I02 
Our  Canaries 
practised  breeders  of  Canaries  of  modern  times  how  to  feed  and  treat  his  birds  at 
all  seasons  and  for  all  purposes. 
The  most  essential  points  to  be  observed  with  the  utmost  care  and  rigidity 
are  cleanliness,  purity,  and  freedom  from  contamination  of  any  kind  whatever  in 
every  item  of  food  supplied,  or,  it  may  well  be  said,  in  every  article,  whether  of 
food  or  other  necessity,  supplied  for  the  use  of  the  birds.  Freshness  of  food 
supply  is  a  doubtful  virtue  if  used  without  a  qualifying  term,  or  a  definite  refer- 
HAND  FEEDING  YOUNG  CANARIES  BY  MEANS  OF  A    SMALL  GLASS  SYRINGE. 
A  useful  method  when  the  parents  are  bad  feeders. 
ence  as  to  the  particular  food  alluded  to.  Seeds  may  be  quoted  as  an  example, 
forming  as  they  do,  the  great  bulk  of  the  diet.  Here  freshness  would  naturally  be 
taken  to  imply  the  use  of  the  seeds  immediately  after  harvesting  and  storing : 
whereas,  this  would  be  a  distinct  disadvantage  with  one  of  our  most  valuable  and 
largely  used  seeds — to  wit,  Summer  rape.  This  seed  is  very  apt  to  scour  birds 
a  good  deal  when  used  soon  after  harvesting,  and  requires  to  be  properly  stored 
and  mellowed,  as  it  were,  for  some  months  before  it  is  in  the  best  condition  for 
