Finches. 125 



water into a stiff paste, is sufficient for a day's egg food 

 for two Canaries : if not eaten during the day it must be 

 taken away at night, as it soon becomes sour. While 

 the hen is sitting she can do without egg food ; but as 

 soon as she is about to hatch, a supply must be put 

 into the cage for the nestlings to be fed upon. Chick- 

 weed or lettuce should be given to Canaries three 

 or four times a week, excepting during the breeding 

 season ; if only given occasionally, they will eat so 

 greedily of green food as to make themselves ill. Gar- 

 den cress is very good for them too, especially in cold 

 weather, and as it can be grown in a saucer in the house, 

 it provides them with a winter vegetable. Canary and 

 millet-seed sown in the same way will be a treat to 

 them, and they will delight in the young green leaves. 

 Whole oatmeal or groats should be given to them every 

 day ; sometimes a piece of bread soaked in milk, not 

 boiled (unless given as medicine) ; a little lump of bay 

 salt, or a piece of cuttle-fish, or old bruised mortar ; 

 should always be put in the cage ; and a slice of apple, 

 pear, or potato now and then, or rice pudding. Birds 

 that are accustomed to receive these delicacies from 

 their mistress's hand will look and ask for them when- 

 ever they see her, and they will help her much to win 

 their affection. They require warmth in moulting 

 (always a trying season to birds), and plenty of nourish- 

 ing food : a rusty nail in the drinking-water acts as a 

 tonic if they appear weak, and a small piece of Spanish 



