CANARY BIRDS. 77 



nacity ; first she drove away all the other 

 birds, daring them to come near her, and 

 then she fairly flattered little timid Tuft into 

 becoming her most submissive spouse. She 

 treated him well, however, and fought his 

 battles for him. 



It does not answer when they begin to sit 

 very late, because then the second or third 

 brood is apt to be made too backward. 

 About six weeks generally elapse from the 

 time of the first sitting till the next begins. 

 And it is very common to have four or five 

 broods of canaries in a season. The wild 

 birds in Madeira begin to build in February, 

 and hatch quite as often. The canary often 

 begins sitting from the day on which her 

 first egg is laid, thus beginning to hatch in 

 thirteen days after. Some people "take- 

 care " of the eggs for the .unhappy birds ; 

 but I am sure that the rule of letting things- 

 alone answers much the best here, and the- 

 deserted nests and the uncared-for young" 



are rot uwiaJ in tho woods nnd fields they 

 <* 



