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likely to give them cold. It is very good to keep the 

 bird in the summer season, during the day, in the fresh 

 air, but should be taken indoors when it is at all likely 

 to storm ; they should also be shaded from a very hot 

 sun. Many persons are apt to hang these birds out in 

 the spring and fall, when the weather is rough and 

 cold, or in the summer, when excessively warm in a hot 

 sun, against a wall which attracts heat, without the 

 least covering over their cages ; birds cannot live 

 under such careless treatment; and it causes much trou- 

 ble and annoyance to the owner as well as those who 

 sold them, as they get sickly and delicate ; persons 

 then think they have been imposed upon by obtaining a 

 bad bird. These things should not be so. 



BREEDING. 



This is a very important item, as well as amusing, 

 in the hystory of the canary, as there is no bird so easily 

 reared in the cage ; at the same time requiring some 

 knowledge for the proper management. Birds for this 

 purpose should be selected in good healthy condition ; 

 they should not be over six years old. The male birds 

 for this occasion may be kept in small cages, so that we 

 may enjoy their song fully until the breeding season 

 comes round. But the females should be left hying in 

 a large cage, so as to give them plenty of room to exer- 

 cise ; this prepares them for the purpose intendet.* If 



* When, in the mating season, several male and female 

 canaries are kept in one room, so that they can see and hear 



