Our  Canaries 
173 
hole  in  the  top  large  enough  for  a  Canary's  egg  to  drop  through  with  a  little 
room  to  spare.  Now  drill  a  hole  in  the  bottom  of  an  ordinary  nest-pan  also 
large  enough  for  an  egg  to  drop  through  easily,  so  that  an  egg  laid  in  the 
pan  will  drop  through  the  hole  immediately.  Glue  the  little  box  securely 
underneath  the  nest  pan,  with  the  hole  in  top  neatly  centred  over  the  hole  in 
the  bottom  of  the  nest-pan.  A  layer  of  wadding  or  bran  should  be  placed  in 
the  box  to  lessen  to  the  egg  the  shock  of  dropping.  By  this  means  the  eggs  will 
drop  into  safety  automatically  as  soon 
as  laid.  Of  course,  such  a  hen  can 
never  be  entrusted  with  eggs  for  incuba- 
tion, and  is  only  worth  troubling  with 
when  of  a  good,  well-bred  type  from 
which  it  is  particularly  desired  to  get 
young. 
EGG  BINDING. 
By  far  the  commonest  trouble 
during  the  laying  period  in  all  stocks 
where  there  is  any  flaw  in  the  general 
management  is  eggbinding.  This  dis- 
tressing complaint  demands  very 
prompt  measures  for  its  relief ;  yet 
one  should  not  jump  to  hasty  con- 
clusions if  a  hen  does  not  produce 
an  egg  on  the  exact  morning  it  was 
expected  to  do  so,  and  begin  to  treat 
the  subject  for  a  complaint  which  may 
not  exist.  The  symptoms  presented 
.are  most  pronounced  and  unmistakable; 
therefore,  treatment  never  need  be 
attempted  unnecessarily. 
If  a  hen  does  not  lay  on  the  day  she  is  expected  to  do  so,  and  besides 
appearing  in  good  health  is  fairly  active  and  lively,  do  not  be  tempted  to  touch 
her.  Wait  a  few  hours  or  a  day,  or  even  longer.  In  short,  do  not  meddle 
with  her  until  she  begins  to  show  signs  of  evident  distress.  When  egg-binding 
really  occurs,  the  first  sign  will  be  that  when  the  owner  goes  to  look  in  the  nest 
m  the  morning  the  hen  will  be  found  still  sitting  there,  and  looking  thick, 
ruffled,  and  exhausted,  not  over  anxious  to  be  driven  from  the  nest  and,  perhaps, 
having  the  eyes  half  closed.  If  driven  from  the  nest,  she  will  almost 
immediately  huddle  up  on  the  perch  or  floor  of  the  cage,  and  exhibit  over 
again  the  symptoms  just  described.  This  may  be  regarded  as  a  typical  case, 
.and  as  such  requires  prompt  treatment. 
CUTTING  AN  OVESGHOWN  BEAK. 
Showing  the  method  ol  holding  the  bird. 
