixed with the gravel on the floor, are the best preventives.

I once bought two birds at the door which were evidently made very uncomfortable by a torment arising from want of bathing - very minute red insects Kke cheese mites, which were amongst their feathers. Newly-bought birds, for fear of such annoyances, should never be mixed at first with others, unless they are obtained from a dealer on whom one can depend.

Egg-Rupture consists of an obstruction of the passage through which the eggs are ejected, and most frequently proves fatal; she often fancies she has laid, and broods upon an empty nest: a few drops of olive oil applied to the vent is one of the best remedies. Great care must be taken in handling the bird, or the confined egg may be broken, a catastrophe that would probably cause immediate death. After the remedy has been applied, do not let her loose, but place her gently upon the nest, and she may then be able to lay the egg easily. A warm bath is also very good.