l6 THE CANARY. 



from the beauty of the bird when either the 

 feathers of the wing or tail get broken : be 

 careful also to give them some water inside 

 the box cage, lest they should not readily 

 find their way to that which hangs outside. 

 When they are first put into the box 

 cage, they must be fed twice a- day with 

 bread and egg, mixed with a little maw seed, 

 put into their pan, giving them but little 

 at a time ; as soon, however, as they are able 

 to crack their seeds sufficiently well to sup- 

 port themselves, they need only be fed once 

 a-day with the bread and egg; by way of 

 change, give them occasionally a little bruised 

 rape seed with their bread and egg, as it is 

 extremely good for them, and will keep 

 them in fine condition ; I would also recom- 

 mend that the young birds, when taken from 

 the breeding cage, be kept in another room, 

 quite out of hearing of the old one's call, 

 as the young answering will cause them 

 to fret, and be uneasy to get to them again, 

 and occasion the hen to be very careless 

 of her nest. To a breeder who is unac- 

 quainted with the nature of them, the young 

 fancy birds will appear of a strange colour, 



