182 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



During the period of incubation the birds must not be disturbed. As soon as 

 the eggs are hatched out, the young birds are most carefully looked after by the 

 parents : outside aid, except in furnishing nourishing food, is not necessary. When 

 the birds are of sufficient age to eat alone, they should be taken from the room, and 

 reared by hand ; as, when allowed to roam along with the older birds, they are apt 

 to become wild, and not so easily tamed. Hand-reared, nestling Parrots are the 

 highest prized of all for training purposes. 



When entering a breeding-room for the purpose of separating the young from 

 the old birds, it is necessary to go well prepared ; as the parent birds, in their rage, 

 are capable of inflicting severe wounds. In a breeding establishment in France, 

 devoted to breeding African Gray Parrots, whenever it is found necessary to enter 

 the room, the attendant is clothed in a leather suit, and has his face and head 

 protected by the same material, and his eyes are protected by a pair of strong 

 spectacles. 



This branch of bird-breeding is the most remunerative of any, and promises to 

 become very popular. 



