20 THE CANARY. 



BREEDING CAGES may be made of brass or of wood, 

 but the former keeps freer from insects, and, with 

 nest removed, may be used for a singer through the 

 year. For a single pair, the cage should be not less 

 than 8 x 10 inches, and 9 x 12, or 10 x 16 or 18 is 

 better. The larger cage gives the pair more exercise, 

 so the progeny are stronger, and also gives the young 

 birds better flights. The wood frame and tinned 

 wire cages with solid wood backs, and wood platform 

 for nest are very convenient to hang or set against 

 the wall. The largest and most convenient wooden 

 cage has a removable partition. 



These cages, as made especially for the writer, 

 have deep zinc drawers and large cups, which are 

 held by the glass buttons of the cups to the front of 

 the cage, either side of the main door. There is also 

 a second door in all except the smallest cage, at one 

 end near the nest. The nests are wire, and lined 

 with cotton-wool flannel. Deer's hair or tow is fur- 

 nished the pair so they may arrange the interior of 

 the nest to suit their own tastes. 



SOFT-SHELL EGGS. Gravel should be strewn in 

 abundance in the drawer, and a bit of old plastering 

 from an old building should be partially crushed and 

 given in small quantities daily. Crushed oyster shell 

 may be substituted. Birds thus provided for seldom 

 lay soft-shell eggs. 



THE DAILY FOOD should be equal parts of German 

 summer rape and Sicily canary seeds, well mixed, 

 and, for one pair of birds, one third of both parts of 

 a hard-boiled egg, grated on a coarse grater, with 



