150 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



or rather she will, for the female is the master- 

 builder, the male only an assistant, or laborer, 

 bringing her the materials. I have seen a female 

 pounce upon the poor male, and give him an un- 

 merciful thrashing, when he had merely hopped 

 in, to try how it would suit him, while she was 

 engaged building it, and had probably gone to 

 eat. If you wish the birds to do the whole of the 

 building of the nest, put in the box empty, and 

 they will carry in all the grass, or hay, with the 

 other material, themselves. 



HATCHING, AND TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG. 



On putting your birds in the cage, to pair, give 

 one-third of a hard-boiled egg to a pair, every 

 morning, yolk, white, and shell; add to their 

 portion of hemp and Canary seed, some rape, and 

 put in the cage, or stick in the wires, a piece of 

 old lime plaster, from a ceiling, or wall.^ When 

 the female commences laying, she will lay an 

 egg every morning until her complement is laid. 



* Some use cuttle fish bone ; it is the lime contained in the bone 

 that is useful, therefore the old plaster is superior. 



