78 CANARY BIRDS. 



are events reserved for places where " every 

 possible pains is taken." 



Of aH the knotty points in the keeping 

 birds, the knottiest and the most trouble- 

 some is to know which will live together. 



My own belief is that much more depends 

 on the way of treatment than on the birds 

 themselves. Of course, if a wild bird is put 

 into a cage full of tame and gentle ones, it 

 is much like a young gorilla set loose in a 

 peaceful family ; the mischief, the spite, the 

 tricks, are something inconceivable, every 

 bird gets cross, and the mistress is in de- 

 spair. Civilized birds do not behave in this 

 way, and it should be an unalterable law 

 never to put a bird into an aviary, or large 

 .cage full of others, till it has been kept some 

 days, and has got used to the place. Birds 

 :are upset and bewildered by any change, as 

 imuch or more than human beings ; and the 

 catching to put them in a travelling cage, 

 :and the journey, being carried, perhaps, 

 ithrough some noisy streets, is a disturbing 



