CANARY BREEDING. 
is the eldest of the pair, more male than female birds will be 
produced. To obtain birds of handsome plumage, some atten- 
tion must of course be paid to then* most prominent features ; 
as for instance, a cock and hen each possessing a “ top-knot,” 
will probably produce bald-headed progeny, whereas, if a smooth 
headed bird and one that is crested be mated, the result will be 
satisfactory. Again, if a male whose colour is greenish yellow 
be paired with a female whose plumage is bright yellow, the 
result wd 11 often be a brood of a beautiful cream colour. As a 
preliminary to pairing, the birds should be placed for a few days 
in a small cage that they may get used to each other’s society. 
Some birds fight desperately when so placed together, and in 
almost all instances the hen is the aggressor. She will peck at 
her mate’s head, refuse to let him eat, drive him from perch to 
perch, till the poor fellow is fain to take refuge in any out of 
the way corner into which he can squeeze himself. However, 
the little vixen generally relents after a few hours of this beha- 
viour, and then you may see them seated close together on the 
same perch, even feeding each other. But if you should find 
after a couple of days that the feud still continues, it will be 
better to try another hen. 
The time for pairing depends pretty much on the geniality 
of the season. Sometimes you may commence to pair in March, 
and at others it will be the middle of April before you may 
safely begin. Let it, if possible, be bright sunny weather, and 
let your breeding-cage hang fair in the light and warmth of 
the sun. Having obtained an agreeable male and female, turn 
them in. Tou will be able to discover if they have mated, for 
the cock will bring food to the hen, and feed her as he would a 
young bird. Within eight days you may expect to find in the 
nest a little sea-green egg, streaked with dark red at the larger 
end. Canaries almost invariably lay their eggs from seven to 
nine o’clock in the morning, and the number of eggs they lay 
varies from two to six. 
The time of sitting is thirteen days, during which the hen is 
waited on by her mate with the greatest care and attention. 
After the eggs have been sat upon for seven or eight days, it 
may be as well to examine them. Take them gently between 
your finger and thumb, and hold them before the flame of a 
candle. If they appear quite clear you may as well throw 
them away, as they will never come to anything. If the egg 
be filled with a sort of network of fine red threads, you may rest 
satisfied that a bird will be hatched from it. Hen canaries 
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