20 THE CANARY BIRD. 



dry, large, light, and airy. A cheerful situa- 

 tion and the morning sun, give spirit, warmth, 

 and animation to the birds. If draughts of 

 air can be prevented, and cats excluded, dur- 

 ing summer, the window should be thrown 

 completely open all day. If a good wire gauze 

 can be made to project from the window, thq 

 birds can easily be placed under it, where 

 they will get the air and enjoy the warmth 

 without the scorching heat of the sun. 



The place for the birds to breed in, having 

 been chosen, the next consideration is the 

 best kind of cage to hang up for their recep- 

 tion. If an old one is adopted, it ought to 

 be thoroughly washed, scrubbed, rubbed, 

 cleaned, and dried. After their long cessa- 

 tion from use, vermin, of various sorts, are 

 apt to lodge in the crevices, which, if not 

 utterly exterminated, will grieve the heart 

 both of bird and breeder. 



The cage should be placed so as to admit of 

 a constant view of the birds, and an easy ac- 

 cess, without disturbing them. They should 

 not be hung, unless for disagreeable rea- 

 sons, and in disadvantageous circumstances, 

 out of reach, requiring to be lifted or drawn 

 down to us, or to take stools or steps to get 

 to them. They should at least be on a level 

 with the line of vision. This familiarizes 

 the birds with their keeper, makes him better 

 acquainted with them, he can see at a glance 

 what is going on, they become accustomed 

 to any little motion or commotion that may 

 be going on around, they will be less liable 



