The Canary Birds 
It is very interesting to watch the tender care 
usually given to the mother bird by her mate while 
she is incubating. He feeds her, and seems to take 
the greatest interest in her. My own especial pet 
bird, Kim, has interested me greatly because of his 
solicitous care of his mate, and his pride and joy in 
the eggs. When she comes off of the nest he will 
slip onto it and‘sit very proudly; and one day I 
found him sitting with her on the eggs, surely a most 
tender and touching companionship. If the male 
is cross, he should be removed after the eggs are 
laid, and allow his wife to sit in peace. Some 
recommend a nest of wire-netting lined with felt. 
This is usually used by regular breeders, but the 
writer always liked to give her canaries the fun of 
building the nest. 
Breeders advise the use of a large cage during the 
nesting period, in form of a wooden box with the 
front wired. It should be about two feet long 
and the same in height and at least a foot in depth. 
There should be a large door and a sliding bottom 
so that it may be easily cleaned, and of course 
the cage should be fitted with food and water dishes. 
This cage may be made by any boy who can use car- 
penter tools. 
Hard boiled egg minced with stale bread should 
form a part of the diet of the nesting bird. When 
near time for the young to hatch give some hemp seed 
and plenty of green stuff and fruit. 
LOSS OF VOICE 
Often the canaries will cease to sing, and this may 
be due to several causes; the most common is a cold 
caught by allowing the cage to be in a drafty place. 
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