CHAPTER Y. 



BREEDING. 



propagation of canaries is attended 

 with many difficulties and disappoint- 

 ments, which have not been diminished by 

 the many expedients to obviate them. For 

 pairing, young males, of from two to five 

 years old, are usually selected; and expe- 

 rience shows, that if such breed with females 

 older than themselves, the majority of the 

 brood will consist of males. Old birds may 

 be recognised by the projecting blackish 

 scales of the legs, and by their strong claws. 

 Good breeding birds are rare and costly.. 

 Both males and females have their faults 

 of temper or constitution, and it is best for 

 the amateur to get rid of faulty birds, and 

 to supply their places with others, for none = 



