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that the wretched little creatures die miserably ; to 

 others, laying is so painful that they are too much 

 fatigued to sit, or they lay each egg only after a long 

 interval. Quacks (for we find them on this subject as 

 on others) pretend to have specifics for the cure of 

 these defects ; but their pretended remedies are mere 

 deceptions, and the use of them causes much trouble. 

 The best plan is to remove the vicious birds, and to 

 retain only those which have none of the above-named 

 bad qualities. 



To obtain the most brilliant colours, those birds^ 

 which have them clear, and whose spots are distinct 

 and regular, are paired together. This, of course, can 

 only be done in separate cages. In aviaries, where 

 the birds pair by choice, the offspring are generally 

 mixed and blotted. A greenish or brownish bird, 

 placed with a bright yellow one, often produces dim 

 white, or other admired colours. It is better never 

 to place together two crested birds, because the off- 

 spring is apt to have a part of the head bald or other- 

 wise disfigured. 



The best time for pairing canaries is the middle of 

 April. Either one male, and one or two females, are 

 placed in a large cage, or many of both sexes are united 

 in a room or aviary, having the advantage of a south 

 aspect. Nests made of turned wood, or osiers, are 

 given them, as straw ones are too easily torn. It is a 



