Finches. 139 



their mother as soon as she shows symptoms of a de- 

 sire to build again. One of my birds began to pull 

 out the soft feathers of the young birds, and to line 

 her new nest with them. She was not properly sup- 

 plied with wool, and, I suppose, thought the coming 

 brood would need the soft warm lining. 



More than three broods in the year should never be 

 permitted the hen would become completely ex- 

 hausted. If the two broods have been satisfactorily 

 reared, it is as well to be contented with these ; but 

 some hens will continue laying till they moult, or even 

 through the moulting season, and this is very bad for 

 them. They should be separated from their mates 

 when this occurs : when they persist in sitting on a 

 nest without laying, as they sometimes do, the nest 

 and nest-box should be taken away. The hen some- 

 times suffers from sitting long in hot weather, and will 

 come off her nest bathed with perspiration. A mode- 

 rately cold bath and plenty of oatmeal would relieve 

 her. 



The open breeding-cages admit so much more air 

 than the boarded ones, that the hens do not suffer 

 nearly so much from the confinement in these. My 

 birds are used to being looked at, and do not mind it, 

 so I use long cages with three compartments in each, 

 and this accommodates two pairs : the centre compart- 

 ment serves as a nursery for the children of both, while 

 their respective parents feed them, and some division 



