148 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



so as not to tilt when the bird hops on them ; and 

 it is well to put a little edge on the top of them, 

 so as they will not go down through. Make 

 them fit easy, so that you can take them out and 

 look at the eggs, or young. If you live in the 

 country you may make the baskets yourself, of 

 twigs, or splints of wood, as I have often done ; 

 then take some cotton wicking, and cut it in 

 short pieces, and a few feathers. When the bird 

 layed, if those materials were not put in snugly, 

 I always take them out, as they are apt to catch 

 their feet and pull the eggs out of the nest; then 

 the eggs lay on the flannel, which is quite suffi- 

 cient. Put in both your nests when you put in 

 your birds, and let the female make her choice. 

 This is necessary, for, when the young are about 

 ten days old, she will leave the care of them to 

 the male, who will rear them, and lay again, in 

 the other nest. When the young leave a nest, 

 take it out and put in a new one, or take all the 

 lining of it, bake it in the oven, or throw it into 

 boiling water, and then line it anew. These 

 precautions are necessary, to destroy any of those 

 mites which may have got about the nest, or pre- 

 vent their breeding. This simple method of pre- 

 paring the nests, I have found the best for the 

 comfort and convenience of the birds ; and I have 



