CANARIES 273 



rapeseed, and canary seed, which is the seed of the canary grass, 

 a plant indigenous to the Canary Islands. These are often sold 

 mixed under the trade name of "birdseed." Many canary fanciers 

 think that it is better to feed the seeds separately, or to make the 

 mixtures themselves, so that they can know just what the birds eat, 

 and can judge whether any trouble which may arise is due to a 

 wrong diet. Rapeseed and canary seed are considered the best and 

 safest feed for canaries. They may be mixed in equal parts and 

 kept before the birds at all times. Canaries like hempseed better 

 than anything else, but it is so rich that, if fed heavily, it is inju- 

 rious. When a mixture of seeds containing hempseed is placed 

 in the feed cup, canaries will pick out and scatter and waste the 

 other seeds, to get the hempseed. For this reason it is often left 

 out of the mixture and given occasionally, a few grains at a time. 



Canaries are very fond of lettuce, chickweed, and plantain. 

 They also like the green seeds of many grasses. These things 

 may be given to them by fastening the leaves or stalks between 

 the wires of the cage where the birds can reach them easily. A 

 piece of cuttlefish bone should be placed where the birds can 

 eat some whenever they want it. Cuttle bone furnishes them 

 with salt and lime. 



Care. Canaries should have regular attention. Aside from 

 having the position of the cage changed when necessary, they 

 usually require attention only once a day. This should be at a 

 regular hour, preferably in the morning. The cage should be 

 placed on a table or stand, and the bottom removed, that it may be 

 thoroughly cleaned. The best way is to wash it. While the 

 bottom of the cage is being cleaned the cage with the bird in it 

 rests upon the table. This is the best time to give the bird its 

 bath. A shallow pan or dish containing about an inch of water 

 is placed on the table under the bottomless cage. Some birds 

 splash so vigorously that the bath must be given in a room con- 

 taining nothing that would be damaged by the drops of water 

 which they scatter. Some seem to understand that the harder 



