When the little fellow is hungry he will be
glad to go back, especially if he sees there a bit of food that he
likes. In time he will even learn to fly to the outstretched finger of
his master or mistress, and to answer, as well as he can, the caressing
tones which he loves.
A canary is one of the most sensitive creatures in the world. A harsh or
sudden noise disturbs it, and a severe fright may kill it.
Canaries like the sunshine and dread the cold, but they should not be
left in the sun in warm weather. Do not hang the cage in a draught or
away from the light. It should be about five feet from the floor and not
too near a register or radiator.
Once a month the cage must be thoroughly washed and the perches scalded,
if you wish your bird's home to be healthful. The floor and perches will
also need cleaning every day. Coarse sand should be sprinkled on the
thick, brown paper which covers the bottom of the cage. At night put the
cage in a dark room or spread over it a square of soft, dark material,
in such a way that the air is not shut out.
The ordinary bath-tub provided for a canary is much too small. Mrs.
Olive Thorne Miller says that it should be nearly as wide as the spread
of his wings, so that he can beat the water and toss it over him in a
spray.
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