CANARY BIRDS. 47 



terminates in torn nests. One little canary 

 hen invariably flew off her nest in the most 

 reckless manner, and went dashing after her 

 most particular enemy whenever she passed 

 near her, and, of course, these sudden antics 

 were very dangerous, both to eggs and 

 young. When the birds are about to build, 

 strew fine moss and wool on the floor of the 

 cage, or have two little net-bags filled with 

 soft dry moss or grass, free from stalks, and 

 a little soft wool or hair, which is better 

 short, as long hairs sometimes get caught 

 about a bird's foot. A few nice little fea- 

 thers is also a great boon, and some soft 

 down for lining. I think it best to have 

 two bags, putting that with the moss in first ; 

 but the bags should be hung outside the 

 wires, to prevent, not only entanglements, 

 but considerable waste of strength, as in one 

 case the birds dragged up forcibly the whole 

 bag into their nursery. Jenny thought she 

 was conveying her nest up wholesale, and 

 she meant to jump upon it and scoop out a 



