BREEDING. 27 



which contains half of an egg, boiled hard 

 and grated very fine, with a piece of stale 

 bread rubbed fine and soaked with fresh milk ; 

 another cup should contain rape seed, pre- 

 pared as above directed. 



The young should be placed in separate 

 cages in about four weeks, but should still 

 be fed with the same paste, as well as seeds. 



The technical terms and names given to 

 young birds in general are a Nestling, or one 

 from the nest ; a Pusher, a young bird that 

 is taken three or four days after he has left 

 his nest ; a Brancher is a bird full grown, 

 but has his nestling feathers. 



As for cleanliness, air, and exercise, when 

 the birds have brought up a nest of young 

 ones, watch the opportunity to clean out the 

 nest box, and if this be very dirty, throw 

 away the dirt and nest. Then let the birds 

 have plenty of clean materials, and you will 

 soon see them build another nest in one day. 

 Neglect of the main point, cleanliness, which 

 promotes health, and keeps away the red 

 mites, causes many breeders much trouble, 

 vexation, and disappointment. 



When the breeding season is over, and the 

 birds all put into the cages, let them not be 

 fed with much green food ; indeed, at no time 

 give much, as it is better to give none at all, 

 than too much. Beginners cannot be cau- 

 tioned enough regarding this, as many hun- 

 dreds of canaries die every year, from no 

 other cause than being surfeited with green 

 meat. 



