72 The Canary Book. 



instance. High-bred birds do not cost any more to keep than 

 common birds, and with careful and judicious management they 

 are nearly as easy to rear ; and the pleasure to be derived from 

 breeding prize birds is immeasurably greater than breeding 

 what may be termed mere cage- or aviary-birds, although, 

 be it remembered, prize birds are, as a matter of course, rare 

 and exceptional, even from the best blood procurable. It is, 

 nevertheless, a well-authenticated fact that they cannot be 

 produced without the proper material. It is an old saying, 

 and a true one, that "like produces like," and this observa- 

 tion holds good with birds as well as with horses, dogs, &c. 



There is no doubt that a great deal depends upon the birds 

 being properly matched for future results, in addition to 

 being well bred. See chapters on the different varieties. 



TOTING HENS TO BREED FBOM. It is best to breed from 

 young hens (first year) and cocks from two to three years 

 old, providing they are strong, healthy birds, as young hens 

 are generally more vigorous than old ones, and hence produce 

 hardier and better young ones. I never care to breed with a 

 hen more than three seasons, and a cock, four. The principal 

 objection to young cocks that is to say, one-year-old 

 birds is that they are generally too ardent, and consequently 

 prove mischievous and troublesome; besides, a cock that has 

 bred a season or two, if a good parent, teaches the young 

 mother her duties towards her newly-hatched nestlings. I 

 have seen an old-experienced cock, the moment he observed a 

 hen hatch an egg, go direct to the feeding-trough, and, having 

 procured a supply of food, hasten back to the hen and com- 

 mence to disgorge the contents of his crop into her upturned 

 beak. Having given her a portion of the food he brought, 

 his next anxiety was to get access to the newly-hatched 

 brood; and it was both amusing and interesting to observe 

 the various devices and mano3uvres he used to induce the fond 

 and vigilant mother to permit him to give the remaining 

 portion to her newly-hatched little "birdies." 



Of course, there are some mothers which rise instinctively 

 as soon as their partners have supplied them with provender, 



