24 



CANARIES 



to the floor of the cage, In the former case they are 

 smashed, and in the latter they are killed or maimed. 

 Turn-rails I do not Hke. With the draw-board, or false 

 bottom, one pulls it right out from the cage, cleans off all 

 the refuse, covers the board with clean sand, and returns 

 it to the cage. An operation that is performed with ease, 

 affords opportunity for more thorough cleaning and 

 avoids disturbance of the birds. Draw-boards are much 

 to be preferred, especially so when one is troubled with 



Drawboard Fitting for Bottom of Breeding Cage. 



hens afflicted with that disagreeable complaint known as 

 nesting diarrhoea. 



A single breeder such as here described is simple in con- 

 struction, easily cleaned, and most admirably adapted 

 for the purpose for which it is used. 



Two, Three and Four Compartment Cages. 

 Two compartment cages differ from single breeding 

 cages in that they are double the length, and are divided 

 in the centre by a wooden division, or by one that is 

 partly wood and partly wire. There is much to be said 

 in favour of the double breeder, and not much against it, 

 except its unwieldy size. For those breeders who 

 run two hens with one cock it is very useful, as after the 

 cock has sent one hen to nest he can be driven through 

 into the other compartment to make love to his second 

 sweetheart. It is useful for separating the cock from the 

 hen if he should happen to be one of the interfering, 

 meddlesome kind, and will not let his hen carry out the 

 process of incubation without constantly worrying her 

 and driving her off the nest. It also is useful when 

 the hen is inclined to pluck her young, as some hens will 



