124 Bird- keep ing. 



board, and the cage must be thoroughly cleaned out 

 every day. The perches should not be fastened to the 

 cage, but be removable at pleasure : they should be 

 broad and smooth. A swing suspended from the centre 

 of the cage is a source of amusement to the birds. 

 They much enjoy a pot of mignonette or chickweed, 

 and soon devour every flower and leaf. A fir-branch 

 may be given to them occasionally too : of course any 

 plant injurious to Canaries must not be put within their 

 reach. Plantain-stalks and millet in the ear are very 

 good for them, especially in winter. All birds like 

 variety in their food, and although sugar and sweet 

 cakes are forbidden dainties, cracknels and plain biscuits 

 are good as occasional luxuries. The staple food must 

 be canary and bird turnip-seed (the small summer rape- 

 seed), and a small quantity of hemp-seed on cold days, 

 and a pinch of maw or poppy-seed occasionally, always 

 to be given during moulting. When building, the birds 

 must have hard-boiled egg chopped very small, and 

 stale bread crumbs grated, or colifichet, mixed with a 

 pinch of the same seed every day. This egg food 

 should be always freshly mixed ; if left to become sour 

 it will kill the birds. Stale sponge cake is the best 

 substitute for it if eggs are scarce ; but this will not do 

 for the young birds. The Hartz Mountain bread lately 

 introduced into England is said to answer admirably 

 in its stead : it is sold in little packets costing three- 

 pence each ; a teaspoon-full of the powder, mixed with 



