9 
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INTRODUCTION. 
Those birds whi ^h devour everything thrown to them, must 
be protected against the possibility of having any food given 
to them that contains pepper or much salt, and especially 
against putrid meat. This is a universal rule of precaution. 
It may further be observed, that to birds confined in cages, 
no more must be given than they can eat during the day 
otherwise they will accustom themselves to scatter their food 
out of the vessel, and eat the best first, leaving the worst foi 
subsequent fare; and are consequently to-day well, and 
drooping to-morrow. 
BREEDING. 
There is but little to be said of the breeding of birds in 
confinement, as, in the majority of cases, it is difficult to accom¬ 
plish, excepting in such as can be thoroughly familiarised, 
like Canaries. Of breeding places, there are two kinds, one a 
large cage made of wire or wood, and the other the entire 
range of a room. Both should be dry, airy, and exposed in 
our northern climate to the warmth and light of the sun. It is 
chiefly requisite to supply birds that are to breed with a still, 
solitary, and spacious abode; and it is preferable to give them 
an entire apartment in which evergreens are placed that have 
not lost their leaves. Above all things, it is desirable to make 
this abode as nearly resemble their natural dwelling place as 
possible, that they may be excited to pair. With every care, 
however, to render their breeding place like the natural one, 
it is difficult to supply them with the necessary materials for 
their nests. This deficiency should be supplied by nests arti¬ 
ficially formed of woven cotton, willow, straw, or turned wood, 
into which they will only have to convey appropriate linings; 
for this purpose, they must be supplied with the hair of animals 
and raw silk, cotton, wool, &c. 
Especial care must be taken to furnish the birds with 
requisite food, which partly contributes to fit old ones for 
breeding, and which must also be suited to the varying 
