86 The Canary Book. 



To attempt to breed different varieties, such as Lizards, 

 Cinnamons, London Fancy, Norwich Fancy, &c., mixed up in 

 an aviary, is simply a waste of time; and even suppose one 

 variety only was bred, and there were a few pairs together, 

 you could not rely upon the parentage of the birds. The 

 only satisfactory method of breeding birds for exhibition is 

 to breed them in separate cages. 



BIRD ROOM : ASPECT, HEATING, &c. "Where space is not an 

 object, it will be found advantageous to keep a room entirely 

 for the purpose of bird-breeding. One with a southerly or 

 south-western aspect is the best ; but this is not an essential 

 consideration, as any situation will do. The more retired it 

 is the better the birds will like it, as they prefer quietude 

 at that season. If it can be warmed during the winter by 

 artificial means, such as hot-water pipes, or by passing a 

 sheet-iron stove-pipe through it, heated from outside, it will 

 be very desirable to do so. A coke stove, with hot-air pipes 

 attached and suitably arranged, is a good method of heating 

 a bird room, or an open fire-grate may be used during the 

 day and allowed to go out during the night time without 

 causing any ill effect to the birds. Some people use oil stoves, 

 and others gas stoves, but none of these are satisfactory, 

 and are at all times attended with great risk and danger, 

 and are besides extremely unhealthy. There are a great many 

 contrivances, but the coke stove and hot-air or water pipes 

 are the simplest and best, and next to these I prefer an 

 open grate, or a covered-in stove with an Sin. stove pipe 

 carried into a chimney, the stove being placed as nearly as 

 convenient to the centre of the room. Under no circum- 

 stances would I advise the use of gas, as it is very perni- 

 cious in its effects on the constitutions of birds, and will 

 set them into the moult in an incredibly short space of time. 

 If the room is quite dry, and situated in an inhabited house, 

 no fire is absolutely necessary, but during frosty nights the 

 cages should be closely covered with quilts, shawls, or rugs. 

 If the water freezes it will cause no harm, but should be 

 thawed in the morning, and again during the day if necessary. 



