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THE CANARY BIRD. 31 T 



PAIRING- AND LAYING-. 



In order to obtain birds of a brilliant plumage, it is requisite 

 to pair together such as are of similar markings, and the colors 

 of which are regular and distinct. This is best effected in 

 separate breeding cages. Variegated and checkered ones are 

 often produced in aviaries where the birds pair together indis- 

 criminately. Those of a greenish and brownish color, paired 

 with bright-yellow ones, often produce beautiful dusky-white, 

 or other favorite colors. A requisite precaution to be ob- 

 served is, that a tufted and a smooth-headed bird should be 

 paired together; for, if two crested ones be placed with 

 one another, a part of the head of their progeny will be bald, 

 or otherwise deformed. 



Some males are always dejected, sing but little, are indiffer- 

 ent to their mates, and consequently unfit for breeding ; others 

 are too choleric, incessantly snap at, and chase about, the 

 females, and indeed, often kill them and their young ; others, 

 again, are too ardent, persecute the female while she is sitting, 

 tear the nest, throw out the eggs, or continually excite her to 

 pair, until she quits "her eggs or neglects her young ; others, in 

 breeding time, sing so incessantly, and so powerfully, that 

 they rupture the small vessels of the lungs, and suddenly drop 

 dead in the midst of their song. 



The females have also their defects. Some merely lay, and 

 immediately quit their eggs as soon as laid ; others feed their 

 young badly, bite them, or pluck out their feathers ; others lay 

 with much exertion and labor, and when they should hatch 

 become sickly, or lay again after a long interval. 



Those birds which are to be paired for the first time, should 

 be placed together in a small cage or an open room for a 

 week or ten days, to be wonted to one another. If two females 

 are to be paired with one male, they must previously be ac- 

 customed to each other's society by being also kept together 

 in a small cage; and the breeding cage should have two 

 compartments, separated by a board, in which a sliding door 



