26 THE CANARY BIRD. 



not chipped at the same time ; when this con- 

 tingence takes place, every effort must be 

 made to allure them to their duty, as we can 

 scarcely conceive it within the range of mere 

 instinct to inform them that there is ever laid 

 upon them a double obligation. If there is 

 any suspicion that either nest or eggs are 

 damaged, the hen may be driven off to ascer- 

 tain the fact. On this account it is of impor- 

 tance that the eggs should be so placed that 

 you may come at the birds with ease to ob- 

 serve their actions, without annoying them. 



If a cock or hen should die, early in the 

 breeding season, and it is worth while, having 

 time on hand, you must choose a mate as 

 near as possible in color, age, and size, to the 

 deceased ; for there is always more sympathy 

 with those that resemble their own choice. 



When it is necessary to bring the young 

 up by hand, some stale, well baked bread 

 should bo crumbled very fine and mixed with 

 crushed rape seed, which has been boiled, 

 and afterwards washed with fresh water to 

 remove its acrimony ; the whole is made into 

 a paste, by the addition of a little yolk of egg 

 and water. The most convenient way to 

 give it to the young birds is on a quill cut 

 like a spoon. Each nursling requires for a 

 meal four beaks full, well piled upon the 

 quill ; they should be fed very early in the 

 morning, and every two hours during the 

 day. 



As soon as the young are hatched, a small 

 cup is placed beside the usual feeding trough, 



