. Canaries, hybrids, and British birds in cage and aviary. EXHIBITING AND WASHING 183 ing any more room, hold double the quantity of water, which consequently keeps cleaner and needs less attention. The first basin or pan should be half- filled with warm water of about 50 degrees. If clean rain-water is procurable for tlie purpose so much the better for both wash- ing and rinsing, as this needs no addition to soften it. Failing this, a piece of lump borax should be dissolved in the ordinary hot Avater; a piece the size of a small haricot bean will be quite sufficient to soften a quart of water
. Canaries, hybrids, and British birds in cage and aviary. EXHIBITING AND WASHING 183 ing any more room, hold double the quantity of water, which consequently keeps cleaner and needs less attention. The first basin or pan should be half- filled with warm water of about 50 degrees. If clean rain-water is procurable for tlie purpose so much the better for both wash- ing and rinsing, as this needs no addition to soften it. Failing this, a piece of lump borax should be dissolved in the ordinary hot Avater; a piece the size of a small haricot bean will be quite sufficient to soften a quart of water, and will be beneficial to the bird's feathers. Certainty should be made that borax is used, as we know of two instances where fanciers were given alum in mistake for borax, with the result that the plumage of several of their most valuable birds was ruined for a whole season —until, indeed, they moulted again; the feathers were stiffened, and many of them caused to stick up like porcupine quills, while the plumage was given a bleached appearance. After the water has been softened it should be thoroughly impregnated with soap by means of a badger-hair or other soft shaving brush, rubbed over good yellow or white soap. The other basins should be half filled with water maintained at a temperature of 90 degrees. A small piece of borax should be added to each of these waters. The soap should be placed where it is liandy. A good plan is to bed it in the soap-dish with flannel, so that it will not slip about wliile jjassing the brush over it when wasliing the birds. These preparations completed, the actual washing of the birds can be begun. Take your first bird and place it along the palm of the left hand, as shown on this page, the head towards the wrist, and the tail pro- jecting between the thumb and forefinger, while the other fingers hold the bird lightly but firmly, the little finger securing the head, and the others the shoulder or side of the wing. It will be readily found
Size: 1586px × 1575px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookpublisherlondoncassell
