CANARY-BIRD. 57 



To those who intend rearing birds, no- 

 thing will be found so beneficial as the 

 keeping a book, in which should be care- 

 fully noted the number of the cage, when 

 the first egg is laid, the commencement of 

 the hen's sitting, and the time the young 

 should be hatched. Those who observe 

 these rules will never have cause to regret 

 it; as they will be provided for all contin- 

 gencies, and know when and how soon to 

 commence providing for the coming young 

 ones. 



Breeding birds seldom if ever live for a 

 longer period of time than twelve years; 

 while others, who are kept for the sole 

 enjoyment of their song, have been fre- 

 quently known to attain the age of twenty 

 years and upwards. 



SECT. VII. On the distinguishing charac- 

 teristics of the sexes in Canaries. 



The readiest, though till now almost 

 unknown method of discovering whether 



