THE COVERINGS OF YOUNG BIRDS 25 



laid, a fact which may have influenced the choice of the parent 

 birds. 



Both boxes were roughly made from the brown wooden cases in 

 which tinned pine-apple is sent to this country. White wood needs 

 to be painted, as until it becomes weathered it does not look well. 

 In the second instance four eggs hatched and three nestlings sur- 

 vived, and although the hen bird, which for some reason unknown 

 had become quite bald, died some days before her young flew, the 

 cock successfully did double duty and brought off the brood. 



Where robins will not build, it is easy to persuade sparrows to 

 take possession of a nesting box, and the nestlings, though not quite 

 so interesting as young robins, nevertheless show the developing 

 feathers particularly well. 



Squab pigeons or young canaries will serve as well if wild 

 birds are not available. Should an attempt be made to rear 

 canaries, it is advisable to bear in mind some of the details which 

 have been noticed with regard to the nests of similar birds in 



i/ 



nature. Most of the breeding cages to be bought ready made, 

 are supplied with small wooden boxes a few inches square, in 

 which it is intended that the nest should be made. Some books 

 advise the use of the halves of cocoanut shells lined with saddler's 

 felt. In this connection it is interesting to compare them with the 

 accommodation that is afforded in the nest of the common sparrow, 

 a bird so similar in size to the canary that, if report be true, painted 

 examples are sometimes sold for the latter. The regulation nest box 

 is far too small, its hard sides are so near to the nestlings that as 

 they grow there is not sufficient soft material to give and make 

 room for them ; little air can reach either the eggs or the young 

 birds when the hen bird is sitting upon them. The result is that 

 but one or two young canaries are reared at a time. Instead of the 



