SITUATION. 21 



to be frightened and flustered by the appear- 

 ance of danger, and in every respect, the 

 breeding cage will become a more manage- 

 able commodity than it generally is. 



Of the structure of the cage, we shall 

 afterwards take notice, but one for breeding 

 should have two nest boxes at one end, that 

 birds may have their choice, always having 

 the perches clean, and as stout as their claws 

 can grasp and stand firm upon, likewise clean 

 claws, without lumps of dirt on them ; for by 

 having a steady, full sized perch, the birds 

 hold fast, and have no trouble, or fear of fall- 

 ing, or slipping, or turning round on the 

 perch, which often produces addled eggs. 



Some breeders pair a strong healthy male 

 with two females, which in some cases does 

 pretty well, provided that proper attention is 

 paid to them. When two hens are intended 

 to be put up with one male, they should be 

 selected for that purpose at the end of har- 

 vest, and kept in one cage during winter, in 

 order to make them familiar with each other. 

 It will not do to put two hens with a male 

 in one cage, without there being a temporary 

 board in the middle, to prevent the hens from 

 seeing each other while they are hatching, or 

 they will fly off" their nests at each other, and 

 fight like two little termagants, and in the 

 scuffle the eggs, and consequently, the hopes 

 of the breeder, may be upset. But to pre- 

 vent such vexations, let the breeder have 

 two cages, and put up only one hen at a 

 time, and after she has done laying, take the 



