DWELLINGS. 



57 



attached to this latter circumstance by careful breeders, who 

 therefore specially fasten slips of paper to the transport- 

 cases, w r arning the public against giving the birds any 

 unnecessary or unsuitable food. Merely surrounding the 

 cases w T ith paper, is absolutely useless and objectionable, 

 such packing being not sufficiently durable, conspicuous, or 

 free from draughts ; and rendering it difficult to declare the 

 value of the package. Card-board cases manufactured out 

 of the best materials, by bookbinders, in Germany, cost, in the 

 smaller form, for one bird 3Jd., for two birds 6d., for three 

 about 7Jd., for four birds Is., and for twelve Is. 6d. The ex- 

 penses incurred by this mode of packing are therefore ex- 

 tremely moderate. During transport the recipient is to feed 

 the birds with summer rape-seed ; the males to be fed, besides 

 this, with egg-food, consisting of one third egg and two 

 thirds stale, grated wheat-bread ; the two ingredients to be 

 well mixed. As soon as the males have become accustomed 

 to vessels for feeding and drinking, they must be kept in 

 a subdued light, for the purpose of improving their 

 song ; no females must be kept in the same room with the 

 males. 



Dwellings. — Nothing is so important for the well-being 

 of each bird as its dwelling 

 and the inner arrangements 

 of the same ; although, if we 

 consider that, in the shops 

 of bird-sellers, young canaries 

 may be kept well and healthy 

 in the very small Hartz-cages 

 (in which they are also 

 transported, often hundreds hartz-cage. 

 of miles), we marvel at the pliant nature of these 

 birds. Yet, a true friend of nature will not allow 

 unfavourable conditions to develop into a system, but 



