76 Song Birds. 



from a crested Canary and Chaffinch. Crested Bull- 

 finches are not desirable, as crests never suit those 

 large-headed, thick-billed birds. The young of a 

 Canary and Linnet are very pretty; but not equal, 

 I think, to those of Goldfinches or Siskins and Jon- 

 quille Canaries. 



18. Branches or trees in pots should be put into- 

 the cage, room, or aviary, as early as possible for the 

 birds to get used to them ; but in the chapters on 

 Booms, Aviaries, and Cages, I will describe more fully 

 the various ways of arranging these. 



14. About the end of March is quite early enough 

 to begin to furnish nest materials. In a very early 

 spring I have known the birds begin to build in 

 February ; but as we cannot ensure warm weather for 

 the young birds' early growth, about four weeks later 

 when they should leave the nest, it seems the safer 

 plan not to encourage these very early broods. 



It does not, on the other hand, answer when they 

 begin to sit very late, because then the second or 

 third brood is apt to be made too backward. 

 About six weeks generally elapse from the time of 

 the first sitting till the next begins. And it is very 

 common to have four or five broods of Canaries in a 

 season. The wild birds in Madeira begin to build in 

 February, and hatch quite as often, though Linnets 

 and Goldfinches hatch generally only twice a year. 



15. "When the birds are about to build, a few little 



