Finches. 129 



will sometimes get clogged with dirt : if the bird is 

 not fond of bathing, and will not cleanse them, they 

 must be soaked in warm water and carefully relieved 

 of their " clogs." An old bird's claws will sometimes 

 grow so long as to prevent its perching comfortably, 

 in which case they must be carefully cut with sharp 

 scissors, taking care not to draw blood. It is better, 

 however, to avoid catching birds as much as possible, 

 especially if they are wild and fly about in alarm. 

 They often do themselves harm by their fluttering : 

 when ill, they are generally quiet enough to submit to 

 be taken up to be put into a bath. All cage birds 

 should be tame enough to recognize their mistress as a 

 friend, and not to flutter about wildly at her approach ; 

 and then they will tell her of their wants, go down to 

 the glasses if they want fresh food or water, look up 

 at her and chirp, and pull her hair, perhaps, if they 

 .want materials for a nest, and attract her attention to 

 their nestlings if anything is amiss with them ; and 

 they will generally allow her to take them up in her 

 hand, without rushing frantically about the cage as a 

 new or untamed bird will do. 



Early in spring, towards the end of February, if the 

 season is warm, or early in March, the hen Canaries 

 must be removed from the cock birds, or they will 

 fight with one another, for the favour of the ladies to 

 whom they take a fancy. At the end of March or at 

 the beginning of April, if the weather is cold, the pairs 



9 



