CAGES WITH NESTS IN POSITION, SHOWING ARRANGEMENT OF PERCHES, ETC. 



{Pholograph from Mr. W. K. Dunn, Portobdlo.) 



CHAPTER X 



PAIRING AND SITTING 



In preparation for the housing of the birds 

 the bottoms of cages should be furnished 

 with a good covering of sand, or rough- 

 cut pinewood sawdust. If sand is pre- 

 ferred nice sharp sea sand, free from 

 dust, or good sharji river sand sliould 

 be used. It is a good plan to mix 

 powdered egg-shell with the sand, for 

 the birds are particularl}' fond of this 

 limy substance, and will pick every par- 

 ticle of it out of the sand. The shells of 

 all fowls' eggs used in the kitchen should 

 be dried in the oven until they are crisp — 

 but not brown — and then powdered up 

 finely, though not into dust. 



Personally we like, and have used for 

 the past twenty years, the pine sawdust 

 for the bottoms of the cages, preferring 

 it to anything else at all times of the year, 

 and have supplied the sand in a shallow 

 earthenware vessel, where it is always 



clean for the birds to help themselves to. 

 Then, with our seed- and water-vessels filled, 

 the cages are ready for the stock. 



Of the different varieties of Canaries, and 

 the method of breeding them with a view 

 to producing each in perfection, we shall 

 treat in eaienso by and b3^ AVe purpose 

 devoting this and the succeeding chapters 

 to the suljjeet of General JManagement 

 and the discussion of the best means to 

 employ in Breeding, Rearing, Feeding, 

 Moulting, and Preparing for Exhibition. 



The first question that suggests itself 

 is as to the selection of breeding-stock. 

 We do not mean as regards 

 quality, or the best variety 

 for a beginner to make a start 

 with. One kind is no more difficult to 

 manage than another when once a little 

 experience has been gained, but the raw 

 recruit would do well in his first year not 



Selection 

 of Stock. 



99 



