122 The Canary. 



no doubt but that the old birds from some cause or other 

 had sadly neglected their tender offspring. It seems 

 strange that any parent should willingly do this, and 

 that amidst so much profusion and plenty, they should 

 refuse to give to their young that food which instinct 

 must tell them is absolutely necessary to sustain life. 

 I do not suppose that such a thing often happens with 

 birds in a wild state ; but, I am sorry to say, it is a 

 failing very prevalent amongst canaries in the tame, 

 and that it is especially the case with the higher bred 

 birds, who seem to have an especial aversion to any- 

 thins: like work. We thou"rht we could account for 

 our present disaster sufficiently well from the fact that 

 both were hens without mates, and that as it was the 

 duty of the ladies to sit on the eggs and hatch the 

 young, so it Became in turn the duty of the males to 

 feed the birds so hatched, and that in point of fact this 

 was to a great extent invariably left to their charge. 

 Thus, the hens being left to themselves, and having no 

 one to assist them in the very arduous duty of fill- 

 ing so many little beaks perpetually opening and 

 clamouring for food every time they returned to the 

 nest, became tired of their ceaseless task, or followed 

 the instinct of their nature and left off their maternal 

 duties at the usual time, though they had no mates to 

 take tViem up, and so the young birds suddenly stopped 

 in their growth, languished a day or two, and finally 

 died from sheer neglect and starvation. That such is 

 the probable solution of the desertion of the young in 

 the present case is, I think, very likely, though at the 

 same time it is not altogether the reason I am equally 



