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Our  Canaries 
indispensable  feature.  Of  these  articles  there  is  now  a  very  wide  choice  of 
perfectly  suitable  designs,  so  that  the  fancier  may,  within  very  small  limits, 
please  his  own  fancy.  The  most  popular  designs  are  those  made  of  white 
unglazed  pottery.  Those  containing  a  few  perforations  in  the  bottom  to  admit 
of  ventilation  and  a  good  rim  around  the  top,  which  will  afford  a  good  grip 
for  the  birds'  feet  when  they  alight  on  the  edge  of  the  nest,  are  to  be  preferred. 
The  majority  of  this  type  of  nest  pan  are  hung  in  the  cage  by  means  of  wire 
brackets,  though  a  few  designs  may  be  obtained  in  which  a  back-piece  with 
hole  for  suspending  is  made  in  pottery  on  the  pan  during  manufacture  as  an 
integral  part  of  the  structure.     This  is  a  great  convenience  for  hanging  the 
EARTHENWARE  NEST  PAN,  with  back         EARTHENWARE  NEST  PAN,  for  use  with  a 
to  hang  it  up  by,  ali  in  one  piece.  separate  hanger  made  of  wire. 
nest,  and  the  extra  weight  of  the  pan  gives  it  more  solidity  and  freedom  from 
movement  when  the  birds  are  engaged  in  their  varied  nesting  duties  about  it 
than  is  the  case  with  a  pan  hung  on  a  weak  or  badly-fitting  bracket.  For 
convenience  and  stability  the  old-fashioned  wooden  nest-box,  with  back-piece 
for  hanging,  is  still  a  very  good  and  useful  servant.  If  they  have  any  material 
fault  it  must  be  that  they  afford  more  harbour  for  insect  pests  and  less  facility 
for  thorough  disinfection  than  the  pottery  pans.  Both,  however,  are  trifling 
defects  from  the  ease  with  which  they  may  be  annulled.  A  liberal  dusting  with 
good  insect  powder  in  the  bottom  of  the  box  will  go  far  towards  preventing 
any  serious  accumulation  of  insects  in  that  quarter,  and  boiling  may  be  resorted 
to  as  a  means  of  disinfection  with  but  little  more  trouble  than  is  required  to 
deal  in  the  same  way  with  the  earthenware  appliances.  But  considering  the 
ease  with  which  these  boxes  may  be  constructed  by  any  handy  man,  it  is  a 
commendable  policy  to  disinfect  them,  when  this  is  required,  right  out  of 
