40 'AVIAltlES, BIIU)-EOOMS AXD CAGES. 



she will be happy and contented with some other spot 

 to build in. 



NESTING AND BREEDING. 



Canaries as a rule are not good builders, but an 

 ample supply of grass, moss, hair, etc., should be given 

 them, and one should watch their proceedings pretty 

 closely and help them if needs be to make the structure 

 secure and strong enough to stand the wear and tear 

 of hatching and rearing. Sometimes a hen will want to 

 nest a second time in the same spot. In such a case the 

 young should be transferred to a nest box close by. 

 The young ones may be removed from the aviarv as 

 soon as they are able to crack seeds, or if there be plenty 

 of room, and they do not" trouble the breeding birds, 

 they can be allowed to remain and moult, but will re- 

 quire a little watching, any sickly birds, of course, being 

 removed at once. Canaries are generally considered to 

 be somewhat delicate birds, but I have known them 

 remain without harm the whole of the winter in an out- 

 side aviary. Of course they must be liberally supplied 

 with food and water. The latter must be watched 

 closely during frosty weather, and any fresh given to 

 them at such times may be slightly warmed. 



No hen bird should be allowed to go to nest later 

 than the beginning of July, for although she might 

 succeed in rearing the young, the season would by then 

 be rather late, and both she and the youngsters would be 

 moulting just as the days were becoming cooler, and 

 possibly have the weather all against them. In breed- 

 ing in this way, just for pleasure and amusement, or 

 perhaps to get a few songsters to present to our intimate 

 friends and sell to others, we need not be very particular 

 about changing the cock bird. If he is a good one, and 

 feeds the youngsters well, we can retain him for another 

 year, occasionally purchasing a fresh one or making an 

 exchange with a birdy friend. 



RESPECTING FRESH-CAUGHT BIRDS. 



Possibly, however, our aviarist cares nothing for 

 Canaries, his heart and soul being given to the beauties 

 of colour, contour, and song of British Birds. He has 

 here a wide choice, and can easily fill his flight with 



