32 



THE CANARY BIRD. 



has been made. In one compartment, a lively male may be 

 enclosed with a female. About the cage or room, there should 

 be placed some flax, soft hay, wool, hog's bristles, cow's hair, 

 moss, pieces of thread, cut about a finger's length, paper, 

 shavings, or other dry materials for building the nest, which 

 usually occupies three days. When one female has laid eggs, 

 the sliding door may be moved and the male admitted to the 

 other female ; and when they have both laid, this door may be 



CANARY BREEDING CAGE. 



kept open. The male will visit both females alternately, when 

 they will not trouble themselves about each other ; otherwise, 

 without this precaution, jealousy would incite them to destroy 

 each other's nests and throw out the eggs. In a room or 

 aviary, a male has sometimes two and even three females 

 placed with him ; with one of these, he will more especially 

 pair. But when this favorite is about to sit, the others will 

 receive a share of his attentions, and from the latter usually 

 A the greatest number and the best birds are reared. 



