296 CLASS AVES. 



the eggs, and often kill the little ones, in the seventh or eighth 

 day of incubation ; a bit of iron put into the nest is said to 

 prevent this effect. The eggs ought never to be touched 

 without the most urgent necessity, and young persons are too 

 fond of doing this. It chills the eggs, and retards the birth 

 of the young ; frequently repeated, it will prevent it alto- 

 gether. 



It is seldom that canaries, brought up in an apartment, are 

 sick previous to the formation of the brood. The males will 

 be so sometimes, and that when their attention is most re- 

 quired. In this case, they should be taken out of the cage or 

 cabinet, and placed apart in a small cage. As soon as the 

 malady is discovered, the proper remedy should be applied. 

 The sick bird should be put in the sun, and a little white 

 wine blown over his body. This is good in all cases. If the 

 malady continue, and the female evince chagrin for the loss 

 of her partner, another should be substituted. Some females 

 do not require this, and will nurse the young without the 

 assistance of the male ; but few will support the absence of 

 the male for eight or ten days. The female, at all events, 

 should be allowed to see him from time to time, by putting 

 his little cage into the brood cage. The male should be suf- 

 fered to repose for eight or ten days, and be fed with nothing 

 but rapeseed, for his malady often proceeds from having 

 eaten too much of the succulent food given abundantly to 

 the birds at this particular time. After this, he may again be 

 admitted to the female, and his behaviour will show whether 

 he is cured or not ; but if he be attacked again, he must be 

 withdrawn altogether, for it is a proof that his temperament 

 is too delicate. The female should then receive another male 

 resembling the one she has lost ; or, in default of that, one of 

 her own race, for there is always more sympathy between 

 those which resemble each other, than between others. To this 

 however, the is-ahella breed form an exception, for the males 



