78 Song Birds. 



dragged up forcibly the whole bag to their nursery, 

 into which it would not enter, the door being rather 

 narrow. When I think of the Herculean labours of 

 those two small creatures, I always feel wicked for not 

 having prevented it. I suspect Jenny thought she 

 was conveying her nest up wholesale, and that she 

 meant to jump upon it and to scoop out a hole. 



16. It is very common to buy nest bags ready fitted 

 up, and, for once, it may be well to see the sort of 

 stuff they are made of. It will, probably, however, be 

 advisable to put the bags aside unused, as they are 

 generally scented with powder of some kind unplea- 

 sant, I think, to both birds and owners, and certainly 

 not natural for the former. The nest bags are im- 

 portant items, as so much of the comfort of the brood 

 depends on their good supply and perfect clean- 

 liness. It is absolutely essential to have all bought 

 materials thoroughly baked or scalded before they 

 are used. 



17. The Canary often begins sitting from the day 

 on which her first egg is laid, thus beginning to hatch 

 in thirteen days after. Some people "take care " of 

 the eggs for the unhappy birds ; but I am sure that 

 the rule of letting things alone answers much the 

 best here, and the deserted nests and the uncared-for 

 young are not usual in the woods and fields they 

 are events reserved for places where " every possible 

 pains is taken." 



