Up to the twelfth day the young are almost destitute of feathers, and need the warmth of their mother's wing; and it is sometimes the case, especially in cold, dry seasons, that they never become properly fledged. The growth of the feathers is sometimes promoted by a bath of lukewarm water.

After the thirtieth day, they are able to feed themselves, and begin to twitter, and when a month old, may be taken from the parent birds and confined in separate cages, which it is advisable to hang at some distance from one another.

The sooner the little birds will wash, the better for them, and their cage should never be without green food - chickweed or water-cresses. A hard-boiled egg, white and yelk finely chopped, is useful for these little things. It must be constantly fresh.

A rather novel and exceedingly useful remedy is a little strongish tea, when the birds seem sickly. If left in their cage with fresh water also, they can take it or not, as their instinct leads them, and when they are weakly, or liable to cold, it often is good for them.

The more soft sunshine they can have, the better; but do not leave them to be almost baked in a hot sun. There should always be a shaded place in the cage; not a dark cloth over it, but a branch or two of some tree, making a trembling shadow. They thrive best with the food of wild birds, such as thistle-seed, plantain, chickweed, and perhaps more important than all, some insects ; ants' eggs are good, and are found in their hills; but aphides and most insects are welcome. I doubt if young birds can eat too much. The chief danger is their not getting enough food.

The little birds moult at a very early age, almost before they can fly. Extra warmth, extra food, and extra quiet are at this time necessary. If they survive September, it may fairly be hoped they will do well.

"Wonderfully tame these little pets grow. I have one who follows my hand about the side of a large cage, just like a little dog, nestling up against it, and putting its little claw out through the wires to take hold of my fingers; and as to Bully and Bobby, it is laughable to see how they sidle and bow, and fluff out their fine plumes, and go edging along as long as any one will talk to them. One of the prettiest sights is a little bird requesting to be fed ; it looks so pretty, fluttering its wings and putting up its head." Crack a hempseed and present it on the end of a finger, and the entreaty of the little fellow for "more" reminds us of Oliver Twist. When the young are from twelve to fourteen days old, the hen begins to prepare for a second brood, builds a new nest, and has often laid her eggs before the former brood are fully fledged; the male taking care of the first brood. When a male has been paired, in the manner before mentioned, with two females, one of which dies before her eggs are hatched, the other will receive them into her nest, sit on them till they are hatched, and treat the young birds with as much attention as her own, proving a good step-mother.