n6 The Canary Book. 



or it can be fitted to slide in and out of grooves. At the 

 other end is an aperture for ingress and egress; the bottom 

 is extended forward to admit of a perch being fixed to it for 

 the convenience of the birds when going to or from the nest. 

 A large round hole is made in the bottom to admit a tin nest ; 

 the top is left uncovered for ventilation. At one side, near 

 the top, a hole is made to hang it up to the back of a cage, or 

 the wall of an outdoor aviary. 



The nest should be placed at one end of the cage, within 

 2in. of the roof or ceiling; the tin nest should be lined with 

 felt before being put in its place. It would be an improvement 

 to have the nest fitted inside to a stout wire frame, and open 

 wire-work surrounding it, so that the refuse from the young 

 birds would fall to the bottom of the cage instead of accumu- 

 lating in the nest box. If made with a wood bottom, the 

 nest should project from in. to fin. above the floor, to allow 

 sufficient space for the collection of excrement, and a nest 

 box so constructed will require to be removed after the young 

 birds have left it, in order that it may be entirely freed from 

 dirt. This description of nest is preferable to all others for 

 the purpose for which it is intended, and it will be found by 

 experience that, where several different kinds of nests are 

 placed in an aviary along with it, the birds will almost 

 invariably choose the one here represented. It can be contrived 

 to hang on the outside of the end of a breeding cage if preferred. 



CAGES FOB MTJLE BREEDING. The best kind of cages to 

 use for the purpose of mule breeding are those made with 

 three separate compartments, but constructed in such a 

 manner that they can readily be made into two, or even one, 

 if deemed desirable. This can be done by using sliding par- 

 titions ; the best kind are those in the form of a light frame, 

 and wired similar to the front of a cage, small screw rings 

 or knobs being used to pull them out. They should be made 

 to run in grooves. By having the cages upon this principle 

 the birds can see each other, and, when they choose, have a 

 tete-a-tete; the centre compartment can be used for the male 

 bird until the young nestlings are old enough to be removed 



