Canaries and Nestlings . 
143 
great caution. If you have a cat trained not to 
touch Canaries, yellow or jonquille, you must re- 
member well the difference plumage makes. Puss 
is very likely accustomed to feast on Sparrows, — 
and Goldfinches, and Linnets, and even brown 
Canaries she holds in no respect. Most people 
would say at once cats must not be where birds 
are. But I do not agree to this, because it seems 
to me that mice are still worse enemies, and in my 
own case, at least, I was forced to start a good 
mouser. 
From the very first bright day even in the 
winter, you should try to give your pets the bene- 
fit of all sunshine. As early as February the 
Canaries will begin to pick up stray feathers, and 
perhaps, if they fly about, they will proceed to 
select a lock or two of your hair, as well as pur- 
loining threads, or tufts of wool that they can spy 
out. These are signs of nest-building, and if you 
mean to risk an early brood, you had better put in 
the cage a sort of small wicker basket, hanging it 
rather low, or else providing a shelf "to catch birds 
if they fall ; because when young nestlings are ac- 
tive and want to see the world, they are not unapt 
to topple out of the nest. The old birds, however, 
much prefer high nests, so if you can contrive a 
sufficient ledge, that is best. You may now give 
