14 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



birds going through a few preHminary evolutions, advancing, retiring, chattering, and finishing up 

 with a quarrel on the irce ainantiuin principle. Observe, also, what a complete master of his art is 

 this descendant of the shipwrecked unfortunates at Elba. He has in his veins the same hot blood, 

 and has no equal at " delutherin'," unless it may be the goldfinch on the other side, bowing and 

 scraping and spreading out his coat-tails like the dandy he is, while he talks treason to that demure 

 little hen, which we have reason to think is already affianced to one of her own race. Under cover 

 of the bush in the corner sit another couple, whispering the most affectionate soft-nothings, and 

 talking over the eligibility of one or two building sites at their disposal. Immediately above 

 them another pair is hard at work putting the finishing touches to a cottage ornSe of which the 

 foundations were laid only yesterday, and which must be completed without delay : it is a case of 

 emergency, and will be required in the morning. Within reach of the hand sits a hen on five eggs, 

 " due " in the course of a few hours ; and while we watch her bright eye and admire the constancy 

 with which she has attended to the first part of her matronly duties, her mate flies up to make 

 anxious inquiries and give her a mouthful of food. Perched on a piece of root, in a position from 

 which it seems as if a breath would dislodge the entire fabric, is another nest, above the top of 

 which are just visible half a dozen gaping mouths which the attentive parents are filling with 

 dainty morsels prior to their being tucked in for an hour's nap. And here are four more which, 

 though hatched only three weeks ago, are almost as large as their parents, and fit into their 

 warm bed like the pieces in a Chinese puzzle. Look which way we will, we continually find some- 

 thing fresh to attract the attention and interest the mind, and the aviary is voted the best room in 

 the house. 



A few items, all important in their way, have to be included in our inventory. The floor 

 should be strewed with clean sand, and a supply of old lime rubbish will be found conducive 

 to the general health of the birds, as well as furnishing a necessary element in the formation of 

 egg-shell. This need not be crushed so small as to become dust ; that will accumulate quickly 

 enough without any assistance ; but if pieces of a crumbly nature are accessible by the birds, they 

 will not fail to avail themselves of it, and with beneficial results. This should be renewed at very 

 short intervals ; indeed, every morning is not too often. When the birds have picked it over and 

 it begins to get soiled, it may still serve as covering for the floor, but nothing more, being virtually 

 dirt. In sweeping it up there is no occasion to flourish a long-handled brush and create as much 

 terror as possible, but do it gently and quietly, and the birds will take no notice of either brush 

 or sweeper ; it will soon be seen that the morning's supply of sand will be as eagerly looked for 

 as a supply of fresh food, and every bird in the room will be down on the floor in a moment to 

 turn over the fresh stuff and take in a supply with which to assist his little mill to grind its seed. 



In country places, where they can easily be obtained, thin sods will be a great acquisition, and 

 almost every part of them will be turned to some good purpose. All work and no play does not 

 suit a Canary any more than the youth in the legendary poem, who is reported to have been made 

 very dull by the process ; and birds are as fond of amusing themselves as other animals. Nothing 

 entertains them more than giving them something of this kind to pick and pull to pieces, which 

 they will do with many a resolute tug ; and it is this attention to little wants, which may not 

 perhaps be absolute necessaries, that goes to make up the sum of their happiness. 



The subject of feeding will afford matter for special consideration. It is no part of the 

 fitting-up of an aviary, though the receptacles for food and v/ater, we think, have to do with it. 

 We do not advise scattering much seed on the floor, as a great portion of it would by that means 

 be wasted : Canaries don't scratch and search for their food like the gallina;, or feast till the dish is 

 empty and then pick the bones. Throw a handful of corn to poultry among loose gravel, and not 



