140 
Birds and Flowers . 
within a fortnight, the little birds hop up on the 
edge of the nest occasionally, and scutter back as 
if frightened when they see their mamma ap- 
proaching. They also accustom themselves to 
poking their heads through her feathers as she 
sits upon the nest, giving her the odd appearance 
of a little bird with heads everywhere. The 
strongest of the party is also sometimes observed 
on her back. In fact, the Canary nursery is not 
a little obstreperous. 
After a little while the young birds make a 
plunge to the perch, but they still return occa- 
sionally to sleep in their old nest, and the longer 
it is before their mother begins a new one the 
better it is for them. The old nest materials should 
be entirely removed when done with. 
The little birds had better be put into a smaller 
cage, or into at least a separate compartment* 
being always placed in such a way that they can 
see the old birds and be fed by them through the 
wires. These home-hatched little creatures will 
be as tame as possible if you treat them kindly. 
And I advise you always to give all your birds 
names; it makes them so much more interesting, 
as thus you come to remember the good and bad 
deeds of each. 
