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Our  Canaries 
one  with  hens  who  begin  to  want  to  nest  again  about  this  time.  Sometimes 
the  method  of  providing  a  second  nest  box  and  material  will  stop  the  trouble, 
the  hen  paying  attention  to  these  additions  and  leaving  the  young  in  peace. 
In  other  cases  where  it  is  apparently  the  result  of  vice,  we  have  met 
breeders  who  claim  to  have  cured  it  entirely  by  pinning  a  tiny  morsel  of 
raw  lean  beef  or  mutton  on  the  end  of  a  perch,  for  the  hen  to  peck  at— 
a  simple  method  which  (fortunately,  we  would  say),  we  have  not  yet  had 
an  opportunity  of  putting  to  a  practical  test  personally.  Yet  it  should  be 
well  worth  a  trial  when  the  trouble  crops  up. 
PUTTING   ON   A   CLOSED   MARKING  RING. 
1.   Over  the  front  toea.      2.   Over  the  back  toe.      3.   The  ring  in  position. 
AVOIDING    THE  RISK. 
Where  valuable  birds  are  concerned,  however,  it  is  the  best  policy  to 
take  no  risks  whatever  if  one  discovers  the  commencement  of  these  mis- 
chievous habits.  If  a  supply  of  foster  parents  is  available,  the  young  of 
the  better  type  of  bird  should  be  transferred  to  them,  and  their  own 
young  either  distributed  among  other  feeders  to  keep  them  in  readiness  as 
long  as  possible  to  take  over  any  other  good  specimens,  or  the  young  of 
the  feeders  may  be  given  to  the  pair  of  good  birds.  The  latter  plan  is, 
however,  not  greatly  commended,  as  it  is  too  apt  to  provide  the  culprit 
with  the  means  of  continuing  the  habit,  until  she  becomes  confirmed  in 
it,  whereas  if  she  is  given  no  young  and  is  allowed  to  go  to  nest  again, 
there  is  a  very  fair  chance  that  she  will  rear  the  next  brood  without 
showing  such  vicious  propensities. 
When  the  young  brood  exposed  to  this  plucking  habit  are  of  either  of  the 
"annual"  breeds — London  Fancies  or  Lizards — it  is  of  the  utmost  importance 
to  avoid  all  possible  risk  of  plucking;  otherwise  a  promising  brood  may  be 
utterly  ruined  in  a  day  or  two  by  this  habit. 
A  good  supply  of  trusty  feeders  should,  therefore,  be  kept  available  in 
case  their  services  are  required ;  and  as  soon  as  any  sign  of  plucking  becomes 
