170 TREATISE ON 



be given every two hours; the paste ought not to 

 be too vret, and, lest it should sour, it must be re- 

 newed daily until the nestlings can feed them- 

 selves. The hen canary has generally three broods 

 in the year ; but some will hatch five times in the 

 season, each time laying six or seven eggs. 



The weakest nestling is always the first to under- 

 go the process of moulting, which takes place about 

 five or six weeks after they are hatched; and this 

 evil, which cannot be prevented, is often attended by 

 serious consequences. When jonquil birds moult, 

 it is frequently fatal to them ; but the best pallia- 

 tive yet kno^vn is a small piece of iron put into 

 the water that the birds di'ink : they must likewise 

 be kept warm, cold being hurtful to all birds du- 

 ring this period. It is therefore less dangerous 

 when birds moult early in the summer, as six 

 weeks or two months generally elapse before they 

 regain their strength and sprightly look. 



All suffer from this evil, whether young or old; 

 but, among all the varieties that are at present 

 known, the white spangled are the strongest, and 

 get easiest through when shedding their feathers. 

 Hen canaries, after the sixth or seventh year, often 

 die when moulting; and even the cock-birds, — - 

 though, from their superior strength, some may 

 get through this malady, and continue occasionally 



