34 
ladies' department. 
£aVus IDqmrtnunt 
CHAMBER BIRDS.— No. 3. 
Canaries. — Food and Management of Adult 
Birds. — Except during the breeding season, the 
males may be kept in cages either bell-shaped 
or like those denoted in the cuts below. These 
may be made of wire, or rattan, and should be 
at least a foot high and eight inches in diameter, 
with one or more transverse perches. 
The female is allowed either to have freedom 
in the room with her wings clipped, or is placed 
in a large breeding cage, possessing sufficient 
space to keep her limbs in constant exercise, 
and preserve them in health and strength. 
In the bell-shaped, or smaller cages, wherein 
it must be understood only one male should be 
put, both the eating and drinking vessel must Le 
placed on the outside, at the extremities of the 
lower perch. These should be surrounded by a 
cap of tin, so that the bird may not easily scatter 
its food. Cleanliness will often prevent these 
delicate songsters from suffering many disorders, 
and it is very desirable that the floor of the cage 
should be made moveable, that it may be more 
easily cleansed and strewed with coarse sand. 
Being naturally inhabitants of a warm climate, 
and rendered delicate by constant residence in 
rooms, and so, in a manner habituated to a tem- 
perament similar to that of their own country, 
great care is necessary in winter, in order that the 
same or a similar temperature may be preserved, 
avoiding the exposure to cold air, which, how- 
ever, refreshes in summer, cannot be otherwise 
than prejudicial to them, causing sickness and 
even death. To keep these birds in a healthy 
and happy frame, it is very important to observe 
that, in summer, they must be frequently hung 
in a cage in brilliant daylight, and if possible, 
placed in the warm sunshine, which, especially 
when bathing, is very agreeable to them. 
Canary Bird Cages. — Figs. 17 and 18. 
The most important consideration in the man- 
agement of the Canary is his food. The more 
simple and true to nature this is, the better does 
it agree with hirn ; whereas, when too artificially 
compounded, it renders him sickly and weak. 
The best food is the " summer rape seed," which 
is sown in spring. This is distinguished from the 
" winter rape seed," which is sown in autumn, by 
being larger and of a darker hue. On this diet, 
these birds thrive very well, but it should be 
occasionally intermixed with some crushed 
hemp seed and Canary seed, for the sake of fla- 
voring it ; and this more especially in the spring, 
when they are intended for breeding. As a 
treat, we may occasionally give them a mixture 
of summer cabbage seed, whole oats, or oat meal, 
with millet or some Canary seed. Here, as in 
most other cases, we should strive to imitate 
nature. 
The hen Canaries may likewise be supplied 
with the same kind of food as the males; but in 
winter, they are content with bread, containing 
no salt, or merely barley grots, moistened in 
milk, if given to them fresh every day, without 
being sour. Besides, both males and females 
may be given, in summer, some green lettuce, 
cabbage, groundsel, and water cresses, which 
must be previously washed and cleansed from 
anything prejudicial ; and in winter, they may 
be fed with pieces of sweet apples. They re- 
quire fresh water daily, both for drinking and 
bathing; and at moulting time, a rusty nail 
should be occasionally placed in their drinking 
vessel, as this tends to strengthen the stomach. 
The above-named kinds of food, are for a full- 
grown bird; but the young require different 
nourishment, at least, as long as they need 
parental care. 
As soon as the young are hatched, the old 
birds should be supplied with one fourth of a 
hard-boiled egg, minced very fine, with some 
roll, or bread, containing little or no salt, steeped 
