15 



and in French * " Charpie," and well known in surgery. In winter 

 the breeder or his family devote their leisure to the pulling asunder, 

 thread for thread, of innumerable three inch linen squares, making 

 " Charpie." It can, however, be purchased ready made by weight. 

 This nesting material surpasses any other for coolness, softness, 

 ventilation, easy detection of red mite, and general suitability. 



That the prospective Canary-mother prefers "Charpie" to any 

 other material — except when she has contracted a taste for down 

 feathers — becomes patent to the observer of the bird's action when 

 she has been supplied with our English regulation "nest bag" of 

 cowhair and moss. The white thread which encloses these materials 

 attracts the bird's attention to the exclusion of anything else, and if 

 she could obtain sufficient of this commodity she would never think 

 of appropriating the stuff enclosed by the net of cotton thread. At 

 first sight of the nest bag she thinks of nothing else than to possess 

 herself of some of that cotton, and will pull for hours at the various 

 meshes, but in the end, as her desires are not understood by her 

 keeper, she is forced to resort to the heating cowhair for want of the 

 more suitable material. 



THE BBEBDING CAGE 



for one pair deserves special description.. The smallest size is ten 

 inches deep by eighteen inches in height and width, and of thin 

 planed deal boards all round except the front. This is never made of 

 wire netting, only straight iron wire is used ; in which the birds 

 cannot easily get " hung up " by the claws. Any rust forming on 

 such is beneficial rather than otherwise, and for this reason the 

 wires are not painted, stained, or galvanized. The wood, however, 

 receives two coats of oil paint, far preferable to thin varnish or 

 stain. 



A light wooden box about five inches each way, one side left 

 open, is hung on the outsides, right and left, against correspond- 

 ingly sized openings fitted with a hinged flap or door swinging 

 downwards. 



The nest itself is made of fine wicker or basket-work, through 

 which air can circulate freely ; it is cup shaped, four inches across at 



* The Publisher imports this article from Germany, see advertisement page. 



