Our  Canaries 
143 
CHAPTER  VII. 
BREEDING. 
A  TIME   FOR  LOVE. 
THE  ides  of  February,  in  the  calendar  of  modern  times,  is  still,  to  a  certain 
extent,  supposed  to  mark  about  the  date  when  little  birds  select  their 
partners  in  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  the  approaching  season  of  nidification,  and 
when,  as  so  often  happens,  we  get  a  few  consecutive  days  of  bright,  mild 
weather  towards  the  middle  of  the  month,  the  feathered  creatures,  utterly 
oblivious  of  the  oracular  wisdom  which  cursed  a  "fair  Februeer"  as  the  bane 
of  all  other  months,  begin  to  chirp  their  love  songs,  and  quickly  arrive  at  a 
mutual  understanding  that  they  should  set  about  their  family  cares  forthwith. 
And  all  too  often  the  inexperienced  owner,  impatient  of  delay,  and  deceived 
by  the  delusive  sunshine,  encourages,  rather  than  deters,  their  ill-timed 
inclinations.  Then,  almost  invariably,  when  a  little  progress  has  been  made, 
there  comes  a  rude  awakening;  a  sudden  change  to  cold  occurs  just  as  the 
birds  are  going  to  nest  ;  or,  maybe,  when  they  have  begun  to  incubate,  or 
hatched  out  young  ;  and,  in  either  case,  the  result  is  disastrous.  The  young 
are  practically  certain  to  die  of  cold ;  the  eggs  to  be  chilled  and  rendered 
sterile  ;  and  the  old  birds  are  frequently  upset,  and  remain  unproductive  for 
the  rest  of  the  season.  Birds  that  are  just  about  laying,  and  especially  if  they 
be  young  hens  who  are  nesting  for  the  first  time,  are  peculiarly  liable  to 
succumb  to  egg-binding  when  a  sudden  change  to  cold  is  experienced, 
AN  UNINVITING  PROSPECT. 
All  this  does  not  make  up  a  very  bright  picture,  yet  it  is  a  fair  average 
description  of  what  occurs  year  after  year  by  young  fanciers  placing  too  much 
trust  in  a  somewhat  lengthy  spell  of  spring-like  weather  in  the  early  part  of 
the  year,  and  mating  their  birds  too  early.  Whatever  the  birds  of  a  past 
generation  might  have  done,  it  is  self-evident  that  their  descendants  in  these 
days  do  not  follow  their  reputed  example  by  choosing  their  mates  on  the 
feast  of  St.  Valentine.  Nevertheless,  there  are  a  few  species  of  hardy  and 
robust  birds  who  brave  the  elements  at  this  inclement  season.  The  denizens 
of  the  rookery  are  the  most  familiar  examples  ;  and  they  may  be  seen  busily 
engaged  in  nesting  operations  by  the  middle  of  February  or  very  soon  after- 
wards. But  the  little  birds — No  ;  they  will  wait  until  a  more  seasonable  time, 
as  a  rule ;  but  their  domestic  brethren,  protected  as  they  are  from  the  adverse 
circumstances  which  influence  the  wild  creatures,  are  ever  ready  to  set  about 
nesting  if  only  a  few  consecutive  fair  days  occur  at  the  beginning  of  the  year. 
Therefore,  the  owner  has  to  exercise  his  better  judgment  to  prevent  them 
getting  to  work  too  early,  unless  he  has  a  properly- fitted  room,  with  a  heating 
