326 THE YOUNG 
themselves then in roomy cages, and the 
males either in separate cages or all to- 
gether in one large one. Sell off all you 
do not intend to keep as soon as they are 
moulted. It is better to dispose of them 
at a reduced price than to keep them on 
for months in hopes of getting more 
money. 
It is difficult for the amateur to learn 
to distinguish between male and hen in 
young birds. Experience alone can teach 
him this. The song, however, is nearly 
always conclusive, although instances 
are known, though far from frequeut, of 
singing hens. There is, moreover, a dif- 
ferent carriage in the male — he is neater, 
brighter, and bolder. 
When your birds begin to moult, your 
object and your anxiety will bo to get 
them safely through it. Some first-rate 
breeders take little heed of the moulting 
season, and do not alter their usual treat- 
ment, and if a few die they do not bother. 
It is my own impression that birds not 
properly treated duritjg the moult will 
not be so strong during the succeeding 
seaso!i. On the other hand, some people 
coddle their canaries far too much during 
moult. There is a medium in all things. 
Birds are more apt to catch cold at this 
critical time, and if the cold strikes in- 
wards, as the saying is, inflammation and 
death may ensue. 
This fact ought to make us careful to 
keep the cages clear of draughts and free 
from damp. Even the room in which 
they hang should never be damp. The 
cages should be in a warm corner, and as 
warmth quickens the moult and causes it 
to be more perfect, it is a good plan to 
cover all the cage up except the front por- 
tion. 
Do not be unmindful of tlie value of 
fresh air, therefore be careful to have the 
room properly ventilated every day by 
opening the windows at noon. 
As usual, give fresh water daily, and 
for the first week or two a little aperient 
medicine may be put in the water every 
second day, either a small teaspoonful of 
carbonate of magnesia, or a little treacle. 
About the third week of the moult give 
a tonic by placing in the water a medium 
sized iron nail. 
SCIENTIST. 
The food should be much as usual, only 
with the addition of egg and bread 
crumb, and any garden or roadside seeds 
the birds may fancy should be given. Do 
not forget green food, given sparingly. 
The bath should be allowed about twice 
a week. The plan of moulting birds off 
in dark rooms is, in my humble opinion, 
weakening to the system. 
Every boy has heard of cayenne feed- 
ing during moult. It is a plan invented 
several years ago by, I believe, a noted 
breeder, to deepen and enrich the color 
of canaries. The fact that it does so is 
undisputed. Wny it should do so no one 
can rightly explain ; and the qucslion 
whether or not it injures the consi ii ution 
of the bird is a vexed one, so that we 
shall not enter into it. If you mean to 
adot)t the plan, you must get the very 
purest cayenne that can be got. The 
condiment is mixed with soft food, 
especially with egg and biscuit crumb, 
the proportion being one hard-boiled egg- 
mixed with say three small milk biscuits 
well grated, and a large teaspoonful of 
K.N. 
Begin to give this about the age of six 
or seven weeks, when the feathers are 
still in the skin. Do not give very much 
seed at the same time. From one to two 
or more spoonfuls of the K.N. food may 
be given to each bird daily. 
Saffron cake is sometimes given to 
birds during the moulting season, and a 
little syrup of saffron, about a teaspoon- 
ful, might be placed in the drinking 
water occasionally. 
If you wish a bird to be particularly 
fond of you, single one out— a bright, 
smart, saucy male— and put it in a cage 
by itself. It must, of course, be young. 
Feed it yourself and talk much to it, and 
whenever it comes towards you give it a 
tiny bit of some dainty. You will soon 
have it so tame that you may open the 
cage door and let it out. If you take no 
notice of it, it will come by-and-by and 
perch on your shoulder, on which you 
may place some dainty morsel. When it 
retires of its own accord shut the cage 
door, but not before. The great secret of 
taming birds, or winning the affection of 
any animal, is summed up in one sen- 
