23 



CHAPTER V. 



BREEDING. 



In breeding the canary mucli loss of time and dis- 

 appointment are often the result of too early pairing, 

 and it should not be forgotten that young birds require 

 great warmth, not only heat, but the rays of the sun. 

 Birds hatched in cold and frosty weather are almost 

 sure to die, and the old birds be unduly weakened by 

 their exertions. 



Breeding of canaries will be much encouraged if 

 from the first day of pairing an addition of hard-boiled 

 egg is made to the regular food. 



Mr. Smith in his book says, on the subject of breed- 

 ing, " To every breeder of this pretty songster I would 

 say, start out with some definite object in your own 

 mind, and then having settled what this shall be, 

 devote all the skill and knowledge you possess to bring 

 it about. Eor example, study the varieties of fornz 

 peculialr to each race, settle in your own mind a high 

 standard of excellence, and then select those birds 

 alone to breed from you think are most likely to realise 



