canaries: their care aistd management. 15 



birds are rarely found that do not in the end agree. A cage thus used 

 without a slide should be new to both birds, in order that neither 

 may resent the presence of an intruder in a cage which it has been 

 accustomed to consider its own. 



Canaries will build in anything that offers support. A nest box 

 of wood, or, better, an earthenware nest pan, may be fastened to the 

 side or back of the cage midway between the two perches. The rush 

 or willow nests sold by many dealers, while serviceable, may harbor 

 vermin. The earthenware nest pan is best, as when the breeding 

 season is over it is readily cleaned and put away for another year. 

 Failing this, a box one inch and a quarter or more deep made of thin 

 wood may be used. The nest box or pan should have a lining or 

 bottom covering of felt. This may be pasted in the earthenware 

 pan, and when it is desired to renew it the covering may be soaked 

 loose without trouble. The nest receptacle, of whatever description, 

 should be suspended an inch above the level of the perches. This 

 prevents the young from leaving the nest too soon. If the nest is 

 not too near the perches the male is not so likely to be obtrusive 

 during incubation. 



Soon after pairing the female will be seen carrying feathers in her 

 bill or searching about the bottom of the cage. If a little nesting 

 material is given her she will be content to arrange and rearrange it 

 for a few days. As soon as she shows serious intention of building, 

 enough material for actual nest construction may be supplied. If a 

 considerable quantity is furnished at first it is merely wasted. 

 The material may be held in a small wire rack suspended on the out- 

 side of the cage or placed inside. Bits of string, cotton, slender 

 blades of dried grass, dried moss, cow's hair, or other soft material 

 will serve well. No long strings nor long hairs should be given, as 

 these may cause trouble later by entangling the feet and legs of 

 mother and young. Everything furnished should be clean and free 

 from dust. Some canaries are expert nest builders, while others 

 construct a slovenl}^ structure that barely serves to contain the eggs., 

 In some cases they even refuse to build, and it is necessary to con- 

 struct a nest for them. 



The first egg will be deposited from a week to a month after the 

 birds are paired. Normally it is laid in about tw-o weeks. Four or 

 five eggs are the usual number in a setting, but this may vary from 

 three to six. The eggs should be removed as soon as laid. This 

 may be done readily with a teaspoon, with care not to injure the 

 delicate shells. The eggs should be kept in a cool place, slightly 

 embedded in fine corn meal or cared for in some other manner that 

 does not allow them to roll about or touch each other. When it is 

 thought that no more eggs are coming all are replaced in the nest 

 with the last one laid. E^moving the eggs and then replacing them 



