306 from injudicious feeding. Too stimulating a diet will produce surfeit, which shows itself in a general swollen and puffy appearance of the skin. Keep ing warm, and an occasional meal of rape-seed, with a few bruised groats, will be found the best method of treatment. The bird must not be allowed to return to its ordinary diet till it has become quite thin and the swelling has fully disappeared. Neglect of cleanliness will produce diseased claws and feet. From sitting on dirty perches, especially upon perches that are not thick enough, the feet and claws of the bird will get into a sad state. The claws must be cut occasionally, but not so closely as to cut the red veins; the bird must be well cleaned, and a little olive oil rubbed over the feet and legs. Cold, proceeding generally from draught or damp, will show itself in the husky note of the bird. Warmth and generous diet are the best remedies. Liquorice may be dissolved in the water for drinking, and some linseed may be mixed with the rape and canary with which the bird is fed.

1681. Cages for Canaries are made of various forms, and it is difficult to recommend any particular one. The great points to be kept in mind are that the cage must be sufficiently roomy to afford the bird space for exercise; that it should be quite free from insects (for which reason we incline to the zinc | cages); and that the seed-vessels, etc., are so arranged that the bird can be supplied with fresh water, seed, and sand with the least possible disturbance. Let there be as many perches as the cage will hold without crowding. Every canary cage should be hung higher than the heads of persons in the

room.

1682. The Squirrel is a pretty, merry little creature, and deservedly a favourite as a pet. The cage in which it is kept should be large and roomy. Four feet long, three broad, and four high, are the smallest dimensions of a good squirrel's cage. A branch should be laid diagonally from the bottom to the top corner of the cage, and on this

the captive will exercise himself very merrily. The old method of constructing the cage in a cylindrical form and making it turn round is not desirable. Attached to the cage must be a sleeping-box, with a small hole through which the squirrel passes in and out, and a door with a hinge, which is opened occasionally to clean out the box and put in a fresh nest, the squirrel being shut in the other part of the cage during the operation. The whole interior of the cage must be lined with tin, or the prisoner may gnaw his way out with his sharp teeth. The food of the squirrel should consist of nuts, small shoots of trees, and maize; sopped bread may also be occasionally given Those squirrels that have not been captured in their early days often continue somewhat spiteful; and it is well to put on very stout leather gloves before handling them, for the bite of this little creature is very keen. A squirrel of mature age may be distinguished from a young one by the yellowness of its teeth.

1683. White Mice.--Many people, especially young folks, are very fond of these little creatures; and certainly, when properly kept in good health, they are very amusing. White mice are what are called albinos-they have red eyes. It is wonderful how clean they will keep themselves, but it must be remembered that their cage must be kept clean for them. It should have a sleeping-place like a squirrel's cage, and sand ought to be strewn on the floor.

White mice may be made so tame, by care and attention, that they will come at their master's call, eat out of his hand, and even perform a variety of tricks. The best food for them is bread sopped in milk, and then squeezed tolerably dry in a handkerchief or a Peas and beans may piece of cambric. be given to them sometimes, but never meat or cheese, which are far too heavy a diet for these little prisoners, and will soon make them feel uncomfortable and unhappy.

for exhibition by daily supplying them with fresh water, but modern chemistry pointed out how they might be kept living in only limited quantites of water which never demand renewing. "The possibility of accomplishing this depends on the absolute balance in nature which exists between the animal and vegetable kingdoms. The one set of these beings are for ever engaged in giving off what the other requires, and taking up what the other rejects. The aquarium, therefore, must contain both plants and animals, and it will succeed just in proportion to the careful balance maintained between them."

1685. Fresh-Water Aquaria may be set up in one or other of two ways; the one less beautiful, but requiring little or no trouble, the other needing considerable attention. The former should stand in a north-east, or, still better, a north aspect, and be fitted with plants which suffer little or no decay of their leaves. Take a circular base, cover the bottom with a layer of well-washed sand, the coarser the better, to the depth of an inch over the whole surface; on this place a small pot of earth; in this pot plant a small specimen of the Egyptian lily (arrow-leaved, very common in windows); on the top of the pot put half an inch of sand well washed; around the pot, to conceal it, place three or four moderately large pieces of rock; upon the top of the pot dispose two or three bunches of a moss (Fontinalis antipyrectica) which is found growing on the sides of stones in streams, and constantly on the brickwork of bridges over brooks, etc. This may be taken either attached to the stones, or removed and tied in bunches with a stone attached to retain them in place. On the sand put half an inch deep of fine gravel, well washed, the lighter in colour the better. Now plant a good piece of Valisneria spiralis on either side of the rockwork in the sand. In front of the rockwork and behind set a stem or two of hornwort (Caratophyllum demersum), and, if it can be recognized, another little plant with heart-shaped leaves, single or in pairs,

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a seedling of the common watercress (Nasturtium officinale), which neither decays nor loses its bright green, and will form a pleasing variety. Over the top of the gravel sprinkle all round a little of the moss already mentioned, and fill with perfectly bright water by means of a syphon, having a saucer under the mouth of the syphon to prevent the action of the water on the gravel, sand, etc.

In cleaning an aquarium remove the fish by means of a small net made for the purpose, and place them during the operation in a vessel of clean water.

1686. For Feeding Fish in Aquaria nothing can be simpler, easier, or cleaner than fresh raw meat (either beef or mutton) cut into very small pieces. All sorts of fish eat this readily, and thrive well upon it. There should be no fat, and no more given than the fish will eat. Eels, carp, tench, perch, minnows, sticklebacks, and newts, all eat raw meat; the newts take it off a piece of pointed stick. Prawns, shrimps, crabs, and lobsters eat raw meat freely. Feed the fish about every fourth day; but once a week is probably often enough. There is, however, nothing that all freshwater fish eat more readily than earth worms. Most fresh-water fish will eat very fine biscuit-powder, which is better for them than bread.

1687. Gold and Silver Fish.There are two methods of keeping gold and silver fish; first, in ponds or large tanks, in which they will breed and multiply famously under favourable circumstances; secondly, in glass bowls, in which they look very ornamental and require very little care and attention. In keeping gold fish in bowls be very careful in the first instance to procure healthy, shining fish. The signs of disease in a gold fish are its coming frequently to the surface of the water, and occasionally making a clicking noise. When strong enough to breathe properly beneath the surface it will seldom do this. The water should be changed every day, or otherwise plants

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are

1688. Silkworms.- Having procured a sufficient number of silkworms' eggs adhering to pieces of paper, which to be had at many herbalists' shops, you proceed to place these in shallow paper trays, at a window having a southern aspect, in the rays of the bright sun of spring. The heat will soon hatch the eggs, and you will find the tiny black worms creeping out one by one. These must be put in shallow paper trays, deposited on a table in some light, airy locality, and they must be supplied with mulberry leaves for food. These leaves should have the fibrous parts opened at first, while the worms are very small, but this soon becomes unnecessary. Where mulberry leaves are not procurable, we have seen silkworms very successfully reared on the young leaves of the lettuce ; but at best this is only an artificial substitute for the silkworm's natural food, and where at all procurable, the leaf, the whole leaf, and nothing but the leaf of the mulberry is the thing. The feather of a quill pen should be used in removing the little newly-hatched silkworms to the paper trays in which the mulberry leaves have been placed for them; never, on any account, take them up with the fingers, at

1690. Silk Winding. Where a great number of worms are kept for the sake of the silk they yield, the cocoons are thrown into boiling water, which loosens the silk and enables it to be easily wound off.

1691. Spun Silk.-The boiling water kills every chrysalis; therefore, when this method is adopted, a certain number of chrysalises or aurelias must be taken out of the cocoons, by clipping the latter carefully open at one end, with a pair of scissors, whereby the silk

THE SILKWORM.

1689. Silk Spinning.-When the silkworm has attained its full size, and is ready to spin, suspend a number of little round paper cones, with the points upwards, from a piece of string along the wall against which the paper trays are placed let them be only a few inches above the trays. The worms

is rendered unfit for winding. It is therefore spun by machinery, producing an inferior article known as spun silk.

1692. The New Generation.Each chrysalis must then be placed in a shallow tray, just covered with bran. In due time they will work their way out. The moths are heavy looking creatures, incapable of flying. They eat nothing, the few days of their existence in this state being entirely devoted to the production of eggs.

1694. Dresses of Tweed, and other Woollen Materials, that have dust or mud upon them, may be

laid out on a table and brushed all over; but in general, even in woollen fabrics, the lightness of the tissues renders brushing unsuitable to dresses, and it is better to remove the dust from the folds by beating them lightly with a handkerchief or thin cloth.

1695. Silk Dresses should never be brushed, but rubbed with a piece of merino, or other soft material, of a similar colour, kept for the purpose.

1696. Summer Dresses of barêge, muslin, mohair, and other light materials, simply require shaking; but if the muslin be tumbled, it must be ironed afterwards.

1697. When Dresses require Repair it should be done at once; 66 a stitch in time saves nine."

1698. Bonnets should be dusted with a light feather plume, in order to remove every particle of dust.

1699. Velvet Bonnets, and other velvet articles of dress, should be cleaned with a soft brush. If the flowers with which the bonnet is decorated have been crushed or misplaced, or the leaves tumbled, they should be

1700. Feathers that have suffered from damp should be held near the fire for a few minutes, and restored to their natural state by the hand or a soft brush, or recurled with a blunt knife dipped in hot water.

very

1701. The Chausserie or FootGear of a lady is one of the few things left to mark her station, and requires special care. Satin boots or shoes should be dusted with a soft brush, or wiped with a cloth. Kid or varnished leather should have the mud wiped off with a sponge charged with milk, which preserves its softness and polish.

1702. Polish for Ladies' Boots, instead of blacking them :-Mix equal proportions of sweet-oil, vinegar, and When all the ingredients are thoroughly treacle, with one ounce of lamp-black. incorporated, rub the mixture on the boots with the palm of the hand, and put them in a cool place to dry.

This

1703. Ladies' Blacking, for patent leather and kid boots, particularly when they are a little worn. blacking is merely applied with a piece of sponge, and the boots should not be put on until the blacking is dry and hardened. To be purchased in bottles at 6d. or Is. each.