Our  Canaries 
169 
days  younger  than  the  eldest,  in  consequence  of  which  it  never  gets  a  fair  chance ; 
indeed,  with  all  save  exceptionally  good  parents,  this  young  one  is  crushed  out 
of  existence  by  the  time  it  should  be  starting  to  show  the  quills  of  its  future 
plumage. 
When  removing  the  first  egg  a  dummy  nest  egg  should  be  substituted  for 
it,  which  will  suffice  to  keep  the  hen  broody  in  case  a  day  is  missed  in  laying  the 
clutch.  An  egg  register  should  be  attached  to  every  cage,  and  on  this  should  be 
noted  the  dates  of  the  laying  of  each  egg,  the  date  when  they  are  put  to  be  sat 
on,  and  when  they  should  hatch. 
RE-ARRANGING    BADLY    MADE  NESTS. 
When  the  eggs  are  being  returned  on  the  third  evening,  is  the  opportune 
time  to  interfere  with  any  badly  constructed  nests  and  put  them  in  good  form 
for  their  destined  purpose.  At  this  time  the  hen  is  quite  under  the  influeace 
of  the  incubation  fever,  and  will  resignedly  accept  any  nest  that  is  prepared  for 
her  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases.  A  hot  egg  which  has  been  boiled  for  the  egg 
food  next  morning  makes  an  excellent  nest  moulder  ;  just  set  it  large  end  down- 
wards on  top  of  a  pan  filled  with  cow  hair  and  twist  it  round  and  round  until  the 
hair  is  hollowed  and  smoothed  to  the  requisite  depth,  and  keep  the  depression 
well  centred  in  the  pan  or  box.  A  wooden  nest  moulder,  similar  to  the  one  here 
illustrated,  with  two  different-sized  ends  and  suitable  for  making  nests  for  large 
and  small  breeds,  is  most  useful.  It  should  be  turned  out  of  hard  wood — 
box-wood  is  excellent.    It  can  be  warmed  in  a  cool  oven  sufficiently  for  use. 
MONOGAMY    VERSUS  POLYGAMY. 
The  hen  having  been  duly  set,  the  question  arises  as  to  what  to  do  with 
the  cock.  Opinions  differ  even  among  experienced  breeders  as  to  whether  he 
should  be  left  permanently  with  the  hen  during  the  breeding  season,  or  be 
removed  and  caged  alone,  or  his  services  utilised  to  send  another  hen  to  nest 
whilst  the  first  hen  is  sitting  and  partly  rearing  a  brood.  It  is  really  a  question 
which  is  very  largely  dependent  upon  the  temperament  of  the  individuals 
concerned.  There  are  hens  which  positively  refuse  to  sit  when  the  cock  is  taken 
away,  and  on  the  other  hand  there  are  many  cocks  which  are  too  vicious  and 
mischievous  to  be  allowed  to  remain  with  a  hen  whilst  she  is  sitting.  It  is, 
therefore,  necessary  to  treat  each  pair  according  to  their  known  idiosyncrasies, 
and  either  leave  the  pair  together  or  separate  them  as  may  be  found  necessary. 
In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  hens  will  sit  and  rear  the  young  by  them- 
selves, and  do  the  thing  much  better  than  when  pestered  by  the  presence  of  a 
vigorous  cock  who  is  continually  wanting  the  hen  to  begin  nesting  again  before 
one  brood  is  ready  to  do  for  themselves. 
In  all  cases  where  he  is  removed,  whether  on  account  of  his  mischievous 
propensities  or  in  order  that  he  may  be  mated  with  another  hen,  it  is  essential, 
i-f  the  best  results  are  to  be  obtained,  that  the  cock  be  taken  at  least  out  of  sight, 
Q 
