THE CANARY. 287 



the morning and evening, and repeated on each occasion half- 

 a-dozen times. After an interval of from two to six months, 

 according to the memory and docility of the bird, it will have 

 acquired its lesson perfectly. If, however, too long a period 

 should have elapsed before the commencement of the instruc- 

 tion, it is not improbable that the bird will always intermix 

 with his artificial song some portion of that which he has 

 learned from his father. 



It is also said that Canaries may be easily taught to come 

 and go at command ; but I must confess that the experiment 

 never succeeded with me, although I have strictly followed all 

 the directions which I subjoin for the benefit of the reader. 

 The cages should be provided with doors which open only 

 inwards, and which close of themselves. When the male and 

 female have been paired, as above directed, the former is let 

 fly in some garden where there are trees ; the cage is then 

 hung outside the window, that his mate may lure him back. 

 This is repeated for five or six days, always letting the male 

 go again without touching him, that he may not be terrified. 

 After a time, the female also may be set at liberty, the door of 

 the cage being left permanently open, that they may go and 

 return at will. In this case they generally build upon lofty 

 and bushy trees. Care must be taken to catch both the old 

 and young birds in autumn, as there is danger lest they should 

 fly off with the Linnets ; with which birds they are very 

 sociable, whether in confinement or at liberty. 



Diseases. The Canary, a bird which least of all others 

 enjoys the healthful influences of fresh air and exercise, is 

 subject to all the diseases mentioned in the Introduction. But 

 besides these, it is especially liable also to the following : 



1 . Rupture. This disease, which is not uncommon among 

 young birds, seems to be a kind of indigestion, which results 

 in an inflammation of the bowels. Its symptoms are a gene- 

 ral thinness. The skin becomes bare on the part affected, 

 puffed up, and fall of small swollen blood vessels ; the bowels 

 descend to the extremity of the body, and appear black and 

 knotted. The cause of the disease, against which all remedies 

 appear to be unavailing, is a too great indulgence in nourishing 

 food. A little alum, salt, or a rusty nail, in the water vessel 

 is occasionally of some service. 



2. The Egg Rupture, if not so immediately fatal as the 



