CANARY-BIRD. 
I I 9 
The raoft general caufe of ficknefs is too 
abundant or too rich food : when thefe birds 
are made to breed in a cage or clofet, they of- 
ten eat too much, or feledt the fucculent food 
clefigned for the young ; hence the confequen- 
ces are either repletion or inflammation. By 
keeping them in a room this inconvenience is 
in a great meafure prevented ; becaufe being 
among a great number, they hinder one ano- 
ther from eating to excefs. A cock who eats 
for a long time is fure to be beaten by the other 
males ; and the fame is the cafe with the hens : 
thefe quarrels give them exercife, temperance, 
and occupation from neceflity : it is chiefly on 
this account that they are feldom or never fick- 
ly in a chamber during the breeding time ; it is 
only after hatching that infirmities and difeafes 
attack them. The greater part have the pim- 
ple we mentioned above, and afterwards all of 
them are fubjeft to moulting. Some lupport 
pretty well this change of Bate, and do not 
fail to fing a fhort while every day ; but moil 
or them loie their voice, and iome even die. 
hen the hens have attained the age of fix 
or feven years many of them die in moulting ; 
the cocks lupport this lpecies of difeafe more 
eafily, and exifi three or four years longer. 
However, as moulting is a natural effedt rather 
than an accidental difeafe, thefe birds would 
have no need of remedies, or would find fuch 
