14 Farmers' Bulletin 1327. 



or perhaps at once, and when this is observed the slide may be with- 

 drawn and the birds kept together. If a cage is used that has no 

 slide, there is usually some bickering between the birds at first, but 

 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. 



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 outside 

 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 or 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 slovenly structure that barely serves to contain the eggs. Some 

 fanciers prefer to construct nests for their birds, and with certain 

 birds this is necessary as some females may refuse to build. 



Canaries 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 1^ inches or more deep made of thin wood may 

 be used. The nest box or pan should have a lining or bottom cover- 

 ing of felt. This may be pasted in the earthenware pan, and may be 

 soaked loose without trouble when it is desired to renew it. The 

 nest receptacle, of whatever description, should be suspended an inch 

 above the level of the perches. This prevents the young from leav- 

 ing the nest too soon. The receptacle should not be near enough to 

 the top of the cage to interfere with the movements of the occupants. 

 If the nest is not too near the perches the male is not so likely to be 

 obtrusive during incubation. 



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

 birds are paired. Normally it is laid in about two weeks. The num- 

 ber of eggs in a sitting may vary from three to six, with four or five 

 as the usual number. 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. They should be kept in a cool place, slightly em- 

 bedded in fine corn meal or bran or cared for in some other manner 

 that does not allow them to roll about or touch each other. On the 

 evening of the day on which the third egg is laid all may be returned 

 to the nest. 



Removing the eggs and then replacing them postpones incubation 

 and development in those first laid and makes the time of hatching 

 more even. The normal period of incubation is 14 days. 



Egg binding sometimes causes trouble and may be dealt with as 

 follows: The vent may be oiled carefully with a drop or two of 



