It would be hard to find a girl who is not fond of these charming pets, or who does not delight in caring for them. Most of them are procured from bird-stores, where they have been imported; but there is nothing so very difficult in rearing and taming them. They are so hardy, docile, intelligent, and affectionate, and their capacity for imitation is so large, that there is no reason why they should not be more commonly bred and trained. They are especially fitted for house-pets, - social, little winged joys, receiving and giving pleasure, which they express in song.

Originally from the Canary Isles, they have won their way to every land. We find them of many varieties, according to color and size. But we will pay no attention to the names Jonquil, Mealy, and Cinnamon, but simply look for healthy birds and good singers. We will even look farther than this, - for the capacity of being tamed. To have a little bright bit of bird-life nestling to sleep on one's shoulder, or feeding from one's lips, is better than to have its song alone.

The long and short birds paired produce the best young. But we wish first to have our birds for some time, and become familiar with their ways. The ordinary wire cage is too common an article to need description. It should be kept scrupulously clean by frequent scaldings, and the brown paper and gravel at the bottom be changed daily. Or you may buy gravelled paper at bird-stores. See that the bird has fresh water every morning (in summer twice a day is best), also that its seed-cup is always filled, and water-bath at hand. If this is done as soon as breakfast is over, the songster will come to look for attendance regularly. The daily food should be two-thirds canary-seed with a third of rape-seed, a little sugar occasionally as a reward while you are taming it, a piece of stale bread twice a week, and once in a while a bit of sweet apple, a salad-leaf, chickweed, or celery-top. To give it rich cake or cooked food is to insure an early death. A piece of a hard-boiled egg, or a baked potato, is relished as a tidbit, and can do no harm. But the plainer they live the better. They digest quickly, and so eat often. See that mice cannot get to the seed: a glass jar with cover is its safest receptacle.

They may be paired early in March, but first hang the birds near each other, in separate cages. It is best to have both of good strong strains, not related, and not of the same color. The breeding-cage ought to be larger than their usual homes, if possible with a sliding-board over the bottom. After the whole is thoroughly scalded, to keep out vermin, this may be thickly spread with gravel, and the birds introduced to their future domicile, which is to be securely placed in some quiet room where the sun shines, and out of strong currents of air. An even but not very warm temperature is desirable.

Having done all this, your couple may continue to insist upon quarrelling: if so, you have only to"try, try again,"each with another mate. When they do settle down to housekeeping, you will observe their mutual affectionate attentions, and domestic chatterings.

Then you must introduce the nest (of woven wire, from the bird-stores), which ought to be securely fastened in one corner, and shaded by a cloth or paper, after having been lined with cotton-flannel. If successful, in a few days you will find a tiny egg, sea-green in color, at the bottom, and then another, till five or six have been laid. The male is usually very attentive to his wife, and their domestic life is often lovely to behold. As she broods the eggs, he feeds her, meanwhile chirping low and sweet. All this time they need a little hemp-seed, and crushed boiled egg, in addition to their usual food.

On the fourteenth day the young pick their shells, and the anxiety of their parents is very manifest. A saucer of stale grated bread, mixed with crushed rape-seed and the yolk of hard-boiled egg, moistened with water, and always fresh, is now to be kept where the little ones can be continually fed. The male does his duty like a man, and is eager to give his wife and little ones all they can swallow. These grow as fast as they eat; and, when a month old, the parents will rear another brood, if their young are removed to a smaller cage; and still another, after the second brood.

These little ones have been taught to eat, drink, wash, and sing; and now we can begin to tame them. We will commence by extreme gentleness and slowness in all our movements about their cage, by talking to them, and accustoming them to our presence. After they once get the taste of sugar, hold a lump in your fingers between the wires, gently talking to them meanwhile. If you have the hard heart to do so, starve them an hour at a time, and then hold out seed and sugar. There must be no quick, jerky movements, and no attempt to catch the nervous little creature, or it will lose confidence in you, and become wilder than before. With perseverance, and a quiet watchfulness of the temper and spirit of the bird, you can establish in a short time a genuine comradeship; so that it will know your voice, chirp a low, loving welcome when you come, and even fly to meet you at the door. It will plume its feathers, and go to sleep upon your shoulder, drink from your spoon, and be in all ways the dearest of pets, even learning to perform any number of tricks which your ingenuity can invent, or its quick wit devise.

If a bird of mature growth comes into your hands, a longer course of similar treatment will eventually win its confidence. The starving system may be necessary, or even a small drop of oil of anise applied to the nostril, which stupefies the canary, and softens its wildness, without harm. When tame, they may be allowed the freedom of the house, excepting during the pairing-season.

Canaries are liable to few diseases : if attacked, but little can be done, save to keep them warm, and feed simply. The moulting-season is their most dangerous period. Give a variety of food. Put a bit of saffron, or a piece of rusty iron, in the drinking-cup. After the young bird has passed its first moulting-season, begin to train it gradually. There is no end to the number of things it may be taught. It will swing on your finger or a fork, clasping the tines with its claws; will ride"up - stairs, down stairs, and in my lady's chamber,"perched on your finger or shoulder; and, in fact, will itself undertake new tricks of its own. They make the most satisfactory addition you can desire to a window filled with plants in winter, singing their happiness at the noble forests in which they are free to wander. Once in the possession of such an exhaustless source of delight, you will never again consent to keep a wild bird. If you can then bring yourself to part with your winsome, coquettish birdlings, they will command from five to ten dollars each from private buyers in any city.