Our  Canaries 
standard.    A  strain  is  only  built  up  after  much  patience.    The  breeder  will 
find  that    even  with  his   best  judgment  the  birds    will   throw  back,  and 
youngsters  of  inferior  quality  will  result ;  but  he  will  not  be  discouraged ; 
perseverance,  and  wise  '  after-selection '  will  in  time  eradicate  defects." 
INFLUENCE  OF  SIRE   AND  DAM. 
In  making  a  selection  for  suit- 
able pairs,  the  breeder  must  never 
overlook  the  part  played  by  either 
sex  in  exerting  an  influence  over 
the  young.  For  general  type  and 
quality  the  female  parent  is  the 
mainstay  for  the  breeder  to  rely 
upon,  whilst  size,  colour  and 
markings  must  be  expected  to  come 
in  greatest  measures  from  the  male 
parent.  The  influence  of  the  male 
over  colour  is  seen  at  its  best  in 
attempts  to  transmit  the  cinnamon 
colour  to  any  variety  in  which  it 
has  not  existed  previously.  It  will 
soon  be  discovered  that  however 
freely  the  cinnamon  colour  may  be 
infused  from  the  female  side  alone, 
it  will  not  be  possible  to  implant  and 
perpetuate  the  cinnamon  colour  on 
the  new  variety  without  the  introduction  through  the  male.  The  same 
principle  is  ever  at  work,  though  less  obviously,  in  all  other  varieties  over  the 
green  and  clear  varieties  of  colour.  It  will  therefore  be  seen  that  when  any 
improvement  in  colour,  or  size,  is  desired  among  one's  stock,  any  fresh 
introduction  with  that  object  in  view  should  be  made  on  the  male  side, 
whereas  the  hen  should  be  looked  to  for  improving  the  general  type  and 
quality. 
CONSIDER    BOTH  SEXES. 
It  will  have  been  gathered  ere  this  that  as  far  as  possible  in  actual 
practice  neither  sex  should  be  neglected,  or  allowed  to  fall  below  a  fair 
standard  of  typical  excellence,  so  that  one  has  to  fight  his  way  to  victory,  as 
it  were,  with  a  single  weapon,  when  two  might  always  be  available.  But 
when  fresh  introductions  are  necessary  for  any  special  purpose,  then,  these 
general  rules  must  be  given  due  consideration  if  the  best  results  are  to  be 
obtained. 
THE  TREATMENT  OF  EGG-BOUND  HENS. 
A  Jug  is  filled  with  very  hot  water,  a  piece  of  light 
material  tied  over  the  mouth,  and  the  hen  held 
over  the  steam  which  percolates  through. 
