CANARY-BIRD. 41 



all the foul humours which may have 

 generated in their delicate systems during 

 the long and arduous winter season. 



The breeding, gentle reader, being by 

 far the most critical and dangerous por- 

 tion in the life of the Canary, and re- 

 quiring the most careful and judicious and 

 difficult management, deserves from me 

 the most particular and lucid directions. 



The hen sits about thirteen, but most 

 generally fourteen and sometimes even 

 fifteen days. The time, however, depends 

 wholly upon the season, and the state of 

 the out-door atmosphere at that interest- 

 ing period; in clear, fine and warm wea- 

 ther, the young are much sooner produced 

 than if the air be cold, raw and unpleasant. 

 Two days before the young are hatched, it 

 becomes highly necessary to clean the 

 perches of the cage thoroughly, fill the 

 box with fresh mixed seed and the foun- 

 tain or cup with new water, in order that 

 the old birds may not be approached or 

 disturbed at that critical juncture. The 

 4* 



