BREEDING. 25 



laying of Canaries should be carefully watched, 

 and as soon as she has laid it, the egg she has 

 laid should be removed and the ivory ball 

 substituted, and if this be done for four or five 

 mornings, all the eggs may be returned, when 

 there is a great chance of her settling down 

 and sitting the requisite time. 



When the male eats the eggs, it is a sign 

 of strength. Such males should have two 

 hens. 



It will frequently happen with young mo- 

 thers, that the first time of hatching they are 

 so careful and anxious for the eggs that are 

 not hatched, as not to leave their nest to feed 

 the young that are hatched, and the conse- 

 quence is, that the young birds are starved. 



The best preventative of this evil is to at- 

 tend to the day they will be hatched, by 

 keeping a register of the time when they 

 were laid and set. The most enticing food, 

 such as bread and egg, fresh greens, &c., 

 should be placed before them, to remind them 

 of the duty of feeding their young. If the 

 hen is not observed feeding her young, or 

 carrying food to them, she should be stirred 

 out of the nest, to let her see that there is 

 enough to satisfy her wants. If this is done 

 three or four times the first day, by feeding 

 as she goes out, and seeing her 3-0 ung ones 

 gape as she comes in, she will soon be brought 

 to feed them, and the cock will soon follow 

 her example. 



With every care to set the hen exactly to 

 a day, it will happen that all the eggs are 

 3 



