The CananJ Bird 233 



for encouragement and applause. But one of his favorite amuse- 

 ments was to perch.npon the branches of a tall myrtle in a window 

 where the cage frequently hung; and he even became so bold, as to 

 dart upon the ephemeral insects, which rose from a stream close 

 by, and that seemed to afford him a delicious banquet. Poor 

 Dickie was, however, doomed to suffer for this indulgence, and 

 one morning was found dead in his cage, having been killed by a 

 young pointer, a privileged vagrant like himself. 



At a public exhibition of birds we are informed that one of these 

 docile creatures acted the part of a deserter, and ran away, while 

 two others pursued and caught him. A lighted match being giv- 

 en to one of these, he fired a small cannon, and the little deserter 

 fell on his side, as if dead; another bird then appeared with a 

 small wheelbarrow, for the purpose of carrying off the dead, but 

 at its approach the little deserter started to his feet. 



In rearing these birds all that is required is a small breeding 

 cage; bnt where a room can be allotted to the purpose, it ought 

 to have shrubs for them to roost and build, with plenty of water 

 to drink and bathe in, that being indispensable for all birds. The 

 light should be admitted into the room from the east; for the ben- 

 efit of the morning sun, and the windows should have wire cloth^ 

 that they may enjoy the fresh air. The floor of the apartment 

 should be strewed with sand or white gravel, and on that should 

 be thrown, groundsel, chickweed, or scaled rapeseed; but when 

 breeding, they should have nothing except hard, chopped eggs, 

 dry bread, cake without salt, and once in two or three days, a few 

 poppy seeds. Some bird fanciers, give their breeding birds plan- 

 tain and lettuce seeds; but this should be done sparingly, and only 

 for two days, lest it should weaken them. 



About the last of April they ought to be furnished with flax, 

 soft hay, wool, hair, moss, and other dry materials, for building 

 their nest, which usually occupies three days. The period of in- 

 cubation is thirteen days: but when the female has sat eight or nine 

 days it is necessary to examine the eggs, holding them carefully 

 by the ends toward the sun or a lighted candle, and to throw away 

 the clear ones. Some bird fanciers substitute an ivory egg until 

 the last is laid, when the real ones are replaced, that they may be 

 all hatched at the same time. 



When the young are to be reared by the sick, they must be 

 taken from the mother on the eighth day, taking nest and all. 

 Prior to this, the food should consist of a paste composed of boil- 

 ed rapeseed, the yolk of an egg, and crumbs of cake unsalted, 

 mixed with a little water; this must be given to them every two 

 hours. This paste ought not to be too wet, and should be re-' 



