We give the directions which have been given to us
by a lady whose Virginian nightingp.le has flourished under her
judicious care many years.
Parrots. — An article on domestic pets seems scarcely com-
plete without some notice of parrots and parakeets; but
there are so many varieties of this tribe of bird, and they
come from so many parts of the world, that they require a book
to themselves. We can only make a few suggestions for their
treatment generally. Those which are natives of tropical cli-
mates require warmth and abundance of farinaceous food and
ftiS DOi^lSTlC PETS.
fruit. Bread and milk should be the staple prison diet of pat-
rots (the bread should be soaked first in boiling water, squeezed
as dry as possible, and then allowed to absorb as much fresh
boiled milk as it will hold), adding Indian corn, biscuits, nuts,
almonds (not bitter almonds), fruit (hard and soft), peach and
plum kernels, cherries, grapes, pears, &c., grain and seeds for
the larger birds; and the smaller kinds should have hemp,
canary, and millet seeds, with fruit. All should have water for
drinking and bathing within reach; and if the birds will not go
into water, it is well to sprinkle a little warm water on them
occasionally, and put them into the sunshine that they may
plume themselves and clean their feathers. Great cleanliness
is necessary to keep parrots in health, and their feet must be
frequently washed if they get dirty and they will not bathe
themselves. They are subject to diseased feet, and their
perches should be covered with flannel, and the bottom of
the cage should have a grating with a drawer underneath it
always covered with sand. Lettuce or water-cress is given
to these birds occasionally; and it is said that a chili-pod given
from time to time is useful — when they are moulting they may
have one or two cut up small once a week. If they have an
attack of asthma they should have a few grains of cayenne
pepper mixed with their bread and milk. Meat, sugar, and
sweetmeats, are all unwholesome for parrots.
Doves. — Doves are pretty, gentle, quiet birds, and easily
tamed. The stock dove, ring dove, turtle dove, and collared
turtle, are all kept in confinement, but they should all
have a great deal of air. If kept in a wicker cage, it should be
carried indoors at night (for, being natives of hot countries,
they do not bear cold well), and taken out of doors early in the
morning. The German peasants keep doves constantly in their
cottages, from a fancy that they cure colds and rheumatism by
taking the complaints themselves; and we believe it is true that
doves are subject to the diseases which people shut up in the
same room v/ith them have, such as small-pox, swollen legs,
and tumors in the feet; but this is probably due to the close,
unwholesome condition and bad air of the room, which affects
birds and human beings alike. They are best kept in a con-
servatory or aviary, unless they are tame enough to fly in and
Page 172
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
We give the directions which have been given to us by a lady whose Virginian nightingale has flourished under her judicious care many years.
Parrots. — An article on domestic pets seems scarcely complete without some notice of parrots and parakeets; but there are so many varieties of this tribe of bird, and they come from so many parts of the world, that they require a book to themselves. We can only make a few suggestions for their treatment generally. Those which are natives of tropical climates require warmth and abundance of farinaceous food and
[illustration: OUR DOMESTIC PETS.]
fruit. Bread and milk should be the staple proper diet of patrots (the bread should be soaked first in boiling water, squeezed as dry as possible, and then allowed to absorb as much fresh boiled milk as it will hold), adding Indian corn, biscuits, nuts, almonds (not bitter almonds), fruit (hard and soft), peach and plum kernels, cherries, grapes, pears, &c., grain and seeds for the larger birds; and the smaller kinds should have hemp, canary, and millet seeds, with fruit. All should have water for drinking and bathing within reach; and if the birds will not go into water, it is well to sprinkle a little warm water on them occasionally, and put them into the sunshine that they may plume themselves and clean their feathers. Great cleanliness is necessary to keep parrots in health, and their feet must be frequently washed if they get dirty and they will not bathe themselves. They are subject to diseased feet, and their perches should be covered with flannel, and the bottom of the cage should have a grating with a drawer underneath it always covered with sand. Lettuce or water-cress is given to these birds occasionally; and it is said that a chili-pod given from time to time is useful — when they are moulting they may have one or two cut up small once a week. If they have an attack of asthma they should have a few grains of cayenne pepper mixed with their bread and milk. Meat, sugar, and sweetmeats, are all unwholesome for parrots.
Doves. — Doves are pretty, gentle, quiet birds, and easily tamed. The stock dove, ring dove, turtle dove, and collared turtle, are all kept in confinement, but they should all have a great deal of air. If kept in a wicker cage, it should be carried indoors at night (for, being natives of hot countries, they do not bear cold well), and taken out of doors early in the morning. The German peasants keep doves constantly in their cottages, from a fancy that they cure colds and rheumatism by taking the complaints themselves; and we believe it is true that doves are subject to the diseases which people shut up in the same room with them have, such as small-pox, swollen legs, and tumors in the feet; but this is probably due to the close, unwholesome condition and bad air of the room, which affects birds and human beings alike. They are best kept in a conservatory or aviary, unless they are tame enough to fly in and