io6 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



morning in the most complete health, jiippecl in the bud. You cannot rest at 

 going about just as usual, her feathers night for thinking about her, and go uj)- 

 close and compact, wings tucked up, and stairs to see il' she is dead or alive. Some- 

 showing nothing to indicate the jiresence of how sjie lias managed to scramble into her 

 any disarrangement whatever ; but in the nest, which is to her a sick-l)etl in real 

 afternoon she will be found apparently earnest. We will not enter into any dis- 

 about to "go home." She seeks a corner of cussion as to the cause of all this fuss. 



YOUNG Bi.ACKI!IHI)>. 

 iPliotog}al>h by J. li^illuinion.) 



the cage, jianting violently, and s(iuats 

 on the ground wilh wings ontstretclicd, 

 feathers all ruilletl, head thrown back, 

 eyes closed, in a slate of the most entire 

 prostration, the picture ol' ciimplete misery. 

 A more pitiable objecl cannot well be con- 

 ceived. She seems to have lost the use of 

 all her bodily ])()W(rs, and if taken in the 

 hand olfers no resistance ; indeed, she is 

 too ill to think of it. AVhcn replaced in the 

 cage she scufllcs awav to her corner, and 

 appears to wish for nothing but t<i be kri 

 alone in (]uictness to tlic. You think she 

 might lie warmer in her nest, and gently 

 ))lace her there. JJut it is no nse : she 

 tumbles onl, or, rather, hops out, falling 

 heavily, and shullksaway to her cond'orlless 

 corner again. There you leaNc her and 

 begin to mourn over hopes a[)])arentiy 



A probable cause will suggest itsell", and 

 as in similar eases of an e(]ually interesting 

 character, we can only say, " jMv dear, 

 I'm afraid you'll ha\e to be worse before 

 youi'e better."" Do not interfere with 

 the bird, and Natxn-e will do all that is 

 necessary. Next morning, instead of find- 

 ing lu'i' a subject I'or a po.sl-iiiorlcm, you will 

 lind an egg in the nest, and the little hen 

 going about her business quite at her 

 case. 



Hut if she shoidd ual have laid lur egg, 



something will have to be done. That 



something is so \ery sim])le, 



S?fr- ,^. and so ellieaeious when it 

 Difficulties. 



is done, that anyone can 

 manage it, and nobody should hesitate 

 aixml trying. Take the hen gently in the 

 kit hand, with her luad towards the little 



