CANARY BIRDS. 17 



ones. Be sure to see that the legs and feet 

 of your bird are clean and perfect ; and do 

 not leave it to be sent home, but take it 

 away with you, if you have to buy cage 

 and all. 



When you have purchased a bird, carry 

 it home as carefully and gently as possible, 

 having previously prepared for it a comfort- 

 able cage, well furnished with seed and 

 water : into this you must let it step of its 

 own accord, as it will be very tenacious of 

 being touched or handled, until it has grown 

 quite familiar to its new home and those 

 about it. Place a light in front of its cage, 

 and the chances are that it will begin to sing 

 at once, especially if you provoke it to 

 rivalry, by whistling or playing some lively 

 air. Kidd remarks that, " The best trait in 

 the character of the canary is, that he will 1 

 sing place him where you may. These- 

 birds very seldom show a sulkiness of dis-- 

 position ; and even if they should do so, a 



single hemp-seed or a morsel of chickweed! 



2* 



