CANAR Y BIRDS. 51 



As is the case with most birds, the female 

 is generally the builder, while the male only 

 chooses the place for the nest, and carries 

 the materials. One egg is laid each day 

 generally at the same hour till they reach 

 five or six in number. If the birds be good 

 sitters, it is sufficient to leave them to them- 

 selves, as they do not approve of any inter- 

 ference, and the less they undergo the better 

 they will succeed. It is, however, usual to 

 take the eggs away as soon as laid, supply- 

 ing their place in the nest with an ivory or 

 china nest-egg, and laying them up in a box, 

 the small end downwards, in fine, dry river 

 sand. When the hen has ceased to lay, the 

 eggs are put back into the nest to be hatched. 

 She lays three or four times a year, 

 from April to September ; the eggs are sea- 

 green in color, more or less spotted, 

 and streaked with reddish brown and 

 violet. 



The period of incubation is thirteen days. 

 The male relieves the female at the labor of 



