Our  Canaries 
33 
which  is  very  largely  used  by  breeders  in  Germany,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
peculiar  properties  to  prevent  hens  sweating  their  young.  However  this  may  be 
there  can  be  no  question  but  that  the  most  rational  method  of  preventing  this 
disappointing  feature  of  Canary  breeding  is  to  use  only  sound  and  healthy  hens, 
and  depend  for  the  rest  upon  thoroughly  healthful  and  hygienic  treatment 
generally,  and  a  sound,  wholesome,  and  not  too  stimulating  a  diet.  A  kind  of 
artificial  cow-hair,  which  is  a  specially  dressed  and  prepared  tow,  is  also  sold  as  a 
substitute  for  the  real  article  under  the  name  of  fictitious  cow-hair. 
and  a 
A  STUDY  IN  PEBCMES. 
(See  page  35.) 
IN   OLDEN   DAYS   CANDLE  WICKS  WERE  FAVOURED. 
If  Strict  attention  is  paid  to  the  general  health  and  stamina  of  the  birds 
few  precautionary  measures  adopted,  it  is  probably  of  very  little  real 
importance  what  kind  of  nesting 
material  is  used.  In  the  early 
days  of  the  Fancy,  the  Lancashire 
weavers  and  pit-men  are  said  to 
have  used  the  ends  of  the  candle 
wicks  for  nesting  material.  Those 
were  the  days  of  the  "farthing  dip," 
and  an  immense  number  would  be 
consumed  throughout  the  year  in 
these  avocations,  as  well  as  around  the  domestic  hearth,  so  that  the  half-inch  or 
so  of  cotton  wick  cut  off  the  end  of  each  fresh  candle  before  it  was  lit  would 
accumulate  into  a  considerable  bulk  when  carefully  husbanded  and  saved  up 
during  the  year.  One  can  readily  imagine  what  a  cosy  bed  these  fragments 
of  cotton  would  make,  and  many  a  valuable  "star"  in  the  exhibition  world  in 
those  days  was  brought  up  in  such  a  simply  constructed  nest.  The  three  most 
important  points  to  con- 
sider about  the  nesting 
material  are,  that  it  is  per- 
fectly clean  and  free  from 
dust  and  is  well  disin- 
fected to  guard  against 
the  possibility  of  it  con- 
veying any  infectious  or 
contagious  disease  to  the 
birds;  that  it  is  free  from  long  hairs  which  are  apt  to  get  wound  about  the 
birds'  feet  or  legs  and  not  only  seriously  interfere  with  the  making  of  the 
nest,  but  sometimes  cause  injuries  to  the  feet  or  toes  of  the  birds.  Finally, 
care  should  be  taken  to  see  that  the  moss  contains  no  hard,  sharp,  thorny 
pieces  which  may  be  responsible  for  punctured  eggs  at  a  later  date. 
A  TYPE  OF  SAND-THAY. 
