JUSTICE TO THE CANARY ! in 
in love as in warfare, is centred in his chosen mistress. He 
picks dainty quarrels with her, to be followed by the tenderest 
caresses, being apparently of the poet’s mind that 
Falling out of faithful friends 
Renewal is of love. 
If she goes in or out of the door he has his little joke of pre- 
tending to escape, though when, on three different occasions, an 
unintentional exit was provided, he scorned to take advantage of 
it. In the society of his dear mistress the feathered Lovelace 
sings, 
Angels alone that soar above enjoy such liberty. 
Twenty people may traverse the corridor to his room, but 
his call-note greets her footsteps alone, and if she has been away 
from home, the ecstacy of delight with which he greets her 
return is lovely to behold. Ad midtos annos, O my Nemo ! 
In conclusion, I would urge all who keep canaries, even if 
they take no pains to draw out their quaint character and in- 
telligence, at least to study their nature sufficiently to enable 
them to provide suitably for the comfort of their pets in the 
matter of housing and food. The cage should be of oblong 
shape, not less than twelve inches in length — -more, indeed, for 
birds that are never let out to fly. The top should be dome 
shaped, with open wirework. Never take a cage with a sheet 
metal or wooden roof, and eschew all painting and gilding. 
The perches should be square with the corners bevelled off, 
and an inch and a-half in circumference; the slender round 
perches in general use produce cramp in the feet, through keep- 
ing them at too great tension, to say nothing of the risk of 
entangling the claws, which often are very long. The vessels 
for seed, whether inside or outside the cage, should be easily 
accessible to the bird ; glasses with a round hole for the head 
are detestable. Boxes hung outside are the best, as there is not 
the disturbance of shy birds caused by putting in the hand, and 
the seed and water are not so liable fouling or waste of seed 
and water. As to diet, I preach variety. Canary seed for 
the staple, but in conjunction with hemp, rape, millet ; and the 
same applies to green food, which may include primrose blos- 
soms, dandelions, chickweed, water-cress, lettuce, shepherd’s 
purse, and seedy grass. Groundsel, much in favour as it is, 
is at any time the least advisable, though many birds are very 
fond of it. To delicate or sickly birds it is positively injurious, 
and should never be given in cold weather. Fruit is a great 
treat to canaries, but should be given in small quantities, and 
never left to decay. A fresh strawberry or cherry is generally 
eaten up, and a bit of pear or apple is occasionally good. 
The taste of birds differs very much — some like one thing, some 
another best ; but if it is worth while to keep a canary it is worth 
while to feed and care for him well, and the result of such care 
