Canaries and Nestlings . 
145 
three days, till they have laid three or four. The 
latter plan certainly is best for the little chicks, 
but there is more chance in these cases of the bird 
deserting the nest, and filling it up with wool, 
instead of beginning to sit. A few little green 
branches, such as spruce-fir for instance, are 
sometimes pretty and useful for shading the nest 
from view, and the little head peeping through 
looks prettier than ever, if, as we may conclude, you 
are permitted to look in when you like. Mind you 
make sure, however, that your birds are really tame. 
Some of mine used to seem quite to enjoy being 
visited, and would sit and nibble biscuit out of my 
hand, on their nest. The Canary sits thirteen or 
fourteen days, and then little hideous wretches 
are heard to squeak underneath her, and her 
feathers look rumply because of the small things 
fidgeting. You also observe both parents stand- 
ing beside the nest, peeping in with great interest 
at something you can’t quite see, and if you move 
nearer to see, Mrs. Hen wriggles on and frustrates 
your intention. After a time, however, you espy 
some wretched animals looking all red and blue, 
and if your view is at meal time, they seem to be 
chiefly mouths. 
Feathers come, however, before very long, and 
L 
