1 40 Bird-keep ing. 



is necessary. If the two cocks were close together, 

 they would probably fight through the wire division, 

 and be too much engaged thus, to attend to their wives 

 and children. Some pairs do better out of sight of 

 other birds, and must be put into a quiet room apart; 

 but if Canaries are accustomed to be noticed and 

 petted, they will become very tame and sociable, and 

 thoroughly at their ease. If single birds are kept in 

 small cages, and these are generally the best for good 

 songsters (indeed, some birds refuse to sing in com- 

 pany, and prefer a very small habitation alone, to the 

 bustle of an aviary, or large cage full of other inmates), 

 they will greatly enjoy an hour's liberty in the morn- 

 ing, and be much the better for a good flight round 

 the room. I had a German Canary who always 

 reminded me to have his cage door unfastened, by a 

 succession of little piteous chirps : he took a long 

 flight as soon as his door was opened, and then perched 

 upon the curtain-rod or the window-sill, and sang with 

 joy. Then he would fly to the breakfast-table, and 

 help himself to the bread : if there were any flowers 

 in the room, he would perch upon them, and demolish 

 every bit of mignonette ; and then go to the mantel- 

 piece, where there was a small French clock, and 

 chirp, and sing, and flutter his wings to his reflection 

 in the glass, which I suppose he took for another bird, 

 for I saw him sometimes taking up crumbs of bread 

 and pretending to feed it. He was a most engaging 



