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Manuscript, Archives,
and Rare Book Library
EMORY UNIVERSITY
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[Issue.
of all our
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389.
but I
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REMEDY FOR COUGHS, '
HOARSENESS AND THROAT TROUBLES.
" Keatings Cough Lozenges " are sold everywhere, in Tins, 1 /1J and
2/9 each, Free by Post, 15 Stamps.
PERFECTLY
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Insist on having BORWICK'S,
which is FRE^i from Alum, and
the Best that Money can buy.
Eleventh^
Routledge's Railway Library Advertiser.
[Issue.
^OBK IS OUR LIFE.
" "Show me what you can do, and I will show you what you are."
Lord Stanley (now Earl of Derby), in an address to tbe Students of Glasgow, said:
" As "Work is our Life, show me what you can do, and I will show you what you are."
"WHO ARE THE HAPPY, WHO ARE THE FREE?
YOU TELL ME, AND I'LL TELL THEE.
Those who have toDgues that never lie,
Truth on the lip, truth in the eye,
To Friend or to Foe,
To all above, and to all below ;
THESE ARE THE HAPPY, THESE ARE THE FREE,
SO MAY IT BE WITH THEE AND ME."
What higher aim can man attain than conquest
over human pain ?
fARAWING AN OVERDRAFT ON THE
BARK OF LIFE,—Late Hours, Fagged,
Unnatural Excitement, Breathing Impure Air,
too Rich Food, Alcoholic Drink, Gouty, Rheu¬
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Colds, Influenza, Sleeplessness, Biliousness, Sick
Headache, Skin Eruptions, Pimples on the Face,
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Use ENO'S " FRUIT SALT."
It is Pleasant, Cooling, Health-giving, Refresh¬
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EVERY TRA VELLING TRUNK & HOUSEHOLD OUGHT to CONTAIN a BOTTLE of
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" FRUIT SALT " prevents and removes diarrhcea in the early stages. Without such a
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mHE SECRET OF SUCCESS-STERLING HONESTY OF PURPOSE, WITHOUT IT
A LIFE IS A SHAM!—"A new invention is brought before the public, and commands
success. A score of abominable imitations are immediately introduced by the unscrupulous,
who, in copying the original closely enough to deceive the public, and yet not so exactly as
to infringe upon legal rights, exercise an ingenuity that, employed in an original channel,
could not fail to.seeure reputation and profit."—Adams. x
AIITION —Examine each Bottle, and see that the Capsule is marked ENO'S "FRUIT
a x\s«« SALT." Without it you have been imposed on by a worthless imitation.
Prepared only at Eno's " Fruit Salt" Works, Hatcham, London, S.E., by J. C. Eno.
Eleventh]
Routledge's^WfWJftfLiui apy AUvtir'llijf^T
[Issue.
FOE
INFANTS
AND
INVALIDS.
'* Wooo's Hotel,
"Grahamstown, S. Africa,
•' 1st Dec., 1890.
" g. Mellin, Esq.
•* Dear Sir,—I have much
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photo of my little son, who
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would not do, he had to
have it again, and still lives
on it.
" Yours truly,
" J. T. Morris."
rffffyyfyyfyttfff
MELLIN'S
FOOD
BISCUITS.
(Manufactured by Carr
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for G. MELLIN.)
DIGESTIVE,
NOURISHING,
SUSTAINING.
For Children after
Weaning, the Aged,
Dyspeptic, and for all
■who require a simple,
nutritious, and sus¬
taining Food.
Price 2/- 4" 3/6 ptrTin.
MELLIN'S EMULSION
OF COD LIVER OIL AND HYPOPHOSPHITES.
The Finest Nutritive and Tonic Focdfor Delicate Children and Weakly Adults.
VERY PALATABLE. EASILY DIGESTED. PERFECTLY SAFE.
Price 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. per Bottle.
Samples, Pamphlet, and Prospectus Post Pree on Application to
G. MELLIN, Marlboro' Works, Peckham, London, S.E.
100,000, S. & B„ 1/5/93.
THE CANARY:
ITS
Management, Habits, Breeding,
and Training,
WITH
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING SHOW-BIRDS.
BY
GEORGE J. BARNESBY.
X / --.A
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, Limited.
BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL
MANCHESTER AND NEW YORK.
LONDON :
PRINTED BY A. BRADLEY, LONDON AND COUNTY WORKS,
DRURY LANE, W.C.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
THE CANARY I
MOULTING OF CANARIES 6
BIRD EXHIBITIONS 12
ADVICE TO EXHIBITORS 16
HINTS TO SECRETARIES AND COMMITTEES . . . . 17
THE APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF JUDGES . . .20
CLEAR NORWICH CANARIES 2J
TICKED OR UNEVEN MARKED NORWICH CANARIES . -25
EVEN OR BEST MARKED NORWICH CANARIES . . .26
CRESTED NORWICH CANARIES 2~J
CLEAR BELGIAN CANARIES 29
TICKED OR UNEVEN MARKED BELGIAN CANARIES . . 31
EVEN OR BEST MARKED BELGIAN CANARIES . . . 31
THE LONDON FANCY CANARIES 32
LIZARD CANARIES 34
MANCHESTER COPPY CANARIES 36
SCOTCH FANCY CANARIES 38
YORKSHIRE FANCY CANARIES 39
CINNAMON CANARIES 41
ARTIFICIAL COLOURING 69
A FEW HINTS TO BREEDERS AND BIRD KEEPERS . . 7.1
MULES, HYBRIDS, AND MULE BREEDING . . . .75
THE CANARY.
Fringilla Canaria. Linn.—Serin de Canarie. Buff.—Der
Canarienvogel. Beck.
Description.—Much has been written concerning the
Canary, which is kept and reared throughout England and
the whole of Europe, and even in America, Russia, and
Siberia. The uninitiated are not aware of the extent to which
the Canary is bred and cultivated throughout this country.
This bird is stated to be a native of the Canary Islands,
where it breeds on the banks of small streams in the plea-
2
THE CAtfABY.
sant valleys of those delightful islands. It has been known
in Europe since the commencement of the sixteenth century.
The arrival of this bird is thus explained :—A ship, which,
in addition to other merchandise, had a multitude of Canaries
on board that were consigned to Leghorn, was wrecked on
the coast of Italy, and the birds which thereby obtained
their liberty, flew to the nearest land. This happened to be
Elba, where they found so propitious a climate that they
multiplied without the intervention of man, and would pro¬
bably have naturalised themselves had not the wish to pos¬
sess them been so great as to occasion their being hunted
after till they were entirely extirpated. In Italy, therefore,
we find the first tame Canaries, and they are still reared
there in great multitudes. At first their rearing was at¬
tended with considerable difficulty, partly because the mode
of treating these delicate strangers was not sufficiently under¬
stood, and partly because the males chiefly, and not the
females, were brought to Europe. There is much difference
in appearance of plumage compared to that of the birds said
to be of the original stock. Darwin's supposed natural law
of selection, climate, domestication, and food, may have
tended to bring forth specimens now so different in colour
to the Canary of past ages. The birds, subsequent to their
domestication in Belgium, Germany, and England, it is
asserted, threw up small patches of lighter or yellow feathers,
and the breeders, by carefully matching those birds that
bore the largest number, succeeded in obtaining bright and
uniform colour more resembling those of the present date.
Their original colour was that of grey merging into green
beneath, almost resembling the colours of the Linnet, which,
by the above means and intermixture with other birds (in
Italy with the Citril and Serin, in Germany with the Linnet,
Greenfinch, and Siskin), has become so multifarious that
Canaries may be met with of various colours, individually
13B CANARY.
3
Been in every degree of shade or combination, and thus pre¬
senting innumerable differences. Those which, like thf
Linnet, are blackish grey, or greyish brown above and green¬
ish yellow beneath, more like a Greenfinch, are the strongest,
and approach the most closely to the original colour of
their progenitors. Were it not fully proved that the Canary
birds were natives of the Fortunate Islands, we might attri¬
bute their origin to the Serin and Siskin, or to the Linnet,
Greenfinch, and Citril. Birds of the two first specieshave been
seen bearing exact resemblance to that variety of the Canary
called the Green. As to the direct origin of the various
specimens of some of our choicest breeds—for instance, the
appearauce of the Lizard, London Fancy, Cinnamon, and
others—nothing positive can be arrived at. That such
have been bred before the memory of the " oldest inhabi¬
tant " of our present generation, and, further, that the breeds
existed in past ages, there are printed records to prove. In
a work dated 1709, as many as twenty-eight varieties are
mentioned, comprising nearly all those known at the present
period. It is thus far satisfactory to know their original
colour. How the changes in some have been effected,
there can be no possible means of ascertaining more than
above stated. There is no doubt that in selecting and match'
ing, much has been achieved in the way of improving the
many beautiful varieties I shall presently have to describe.
I will here allude to the Belgian Canary, concerning
which less has been known or spoken of until late years.
That the breed is a foreign importation is well known, but
as to its origin, nothing more can be ascertained than that
they have been bred in Germany, France, and Holland, and
imported into this country at very high prices. Their cost
depends upon the colour and form of the bird. That "selec¬
tion " has been studied, by pairing and breeding together those
of tho greatest length, until varieties were at last found
4
THE CAHAItY.
to be possessed of the form peculiar to the "Belgian," is
natural to suppose- That there is ground for arriving
at this conclusion is founded on the fact that there are
fanciers who have educated themselves to at length per¬
ceive a beauty in something approaching distortion, and
an excellence in deformity. I will illustrate my mean¬
ing by quoting a few practical examples. " A certain
variety of cow is found to possess a long horn. Every
effort is made to increase and propagate this peculiarity,
until cows are produced whose horns are so long and un¬
wieldy that they can feed only from specially constructed
troughs; or, if these long-growing, artificially produced
horns take a curved direction inwards, they grow through
the cheeks of the poor creatures whom the caprice of men
has invested with such extravagance. Others take an oppo¬
site course, and cause them to be born without this
graceful appendage, and to go through the world harmless
and defenceless. Look, again, at poultry. The Spanish
fowl, characterised by a white cheek, is produced until it
comes to be formed of a series of tough wrinkles of bleached
skin, which encroaches upon the eyelids, and so practically
to blind the bird ; and this is considered by the 'fancy ' as
a beauty. The short beak of the Almond Tumbler is made
so short that the poor bird is rendered somewhat dependent
upon man for its subsistence, the organ provided by nature
for the picking up of its food having been shortened until it
almost becomes incapable of fulfilling its functions. Again,
the small foot of the Chinese, and the flat head of some
Indian tribes, are other instances which are considered
beauties to those whose tastes have been perverted by early
associations ; and birds also, which are apparently deformed
(for example, the Belgians), and appear ugly and painful to
most who look at them at a show, are, notwithstanding, con-
sidered ' the pets of the fancy.' The especial excellence
THE CANARY.
5
consists in their length, the curvature of the upper portions
of the spine, and in their ability to assume a certain height
by the straightening of the lower (tarsal) joints of the legs."
The Canary in size resembles that of the Linnet, being
about five inches long, excepting the Clear Belgian, Manchester
Coppy, Scotch Fancy, and Yorkshire, the three former breeds
being much longer. The beaks are generally whitish (except
the Lizard's, which is black), stout, and sharply pointed.
The legs are mostly flesh-coloured. Here, again, the legs of
the Lizard should be black ; the legs of variegated birds are
sometimes dark. In some instances the females can scarcely
be distinguished from the males, but the latter have generally
deeper and brighter plumage, being more fierce about the eye,
and brighter and smarter in shape tlnoughout the body. The
temples and space about the eyes are always of a brighter
colour. Males are easily known by breeders of experience,
although there are cases when bird-keepers of great practice
may be mistaken in deciding the sex of birds.
If you prefer a Canary songster—one to please the eye
and ear—either a Norwich or a Yorkshire bred bird will
be suitable, if it has been well tutored. The Norwich are
not so long as the Yorkshire in shape, but much deeper in
colour. Neither of these birds are equal to the German
song-birds as regards sweetness, continuity, and change of
notes, but have the advantage of being longer lived, and
will afford ample harmony for an ordinary taste. Unfor¬
tunately the German birds are generally very inferior in
plumage, and on an average not one in a dozen will, in this
country, live beyond a year. "When brought to England
they are stimulated and fed high for the purpose of exciting
to a freedom of song, and when sold and passed into the
hands of others, they are generally kept on the ordinary
diet of Canaries, when, if they do not fall off in song, the
moulting season affects them, and they often either discon-
6
THE CAKART.
tinue singing or die off. Many breeders purchase German
songsters for the purpose of learning youug birds to partako
of their notes. Such birds maybe bought at prices ranging
from 6s. to 25s. each. To keep song-birds in good con¬
dition they should not be pampered with sugar and other
sweets, or have a too free supply of hemp-seed, which feeds
them fat and gross. Clean water daily, fresh grit sand
once a week, and good sound Canary-seed, with an occa¬
sional treat of a mixture of hemp, flax, scalded rape-seed,
and now and then a few groats and a little maw-seed, and
also a sprig of either groundsel, plantain, or water-cress, is
conducive to good health, and these, with a little of the
German paste, will be sufficient to keep birds in good con¬
dition. Of course this diet must not always be given, but
■{hanged. If you wish birds to become familiar they should
neither be teased nor frightened, but now and then have
given to them a little crushed biscuit, or a small portion of
egg or light egg-pudding in the way of a treat. It is
astonishing what can be effected in the way of training
birds, when only one or two are kept, and there is plenty
of time and patience to devote.
MOULTING OF CANARIES.
To prove what high feeding and treatment effects, we
have evident facts respecting the horse, beasts, sheep, dogs,
poultry, and other animals. As an example, see what an
improvement is made in the appearance of their coats and
plumage by attention. Epictetus says of the sheep—
" Eor as the sheep do not give up again the grass they have
eaten to show how well they are fed, but prove the good¬
ness of the pasture and their own case, by concocting their
meat well, and bringing a large fleece, so must you approve
THE CANARY. y
the excellence of your doctrines to the world, not by dis¬
putes and plausible harangues, but by digesting them into
practice." So it is with Nature throughout. All living
things were sent for man's use, for him to exercise his skill
and knowledge, and to improve upon. In treating and
feeding birds during moulting every attention must be paid.
At about the age of nine or ten weeks, young birds com¬
mence to moult, and the time occupied in passing through
this sickness lasts about eight or nine weeks. Some moult
more freely than others. If matters proceed satisfactorily,
the period from the chipping of a bird until it is clean
moulted or fine, extends to about sixteen or eighteen weeks.
The early hatched are generally a week or so longer than
others before they begin to moult. The latest hatched
moult the quickest; for, being bred at a time when the
season of the year is most sultry (July), and reaching the
age of eight weeks in September, when an autumnal change
affects the birds' system, >his causes them to cast more
rapidly than earlier hatched birds. "When a Norwich bird
is seven or eight weeks old, it should be put in the moult-
ing-cage or place assigned for them, and the marigold
flowers given for them to peck or eat. Many breeders
have the advantage of special moulting-cages or snug
corners free from draughts for their young stock, and,
as the birds attain the age I have mentioned, keep putting
them in, only do not allow them to become too numerous
in their respective places if they are not sufficiently spacious
or adapted. Perhaps at the commencement they will refuse
to eat the flowers and waste many; this cannot be avoided,
and does not matter, so that, by keeping them supplied, and
being somewhat spare with the seed, you are learning them
to eat the marigolds. At this period you have no cover
over the cage to darken it, but, having one ready, you begin
at first to partly suspend it over the cage-front; for, were
THE CANABY.
you to place the birds in almost total darkness at the begin¬
ning, very possibly they would, not be able to find food. As
you perceive the birds becoming more fond of the flowers,
so increase the covering over of the cage until you place
your birds in a state of semi-darkness. During the moult
supply no other but Canary- seed, and no green food what¬
ever, or you will counteract the food they will have to
partake of—viz., Canary-seed, marigold flowers, and saffron-
cake and solution. A piece of suet now and then may be
placed betwixt the wires, or a little linseed given (if they
will eat it), which will make up for all deficiency in not
supplying them with hemp-seed at this time, which is a
most injurious food for the stomach of a young tender bird.
Too much hemp-seed at any age I have found has a too
softening tendency: it does very well at breeding time for
the old birds, and has a stimulating effect. Rape-seed
should not be given to young birds during the moult; it is
too drastic, and a free supply will often affect older Canaries.
It should always be scalded before given. As a general
rule, I advise these matters. There may be exceptions, and
possibly Mr. So-and-so's birds may have done well, but my
long experience practically, and the experience of numerous
others, who think as I do, is proof that a too heating,
oleaginous diet, will cause more young birds to become soft
or disorganised in their bowels than when kept on good
sound Canary-seed.
Common sense ought to convince one that sound Canary-
seed, which supports both bone and muscle and keeps the
feathers hard, is better than a free use of hemp, which tends
to loosen or relax the system, and encourages a gross fat¬
ness. During moulting, when beetroot or carrot is suffi¬
ciently grown, you may cut slices, and, after scoring them
both ways with a knife, give them to your birds in the raw
state. When the birds have become more familiar to the
THE CANaIIT.
9
darkish state of the place or cage, draw the cover entirely
over the front, for it is necessary that they be kept in this
state during the growing of the feathers, it also keeps
the birds more steady, with less liability to damage their
new feathers. During this period of feeding in the dark,
birds become sufficiently plump and fat. Supply fresh
marigold flowers two or three times daily, and do not omit
to continue them as often as I have named throughout the
moult, and even after they have done moulting; and, as
long as marigold flowers can be obtained, persevere to the
utmost by feeding with them. At the finish of the moult
the flowers are as necessary as at the commencement, for it
is often this persevering finishing touch that will decide
between two birds when they come before the eyes of a
judge. Do not give your birds any of the green leaves of
the marigold—nothing but the actual heads or flowers. To
have a good supply you should grow successive crops. Sow
one bed in March, and another early in June; for the latter
sown will supply you when the first flowers are gone, and
it is most essential you should have them as late in the
season as possible to treat the later hatched young. Be
sure your cover is well tied or drawn over the entire front
of the moulting-place, for it is necessary to keep draughts
of cold air from the birds, and also to prevent the light
getting in. Give your birds during moulting strong saffron
solution, and a solution of cochineal only to drink, and so
supply it that they cannot wash in it. They are both harm¬
less, but necessary in assisting to improve and striking out
well the rich orange-tinted feathers so desired and satis¬
factory to the eyes of a breeder and exhibitor of Norwich
birds. Let the cover over your cages be of a close stout
texture; a thin open one is bad. Do not use paper, unless
you wish to alarm or disturb your birds every time you look
at them; the birds make holes in it, and it is ill adapted for
10
THE CAHAUY.
the purpose. Besides the cover over the cages, draw a
blind over the window to keep out the power of the sun.
In a cage eighteen inches square, two birds can bft
moulted together, if they will agree. Some are very pugna¬
cious. Sort out the best shaped, or most likely-looking
male birds for moulting for exhibition. If you are possessed
with a large fly, or spare room, numerous birds can be
moulted together. In that case you must darken as much as
possible the window or sky-light. I have moulted as many as
fifty and upwards at one time, with much advantage, and
without them pecking or damaging one another during the
casting of their feathers. If kept dark, they cannot see to
peck each other's shoulder-feathers, as they frequently will
when together in a light place. If a bird once draws blood
from another in the quill or shoulder-feathers, it is better
to remove the injured one at once, or others will learn the
bad habit, and cause much annoyance. Lizards, Cinnamons,
and Crested birds can be moulted together in a fly very well
in the dark, and for the sake of keeping the plumage in
good order, occasionally supply a bath. The one I use is
large, and two and a half inches deep, into which ten or a
dozen birds can tumble at once. This I place on a wire
stand of about the same height. When the birds have
bathed, take away the bath, and let them have only the
solutions. The cake with which you must feed the birds
during moulting, can be made by beating well in a basin
three or four eggs, to which afterwards add three penny¬
worth of saffron made into a solution with about half a
wine glass of soft water; in another basin beat up a
quarter of a pound of butter, to which add the same quan¬
tity of moist sugar. Put all together in one basin, and add
about a quarter of a pound of flour. Before you place it in
the baking-dish supply a teaspoonful of the baking-powder,
and grease your dish. The cake will keep for many days,
THE CANABY.
11
if not where it is too damp. "With this also feed your
birds during moult. London Fancy birds are generally
moulted in box cages, and they too are kept well closed
down. The above cake may be supplied to them, or they
can be fed on the yolk of egg and savoy cake, without
which their appearance is not much improved. The moult¬
ing or box-cages have glass slides, and when the birds are
first placed in them the slides should be partly opened. A
graduated system with them, as with the Norwich, is at
first adopted until the slides are entirely closed. To obtain
first-class moulted London Fancy birds much attention is
required, or the birds are not what are termed clean moulted,
and they present many small dark ticks in their body
feathers. The greater the attention the more you will meet
with success. The Belgian breed of Canary requires very
different attention. They can either be moulted in parti¬
tions or in cages. With this breed colour is not so much
an object as position, although the higher the colour with
the position also the better they are. It is not necessary
to feed on the marigold flowers, although some of the
saffron-cake, mixed with crushed biscuit, to which can be
added a few drops of port or sherry wine, forms, in addition
to Canary and millet seed, a good diet. Their cages should
be covered with a cloth to keep them free from cold air or
draught. No green food or hemp-seed should be given, and
keep a piece of suet for them betwixt the wires. A bath
may occasionally be given, and so fix their perches that
they will be able to easily reach them after the bath. A
little bread soaked in cold water and afterwards squeezed
out, with a few drops of cod liver oil added, and now and
then some maw-seed and groats, will assist them much
during the moulting sickness. A little of the best pale
sherry at times blown over them with the mouth in a dewy
qloud tends to get thena well up and improve their stand.
12
tub c ana by.
It is rarely tliese birds require handling even when' being
removed from one cage to another. A few lessons during
the age of six or seven weeks, by directing or driving, or, as
the fancy term it, "running them out," for the purpose of
showing true Belgian form, soon brings them into the habit
of leaving one cage for another. This tutoring is effected
by the aid of a small wand or thin cane used when the wire
show-cage is placed against another, which the birds are
required to leave. A slight additional length may be ob¬
tained by drawing out their longer flights and tail nestling
feathers, but this should not be done within six weeks at
least of exhibiting them for show. The most ready way is
to hold the bird back downwards in your left hand, and
securely pressing the last joint of the wing between the left
thumb and finger, with the right you draw the feathers.
The most ready way of extracting the tail is, after you have
caught the birds, open the cage-door, and showing or hold¬
ing it on the front of the door place, a slight jerk will cause
the birds to fly and " leave their tails behind them " betwixt
your right thumb and finger. Aged birds have sometimes
great difficulty in casting their outermost flight feathers;
in this case it is necessary that they be drawn. Belgian
birds in particular lose confidence in their stand by the
nails becoming too long or sickle shaped, and which should
be carefully cut. Supply your birds well with grit-sand, to
which add occasionally some old crushed mortar and chalk,
also now and then a small piece of salt. They will not eat
more of the latter than wili do them good.
BIRD EXHIBITIONS.
During the past fourteen or fifteen years, exhibitions of
birds on an extensive scale have been held in various parts
THE CAHAB*.
IS
of England. Previous to that time they were of somewhat
uncommon occurrence, the shows generally being conducted
in a close manner, by a few individuals, at public-houses,
thus preventing their beauty and song being appreciated
by the general public. Birmingham and Nottingham were
among the foremost towns where these shows were publicly
held, followed in quick succession by exhibitions taking
place at the Crystal Palace, Southampton, Derby, Oldham,
Gloucester, Norwich, Brighton, Plymouth, and afterwards
Hanley, Sunderland, Middlesborough, Newcastle, Ipswich,
York, Northampton, Leeds, Stockton, Berwick on Tweed,
Lowestoft, Sheffield, Leicester, Burton on Trent, Leek,
Macclesfield, Whitehaven, and numerous other towns, until
they have extended throughout England. Bird exhibitions
have also been held in many parts of Scotland, and also in
Ireland. In the year 1857, an All-England show of cage-
birds was held at Nottingham, and I was so satisfied with
the entire arrangements, that I ventilated the matter in The
Meld, dated March 28:—
" Canaby Beeeding and Poultby Societies.
"Sib.—Being a constant reader of your valuable journal, I have with
much pleasure noticed the remarks on Canaries. With respect to those
beautiful melodists forming a distinct part in poultry shows, I can only
say a more interesting sight was never witnessed than at the Notting¬
ham Exhibition. Were they (the birds) paid more attention to than
they are, they would not only tend to make home more cheerful, but
would, in my opinion, be a great acquisition to poultry societies. If
distinct classes for Canaries were set apart, I feel sure it would assist in
supporting societies, as the number of entries at the late Nottingham
show will prove. No expense is incurred in providing cages, for the
birds are sent to the exhibition by the owners in cages (mostly new for
the occasion), which have only to be arranged on stages provided. It
was the general remark at the Nottingham Poultry Show that nothing
exceeded this (the Canary) department in beauty and interest. The
centre of the room was tastefully arranged with evergreens, which were
Interspersed with crowns and banners, surrounding which ran tiers of
B
THE CANARY
covered shelves for the numerous cages. A good passage for the visitor!
being left, they were enabled to examine and admire each of the birds,
and feast their sight and curiosity on the tiny warblers. To breeders
especially it was a " rich and rare" sight to witness so many truly
beautiful bred birds. Being myself a Canary breeder, I may, perhaps,
take more interest in the subject than others; but it is my firm convic¬
tion that, if a separate department was made in Poultry Societies for
Canaries, and if breeding them was more generally entered into, societies
would flourish better, and it would tend to cultivate the minds of those
who take part in this interesting pastime.
"(Signed) Geo. J. Barnesby.
"Derby, March 23, 1857."
Since that period the bird cause has flourished much,
and numerous exhibitions have taken place. Those most
attractive, and on an extensive scale, have been held in the
Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Sunderland. With re¬
spect to the show held at the former place, nothing which
takes place in that palace of grandeur and delight can
possibly surpass in interest the great annual bird show,
collecting together, as it does, in a structure so admirably
adapted for the purpose, the finest specimens of birds from
various parts of England. As beautiful and as charming
as the Palace is, with its music, fountains, terraces, walks,
ponds, statuary, gardens, and galleries, still I think an
additional charm is added when the annual bird show is
held. No exhibition elsewhere is carried out on so vast a
scale; and I may assert, that the excellent arrangements
of the manager, Mr. J. Wilkinson, and the able staff of
officials, afford to the many exhibitors the fullest con¬
fidence that their delicate pets receive every attention
possible under their care, and are well packed when re¬
turned to their owners. What can be a greater treat than
a visit to the Crystal Palace annual exhibition of cage-
songsters ? A short run by rails from the London stations,
through the busy outskirts of the metropolis, and conveying
THE CANARY.
15
one through a very pleasant part of Surrey, quickly reaches
Sydenham. On entering the Palace, the bird show, which
takes place in the tropical part, is soon found, and where
hundreds of finely-coloured and plumed British and foreign
birds, and Canaries and Mules, are pouring forth their
sweet music. It has been truly asserted that —
" When birds of fine feather are gathered together,
Well clothed in their colours so bright,
'Tis a sight worth seeing by each human being,
Not only by day but by night."
The climax of delight and astonishment is here attained,
and you pause and ponder for a time over that you have
seen. This may be realised at the annual show, which is
visited by so many fanciers and others who interest
themselves so much about our song-birds.
To give an adequate idea of the show, I may state that
the number of birds entered for exhibition, in the year
1870, reached 1191. In the two first classes of Canaries
(clear Norwich), those for competition were 125, no slight
task in itself to pick out half a dozen birds for honours.
The entire entries of the Canary and Mule classes reached
783, and from this number, to that of 911, were included
the British birds, and birds of passage and migratory birds.
The remaining classes were confined to the various foreign
birds and extra stock, thus reaching the total number of
1191 entries. No one need envy the labours of the judges,
Messrs. Barnesby, Moore, and "Wilmore (for Canaries and
Mules), and Mr. Goodwin (for British and foreign birds).
Since that year the show has lost an efficient judge of
British and foreign birds, through the death of Mr. Goodwin,
whose place, however, for the show of 187.1, was ably filled
by the appointment of Messrs. J. Jenner "Weir, F.L.S..
16
THE CANABY.
and Harrison "Weir, E.B.H.S., assisted by Mr. F.W.Wilson,
of tbe Crystal Palace.
Between the months of October and March is the best
time to hold a bird show, owing to the fine state of plumage
the birds are in, and at a time of the year when they are
not required for breeding with. Exhibitions are sometimes
held during the summer months, but they cannot possibly
receive that support from the fanciers, who have most of
their best birds up for breeding. Still, I have witnessed
some capital exhibitions; for instance, the one held in com
nection with the " Grand Yorkshire Gala," which takes
place in the month of June. At the show of 1871 there
were upwards of three hundred specimens for competition
(one hundred more than the show of 1870). There is even
one advantage gained in holding a summer show, which is
obtained by offering prizes for young birds, or those bear¬
ing their nestling feathers. There is much pleasure to be
derived from a combination of birds and flowers. Those
who love birds can gratify their ears with the gushing peals
of melody ever bursting forth, or can fully enjoy the sweet
fragrance of the flowers, which are " Nature's jewels, with
whose wealth she decks her summer beauty." So vast is
the interest taken in cage-birds, that at most of the largest
shows exhibitors from distant parts assemble together.
ADVICE TO EXHIBITORS.
Exiiibitoes sometimes attribute blame to those who have
the management of bird exhibitions, whereas it may have
been caused through themselves not having acted in striot
accordance with the rules or regulations issued. In filling
up the certificates of entry make them out yourself, and do
Dot trust others unless properly qualified. Always write
THE CANARY.
17
your names and addresses distinct; state the ages, sex, and
breeds of the birds to be shown in the various classes, and
fix a price for the sale of them. At the time of sending off thf
entries, forward also, either by cheque or post-office order,
the amount of money entitling you to show, and securing for
you a prize-list or boohs of awards. Fill up and return the
certificates before the expiration of the time specified, for
by neglecting this it is impossible that secretaries can pay
due attention. Be sure aud send off the birds for show so
that they may be received in time to be judged, or they will
not be noticed, and you will be put to unnecessary trouble
and expense. Many prizes have been lost by the birds
arriving too late for competition. Use substantial wrappers
in packing, with your name thereon, and send tin vessels for
water, which are better than glasses, and cannot easily be
broken. When you receive the labels, and before again
sending off, see that the proper ones are tied on the cages.
Always send a sufficient supply of food, and pack your birds
up so that they may be forwarded by fast trains at night,
for it is better even your birds lose a little rest than food.
Box, or wooden cages, with wire only in the front, are pre¬
ferable for London Fancies, Norwich, Cinnamon, Mules,
Goldfinches, Linnets, and many other small birds, and can
be better packed. Belgians, Coppys, and Lizards show
much better in suitable wire cages, and can be more advan¬
tageously examined by the judges. These will require
more care in packing. By paying attention to the above
remarks, disappointment will often be prevented.
HINTS TO SECRETARIES AND COMMITTEES.
Those who undertake the management of bird exhibitions
should study all attention being paid to exhibitors, for it
18
YHE CANARY.
is through their aid and support the requisite material
is obtained in furnishing the stages. In commencing a
new show it is unwise to issue too extravagant a schedule
of prizes at first without reasonable chance of success, or
of the show being continued from year to year. It is not
solely through motives of gain that many of the best
fanciers exhibit. Still, with proper management, an attrac¬
tive schedule may be issued if assistance is obtained and
solicited from ladies and gentlemen, who may countenance
the matter with their patronage and purse. This will
afford a guarantee for the success of a show, not only to
those who bring it out, but will be satisfactory to exhibitors,
who will thereby give their aid with a prospect of receiving
their prize money. I allude thus, owing to some exhi¬
bitions having taken place merely with a speculative view,
and if not a success the prize money has not been paid,
or only a portion of sucb. This offers no encouragement
for the future. The names and addresses of exhibitors
can be obtained from catalogues issued of other shows.
The time of holding an exhibition should be well considered,
otherwise it might clash with one or others previously
fixed. Sufficient publicity should always be given, and
printed schedules forwarded by post. From the time of
holding the show a period should intervene for the purpose
of receiving the entries, issuing labels, and forming or com¬
piling the catalogue. "When entries are received, the
secretary should acknowledge the receipt of the same, which
will not entail much expense, considering the present
cheap rate cf postage; for if left until the labels are sent
off, which, through bad arrangement, has occurred only the
day before the birds have been sent to the show, and some¬
times have not even been received in time, causes annoy¬
ance and inconvenience. Independent of this, when ex¬
hibitors send entries and money, it is proper and satis'
ills CAiTAlif. Jg
factory to know if each lmve been received. Another veiy
important point is, that prize lists, when sent for, should
be forwarded as early as possible, for it has too often
happened that they have not been received even until the
show has terminated, or the birds have been sent home.
This neglect sorely tries the patience of an anxious ex¬
hibitor, which ought to be avoided, and could easily be,
were an assistant or sub-secretary, or one of the committee
appointed for the purpose. I know full well that secre¬
taries have much anxious and harassing duty to discharge,
besides at one particular juncture losing their rest in super¬
intending and arranging for the exhibition; but still a
prior appointment of a person to attend to the sending off
the prize lists, as early as they are printed, will prevent un¬
necessary correspondence and unpleasant remarks. As
most bird shows take place at a time of the year when
the atmosphere is cold and chilly, it is necessary that
the trains be waited upon for the reception of the birds
as they arrive, and not allow them to remain in the
cold. They should be taken to the place assigned, imme¬
diately unpacked, and fed. Canaries generally are very
delicate, and proper care and attention may prevent the
loss of valuable birds. When they are unpacked the
wrappers should be secured and ticketed, and they will be
easily known when again required. Much carelessness exists
with respect to sufficient care not being taken of each exhibi¬
tor's covers or wrappers, and some who have sent both expen¬
sive and serviceable covers have been repaid with others of a
valueless kind. They will not only be ready when required
for re-packing, but each will get back his own property. A
proper person, one used to birds, should be appointed to
examine the whole of the birds on the stands or stages to
see that they are well supplied with seed and water, for
a little neglect in this way prevents many good birds being
20
THE CANABY.
in fit condition to be properly judged, besides running the
*isk of the birds dying, and a loss ensuing to the owners
thereby. No bird or birds ought to be allowed to be
claimed before the time specified for the opening of the
show to the public. One matter reprehensible in its way
is that of a secretary competing for prizes. I have known
instances where special prizes, in the shape of silver cups or
medals, have been offered, and won by the secretary. This
is much better avoided; let the competition be between
those entirely unconnected with the arrangements. Secre¬
taries and committees should pay all due regard to the
funds at their disposal, and discountenance at all times
a wasteful or extravagant expenditure. The paying or
handing over the prizes gained within a specified or reason¬
able time after the show has been held has a very good effect
for the future. One very annoying matter to exhibitors is
having to pay unnecessary railway charges for separate
parcels, caused through secretaries of shows or their offi¬
cials returning the cages in too many parcels, whereas
the use of an extra piece of cord for tying several cages
together in one package would prevent useless expense to
exhibitors. I have frequently experienced this annoyance.
THE APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF JUDGES.
In appointing a judge or judges for a show, men of well-
known ability and practice should always be chosen."
Where a body of individuals are formed into a committee
for the purpose of carrying out or managing an exhibition
of birds, no one individual, either directly or indirectly
concerned, should be placed in the position of judge, or
should exercise in the slightest degree any duty in connec-
f HE CANABi. 21
tion with the matter more than assisting to carry out the
show to the utmost success. " No man can be a judge in his
own cause if he is in any way concerned, more than a king
can or should be allowed to conduct his own affairs of the
state between himself and his people ; or that physicians,
when sick, should trust to their own skill before the advice
of others; or that masters of the gymnastic exercises
should be proper judges of their own exhibitions." By the
same rule, a person should not be permitted to judge birds
if he has any interest in any of the birds to be judged,
either direct or indirect. Such has occurred in more than
one case I know. But men of high-mindedness, and fully
competent, intelligent, impartial, and discriminating, can
be found to discharge this very important duty. The
position of a judge, in whatever capacity he may be, is not
an enviable one. Firmness, discrimination, patience, affa¬
bility, and possessed of a thorough practical knowledge of
his respective duties, are qualifications of vast importance
in a judge, without which he cannot expect to find his
pathway very smooth. With a clear and certain know¬
ledge, the capacity of forming correct ideas, and having
the faculty of uniting or separating those ideas, so as to
arrive at a decided knowledge of what should constitute
good or inferior specimens, possesses a man with the ability
of giving right judgment. Sufficient time should always
be set apart for the adjudication of the various specimens,
for unless this is studied, and a judge is hampered with too
much work, a mere loose or hurried survey is likely to take
place, unless assisted by another judge. In shows of great
magnitude, and when the time occupied in judging extends
over the entire day, some natural exhaustion may be felt
towards the close. It is necessary that as much attention
be devoted to the latter classes as those earlier judged, aud
to further this, the mind should be kept clear and not
22 the canary.
affected by strong stimulants, such as a too free indulg¬
ence of wine or liquor. Man's nature varies, and soma
are able to indulge more than others. I have ever found
tea or coffee most refreshing, and it enables me to per¬
form my duties better, especially towards the close of them.
I have known those who have partaken freely of wine, at
the same time conscientiously endeavouring to fulfil their
task, to succumb through a weakness of the flesh, and
thereby carelessly perform their duties. Punctuality
should be a matter of study by a judge, and it is better
he be in attendance at the time summoned, or even before,
than arrive at a later period. Before commencing his
duties he should be furnished with a schedule of the
classes he has to award prizes to, and also, a book and
pencil to note down the awards. On examining the birds,
which should be correctly classed, possibly he may notice
some of the specimens not in their proper classes. Those
he will disqualify, as it is no part of a judge's duty to alter
the position of any bird. Such interference may cause
much trouble to a secretary when the specimens have to
be returned to their respective owners. Still he may draw
the secretary's attention to the error, who may be able to
account for the mistake. Before a judge enters upon his
duty the room or place where the show is held should be
entirely cleared of all persons, unless the assistance of dis¬
interested individuals should be required, as is the case in
shows of great magnitude, for the purposes of moving or
carrying cages. The secretary should be in close attend¬
ance, if required, to answer any question the judge or
judges may ask. The cages containing birds for competi¬
tion should not bear any labels upon them, but the numbers
corresponding with those in the secretary's book. When
a judge has completed his duty, he should give in the return
to the secretary, but retain the book himself, in which he
®BE CANARY. 23
had entered the award ar.d made notes, for his own refer¬
ence, if required. After the awards are given in by thf
judge or judges, the secretary, with the aid of an appointed
official, should proceed to place or attach the prize cards
to the respective cages containing the winning birds,
according to the returns given in by the judge. This is
often performed by a judge himself, but in the best con¬
ducted exhibitions a judge is relieved of this additional
labour. "When a judge has somewhat rested from his
arduous duties, and the prize tickets are all affixed, he
should examine all the classes and see that the cages con¬
taining winning birds bear the proper prize cards. If birds
arrive after the time specified in the schedule, and the
classes in which they should be entered have been judged
and booked, they will be too late to be judged, and the dis¬
appointment and neglect must rest with the owners of
such for not forwarding them earlier. A person, although
acting in the capacity of a judge, should not be allowed the
privilege cf claiming any of the specimens prior to the
time fixed upon for opening the exhibition to the public.
CLEAE NORWICH CANARIES.
The breeding of these birds is promoted more than any
kind of Canary. They are very compact in form and plum¬
age, and are much prized by fanciers for their beautiful
colour and blooming- appearance, which show to the best
advantage after the casting of the nest feathers. Although
somewhat small, they are of robust make, free in song, and
generally possessed of a bold voice. If well tutored, none,
excepting the German songster, can surpass them for bar.
mony. The deep colour is much encouraged by a system of
feeding and artificial moulting ; still, without breeding from
24
THE CANARY.
high-class stock, the deep colour cannot be satisfactorily
attained. I have referred to the feeding and moulting process
elsewhere. Foul means
of artificial colouring or
defacing these beautiful
birds are, I regret to
say, frequently practised
by unprincipled exhibi¬
tors, who are often de¬
tected, much to their
shame and disgrace.
There are six classes
of Norwich birds, exclu-
si ve of the " Crested " and
" Green " kinds. The two
first on the list are
termed clear yellow and Norwich,—This represents an entirely
clear buff. The yellow c^ear sPecimen-
resembles the colour of an orange; the buff is somewhat paler,
although, having a fine mealy tinge or bloom over the rich
colour beneath. The flue of the clear bred birds is white
and silky. Sometimes fine clear birds are thrown from
marked or variegated birds, when the flue will often be
black, especially about the vent. It is advisable, at times,
to cross a clear bird with a variegated one, for the pur¬
pose of strengthening or upholding the colour, for by con¬
tinually matching clear birds together, the progeny become
too mealy, and lose, in a great measure, the rich buff appear¬
ance. This I know from great experience.
They are judged by the following points :—•
Beak—short and clear for choice.
Head—moderate size, with fulness throughout.
Neck—the fulness expanding regularly from head tc
chest.
the canary.
25
Back—straight, wide across, exhibiting power, and well
filled over the spine.
Wings—the outer edging of the flight feathers should be
rich in colour ; feathers very compact, even throughout,
and not crossing at the tips.
Tail—inclined to be short, but very compact and thin.
Chest—broad and full, and gradually expanding from the
neck.
Body—towards the vent should taper off, exhibiting a
slight flatness, on the under part especially.
Legs and Feet—of a light flesh-colour or white, and the
nails not twisted.
Feathers—of a very compact and rich kind.
Colours—in Jonques a very rich orange, carried as much
as possible throughout the bird. The Mealys should
have a considerable flowery tint, lacing, or edging, on
the tips of the feathers.
TICKED OK UNEVEN-MARKED NORWICH
CANARIES.
There are two classes, yellow and buff. Specimens, whether
ticked, blotched, or irregularly marked, are better classed
together. Those slightly ticked often appear as though they
were clear birds, but it would be unwise to enter them with
such, for it would not only be unfair to other exhibitors, but
would give rise to disputes. Excepting for the marks upon
them, tk y are judged by the properties of the Clear Nor-
wicfl. Birds, with more or less ticks cr marks, can be shown
together. A mark on either the head, body, wings, tail, or
legs, constitutes a show bird.-
26
THE CANARY.
EVEN OR BEST MARKED NORWICH CANARIES.
Some difference of opinion having existed respecting the two
classes (yellow and buff) of Norwich, termed " Marked
or Variegated," and
many exhibitors not
being well assured or
directed as to how
they should be mark¬
ed for show, I deem
it necessary to desig¬
nate them as above,
viz., " Even or Best
Marked." This will
give not only facility
for the classes being
patronised, but tho¬
roughly under-stood.
The two classes of
birds will include
those having four
marks, two of them
being the "spectacle
eye" or face marks,
and the other two marks being on the lesser flight feathers,
which should be marked as regular as possible. In these
classes birds having six marks, viz., the eye marks or face
^arks, the marks on the smaller flights, and also having a
vArk feather on each side of the tail, will be good specimens
to compete with. Birds are often bred with the marks on
the wings and an oval mark on the crown of the head with¬
out any eye marks. This marking is much favoured by
many fanciers throughout England, and although the birds
Norwich (even marked).—This represents a
specimen marked dark around each eye
(" spectacle-eye marks"), and also the
smaller flight feathers dark : the rest of
the hird clear, except the lower portion of
the legs, which are often dark. Either
light or dark legs will do for exhibition.
THE CANAEY 27
only possess three marks, still there is considerable uni¬
formity about them, and it is a question as to whether tksy
are not equal in beauty to others. I would, therefore,
include them in the same classes as those with four or
six marks. Such birds should be judged together. The
points of perfection will be the same as in the Clear Nor¬
wich, so far as shape of head, neck, back, chest, body, and
yellow and buff properties are concerned. Sometimes the
legs will be dark, but birds with either flesh-coloured or dark
legs are eligible. Birds with dusky feathers about the thighs
or near the vent, in addition, are allowed to compete.
Very heavily marked or variegated Norwich birds (one of
each colour, yellow and buff) paired together will sometimes
produce Green Norwich, but of a very different green colour
to the Dark Green birds exhibited in the North of England,
'resembling more in shape the Yorkshire breed. The Green
Norwich are much richer in appearance, having a fine
bronze-like tinge in the plumage. These are sometimes
matched with Clear Norwich to obtain Marked birds. When
a bird is bred from such parents, with clear plumage, and
well moulted, it will frequently have a deep blooming
colour.
CRESTED NORWICH CANARIES.
Excepting the crests, they very much resemble the othei
Norwich birds in quality and form, both in the yellow and
buff kinds. Those most in favour are marked on the smaller
flights or wing feathers, and also with a dark green crest
falling regularly from the centre of the crown over the
beak and eyes. They vary in general formation of crest
from the " Coppy " birds, for instead of the crest graduating
iftto smooth feathers at the back of the head, the crest is
18
THE CANAKY.
continued all round it, showing as little vacancy of leather or
baldness as possible. There are two points for consideration
in breeding good
crested birds. One
is, that they should
not be bred too large
so as to show evi
dence of half " Coppy''
breed, for they are
likely to be disquali¬
fied at a show ; the
other is, that when
bred too close with
small crested stock,
the progeny decrease
in size, and appear
somewhat stunted.
Good bold looking
birds should always be chosen for breeding purpose, but
two crested birds should not be matched together, for
the offspring often turn out bald and deficient in size
of crest. Generally there are four classes, which are
sufficient, viz., two for the best marked crested yellow
and buff, having dark crests, and lesser flight feathers dark
and even; and two classes for yellow and buff of any other
variety of crested Norwich, which should have dark, grizzled,
or clear crests, without the marks on the wings, and also
others more heavily variegated. Next to the best marked
crested specimens (the head and wings), those with fine green
or dark crests, with clear bodies throughout, are esteemed.
The points of perfection are the same as in other Norwich
birds with the markings, already described.
Crested Norwich.—Marked, as sketch, with
dark crest, and smaller flight-feathers
dark ; other parts clear.
the canakt,
20
CLEAR BELGIAN CANARIES.
The Belgian bird—I mean one of recognised form—is really
aristocratic in appearance compared to most other Canaries,
considering its finely chiselled
head, containing a pair of full
piercing eyes, its raking snake¬
like neck, jutting out from well-
formed shoulders and back, from
which should lie faultlessly-shaped
wings, not crossing at the tips.
It should possess fine feathers and
colour, a good chest, be well
braced up from the chest to the
vent, with a long tail, piped, and
good stand to set it 'off to advan¬
tage.
Those most highly prized in
this country are from Antwerp,
Brussels, Ghent, and Dietz. The
thinner and more slender speci¬
mens are termed French Belgians,
Belgian.—Clear throughout, the coarser feathered or larger
birds being from Holland, are styled Dutch Belgians.
Contrast the Belgian with the " perky " little plain Canary,
and he looks a high bred gentleman-bird compared to his
little cousin-german j there is indeed as much difference as
between the race-horse and cart-colt. After examining the
latter bird, you have the impression that he is a hypocrite
in his heart, he is so smirking, so soft and deprecating
in all his movements, but directly your back is turned
lie raises his head feathers, and often pours forth a shrill,
bold burst of song; turn your head, and he suddenly sub-
c
hq the canary.
sides into silence. The bearing of the Belgian is just th<
reverse. He is a steady, well-trained, fine-looking fellovr
and will return you stare for stare, refusing to retreat an
inch. Generally they are not such songsters as other Canaries,
being weaker, and more tremulous in voice. They are more
subject to disease, especially asthma, and the average of life
of shorter duration. They are bred very freely by the Bel¬
gian peasants as a pastime. The best breeders promote
principally the breeding of clear birds, not thinking so much
of the marked or variegated kinds, which have of later date
come into fashion, through crossing with dark birds of inferior
blood. At one or two of the great shows in Belgium, prizes
are given for the best birds irrespective of colour (either
yellow or mealy). Such birds are held in estimation, and
realize large sums. Very few of these reach the English
fanciers, although there are to be found breeders in this
country who will at times import them, even at fabulous price?
There are two classes—yellow and buff—and they are iudgei
for the following points of perfection—
Beak—slender and clear.
Head—small and flat.
Neck—long and slender.
Back—long and good circle.
Shoulders—high, and well filled between.
Wings—long, compact, and thin, lying close to the body,
but not crossing each other at the tips.
Ciiest—prominent, but tapering towards the vent.
Body—long and slender.
Tail—long and thin, with the feathers well wrapped over
each other, and inclining in circle with back.
I.egs—for length and erectness of stand.
Feathers—closeness, with richness of colour—not coarse
Feet—slender throughout, with nails not twisted oa one
eide.
THE CAN A BY.
31
HCKED OK UNEVEN-MARKED BELGIAN CANARIES
'These two classes of birds (yellow and buff) are mostly bred
from clear stock, but a slight mark, tick, or heavy blotch on
any of the outer or visible feathers either on body, wings,
tails, or legs, constitute show birds. They are, apart from
this, judged for the best Belgian properties, by the same
rules, as near as possible, as the clear Belgians.
EVEN OR BEST MARKED BELGIAN CANARIES.
The points of excellence of these two classes of Belgian birds
should resemble Clear-bred Belgians in general figure, but
this is rarely attainable. In addition to the other pro¬
perties, they should be marked as tinder :—
Beak—^slender and dark.
Eye-marks, or Spectacle-eyed—a narrow mark round each
eye, tapering to a fine point on each side of the head,
but neither coming to the front of the beak or on to the
neck behind; if only marked on the cap or crown, and
not about the eyes, it should be of a perfect oval shape,
without the dark feathers reaching to the eyes.
Wings—the outermost flight-feathers to be white, the
inner flight-feathers dark.
Tail—the tail, if not clear, but regularly marked with one
or two dark feathers on each side, to be considered a
good show bird; specimens with entirely dark tails art.
eligible for show.
The Under part of the bird from beak to vent to be as
clear and free from dark, feathers as possible.
22 the canary.
The Upper surface from the marking of the crown of the
head, to be entirely clear to the tail, the wings excepted.
The Legs to be dark—the darker the better in each
variety.
THE LONDON FANCY CANAEIES.
This breed is one of the choicest known, and scarcer than
any other Canary bred. Nothing can possibly surpass the
beauty of these birds when
clean moulted. In their
first or nestling feathers,
they very much resemble
the " Lizard " when young ;
but, from long experience,
I have satisfied myself that
the change they undergo in
their various stages of
moulting is quite sufficient
to establish the fact that
they are a distinct breed.
This opinion is fully borne
out by the opinion of several L"nd°n d«" throughout,«-
x ceptmg the whole of the plights
breeders of the " London and TAIL feathers which are BLACK.
Fancy" birds of many
years' experience. One of these informs me he had bred
and shown birds for the past fifty years, but could not give
any account of the breed, otherwise than that they were always
understood to be quite distinct from other kinds. Although
resembling the "Lizard" in their nestling feathers, if bred
with a mark on the cap, when clean moulted, the mark,
however large, will disappear, but not so with the " Lizard "
bird, which retains it. The breed is somewhat small, and
in casting off the nest feathers, they entirely change to a
the canary, 33
rich colour, except -wings and tail, which remain black
until the next moult, when the darkness in wings and tail
is partly lost. Below are the correct properties obtained
from a member of the " Hand-in-Hand " Society, London.
Like the "Norwich" breed, colour in the " London Fancy''
is a great point, both in Jonque and Mealy. The Mealy
birds should have their feathers fringed or tipped with
white, and appear more bloomy than the yellow, which
should be of a very deep orange, with a silky appearance of
feather. The black feathers should be as bright as possible,
but blackness of feather is only referred to when colour is
equal in two birds. The cap is the principal point; next
breast, saddle, and back. Cap, saddle, and back will sur¬
pass breast, saddle, and back; cap and breast will beat
saddle and back; but breast, saddle, and back will beat cap,
although that is first point. In a first-class show bird every
feather in the flights and tail should be black, in stalk or
web, and not have an entire white feather; each flight must
contain eighteen flying feathers, and the tail twelve feathers.
First-class birds of this breed often realise very high prices,
which is not to be wondered at, taking into consideration the
trouble and attention devoted in bringing them out in a
manner satisfactory to the breeders of them. They are judged
by the following points :—
Cap—for colour, magnitude, and regularity.
Colour—for richness of yellow, not only in the cap, but
throughout the bird.
"Wings and Tail—for black, home to the quill.
Size—for largeness and elegance of shape.
Pinions—for magnitude and regularity.
Swallow-throat—for largeness.
Fair Breast—regular.
Legs—for blackness.
Flue- —for blackness.
34
THE CANARY.
LIZARD CANARIES.
What can be prettier than these little spangled beauties ?
Whether they be the rich Jonque or Golden Spangled, or
the Mealy or Silver
Spangled birds, there
are many points to
admire about each.
The deeper the colour
of the Golden Spangled
the better it is, espe¬
cially in the cap,
fringing or lacing of
the spangles, and the
breast. The cap should
be of good size and
oval in shape, extend¬
ing from the dark
beak to that portion
of the crown behind,
where it should termi¬
nate somewhat square
and regular. On each
side of the head the
cap should reach the
eye-lids, which should
be dark. From the neck the spangles gradually increase in
size until reaching the back, where they are fully and
regularly developed. The legs, feet, and web and stalks of
wings and tail, black. The head when large, wide, and
flat, is much preferred. The remarks with respect to the
properties likewise refer to Silver Spangled specimens, which
bear a mealy or silvery appearance. ,_The breed is much
Lizard.—Clear in cap. Breast, either in
tike Golden or Silver specimens, slightly
streaked from the neck. Spangles slightly
increasing in size from the face down
the back, until reaching the middle,
where they are largely developed. Black
wings, fringed with a little lighter
shade. Tail black, fringed the same.
Lower part of legs and beak black.
&&£ canary.
35
promoted in many parts of England. Several years ago
there was a class of Lizards termed "Blue Spangled," and
some pretending to this colour were shown at the Crystal
Palace, Sydenham, but not being quite blue enough, the
class very properly came to grief. They merely presented
& slaty or greyish-blue-black hue beneath the spangles and
in the down or flue-feathers, which was caused by matching
two mealy Lizards together. Like " London Fancy " birds,
the Lizards are " out of feather," and not so eligible for show,
after their first years moulting feathers are cast, when
the feathers become tipped with grey or white at the ends
of the flights and tails. The better the breed the less will
they show the white tips on the feathers. Unfair exhibitors
at times resort to the foul doctoring process, to deceive the
judges. Sometimes these birds are neither of a confirmed
Golden nor Silver appearance. Such are liable to be dis¬
qualified, as also are those foul in the wing and tail feathers,
or with a broken cap. The most important point is the cap,
lien spangled feathers, throat and breast, wings and tail,
chest and body, head, neck, legs, and beak.
They are judged as follows
Beak—the darker the better, and short.
Head—the crown should be flatfish and wide, with size
throughout
Cap—should possess purity, rich colour, and magnitude
of form, with great regularity, coming to the beak in
front, and to the back of the crown behind, and not
lower than the eyebrow or lid, which should be dark.
Neck—short and thick, with small, clear spangles begin¬
ning at the back of the cap and gradually increasing in
size towards the body.
Back and Spangles—should be wide across, clearly and
thickly spanglgd, the boldest being in the centre, and
g she canary.
the others gradually decreasing towards the sides and
upper tail coverts.
Wings and Tail—should be black, the bastard winj»
feathers particularly so, the others (pinions) black in
stalk and web, and fringed with orange, or silvery
white, according to class.
Throat and Breast—orange or silvery, according to
class, and regular throughout, the richer the orange
the better.
Chest and Body—the former wide and the body of good
size, the bolder the better.
Legs and Feet—throughout, the blackest the best, and
nails not twisted.
Feathers—very close, and not deficient or pied, with the
underneath flue of the golden spangled a bluish-black,
and the flue of the silver spangled more of a dark grey.
In the yellow portions of the golden spangled the richer
the orange the better, and in the silver spangled the
colour should be more like newly-cast virgin silver,
especially in the cap.
MANCHESTER COPPY CANARIES,
The "Manchester Coppy" Canary is larger than the "Bel¬
gian," and differently shaped, being stronger in body, with a
long straight back, which form should be continued to the tail
end. There is considerable grace in a good specimen, bear¬
ing a noble crest, striking well from the centre of the crown
over the beak and eyes, and gradually tapering off to the
sides of the head near the back, where the feathers should lia
close. The wings must be long, lying close to the well-
formed loins, and not crossing at the ends. The crest should
be clear in feather, on a head of small size, with neck and
the canary.
37
back long. The feathers must be close and silky, with no
dark nnder-flue. The mealy birds are somewhat whiter in
Manchester Coppy.—Entirely clear—no dark feathers anywhere. Clear
crest, which falls from the centre of the crown very heavy over the
eyes and beak, but gradually tapering into smooth feathers behind
and down the back of the head.
appearance than other breeds, bxit the yellow birds should be
possessed of good colour. The crest should not be split in
the front over the beak. These birds are very long, some of
them being nearly seven inches from head to tail. The best
of this breed I have found in Lancashire and the neighbour¬
hood of Macclesfield. The longer the birds, and better the
crests, the more they are prized. The following are the most
commendable qualifications :—
Beak—small and clear,
38
THE CANARY.
Head—flat, and not very large, having a heavy crest,
quite clear, converging from the centre of the crown
towards the beak and eyes very regularly, over which
the feathers should project. From the sides of the skull
over the eyes they should gradually taper off, and at
the back part of the head become smooth. The fea¬
thers of the crest should he close and compact, with no
split in the front of the crest over the beak.
Neck—long and straight.
Body—large and straight, especially the hack, which
should increase in size from the neck, and taper gra¬
dually towards the tail.
Chest—round and expanding from the neck.
Wings—very long, lying close on the loins, and not cross¬
ing at the ends.
Tail—long, straight, and very close, being in a line with
the upper part of the body.
Feet and Legs—long and slender.
Feathers—close, clear, and silky in the flue, the colour of
the yellow being somewhat rich, the mealy almost white.
SCOTCH FANCY CAN ABIES.
This breed, often styled the " Glasgow Don " or " Scotch
Fancy," is held in high estimation in Scotland, and the
northernmost portion of England, but is not much known
on the south side of Yorkshire. It is looked up to with as
much favour by our Scotch brethren as the Norwich bird is
by the English fancier. Besides classes for "clear" bird.^
there are those for " flecked " or a piebald," as they ar«
termed. They have small beaks, and heads beautifully
round, are narrow in the shoulders, with tails long and
the canary.
39
tapering, forming a perfect curve, like the half moon, and
possessed of a peculiar action not existing in any other kind
of Canary. They are not often seen
at exhibitions in the south of
England, although they have been
shown at the Crystal Palace, in a
class set apart for Canaries of " any
other variety." They are judged
principally for the following proper¬
ties :—
Beak—small.
Head—round and small.
Neck—long.
Shoulders—close and narrow, not
high.
Back—well filled.
Feathers —- quality good, not
coarse.
Colour—for richness.
Scotch Fancy.—Entirely Length of bird,
clear. Stand—erect.
YORKSHIRE FANCY CANARIES.
In the northern part of " Merry England," especially, the
breed of Canary named "Yorkshire" finds numerous ad¬
mirers. They are not so deep in colour of plumage as the
Norwich, being more of a lemon yellow, although every
endeavour has been made to impart a high colour. Some
breeders have crossed them with Norwich stock, for the
purpose of improving richness of colour, and with the Coppy
bird to increase their length, but bv so doing they depart
40
THE CAHARY.
from the form peculiar to the " Yorkshire," and they have
no possible chance of gaining prizes with such when properly
judged.
There are two classes for clear Yorkshire, besides those
for even-marked, and uneven-marked or ticked.
Yorkshire,—Entirely clear.
The even-marked birds should be nicely pencilled about
the eyes (spectacle-eyed), which markings should gradually
taper off towards the sides of the head, having the wings
evenly marked on the smaller flight feathers. The birds
should be clear in the body feathers, above and underneath,
from the beak to the tail.
They are longer than Norwich birds, being straight, or
Aearly so, in the back, longer in neck, and rather more
/eggy. The chief points are :—
Beak—slender.
Head—round and moderate size.
Neck—straight and long.
Shoulders—rather broad, but not high.
the canary.
41
Back—well filled in and straight.
Stand—firm, and of bold carriage.
Wings—long, and not crossed at the ends.
Legs—rather long.
Feet and Nails—not coarse, or twisted awry,
Feathers—close and entire.
Tail—close and straight.
CINNAMON CAN ABIES.
Cinnamon coloured birds have long been bred, and have
been dubbed with the titles of " Quakers," " Duns," &c.
Of late years a great improvement has taken place in their
appearance. The chief aim of fanciers in the south of
England is to breed them rich in colour, with the form
of the much favoured Norwich birds. Those of the north
country are generally longer, and partake more of the
shape of Yorkshire or half-bred Belgian birds; and they
are not so deep in colour. There are several classes for
them, one being for Jonque or Yellow Cinnamon, one for
Buff or Mealy, and another for Marked Cinnamon, and at
some shows even more than these. The Jonque birds
should possess a very rich coloured plumage—the richer the
more prized; the Buffs are not so high coloured, but are very
beautiful when well tinged with mealy bloom. The Marked
Cinnamon are much in favour when evenly marked about
the eyes and face, and regularly marked on the smaller
flights of the wings. Cinnamon birds have different coloured
eyes to most other kinds ; they are of a pinky reddish hue.
When hatched they may be known from other birds, owing
to the appearance of the eyelids. The fancy for Cinnamon
birds is now very great.
Thjre are several other kinds., such as the German Canary,
42
the canary.
the dark brownish green, the black green, the dark green
with crests, white with grizzly crests ; also crosses betwixt
the London Fancy and the Lizard, the Norwich and Fancy
Lizard and Norwich (in Derby called the "Spot or cross*
bred"), the Yorkshire and Norwich, and others, most of
which make good cage songsters.
Canaries will readily pair and breed with the Goldfinch,
the Brown Linnet, the Greenfinch, and the Siskin and
Serin.
The cross between the Canary and the Goldfinch in general
produces the handsomest birds, the young partaking much
Df a very beautiful intermixture of both parents.
The cross between the Canary and the Siskin is much
like the female Siskin, if the female bird is a Green Canary.
But if this be mealy or yellow, it becomes rather brighter,
and mostly retains the colours and figure of the Siskin.
The cross between the Canary and the Serin is distin¬
guished only by its smaller size, and by its short thick beak,
from the common Grey or Green Canary, unless when pro¬
duced by a Mealy or Yellow hen Canary.
The cross between the Canary and the Linnet. When
the descendant of a Grey Canary, its only difference is a
slightly longer tail; but it is often variegated or marked
with light feathers when the Canary is yellow or mealy.
Other particulars and experience of Mule-breeding will
be hereafter noted in a separate chapter.
Habitat.—Except during the breeding season, the males,
for singing purposes, are kept in small bird cages, generally
of the shape of a bell, and made of wire, and must be at
least one foot high, and eight inches in diameter, and fur¬
nished with two transverse perches. Other cages are often
used, such as those of waggon-top shape, or slanting tops
(as the fancy may incline), with the seed-drawer or fountain at
one end, and a vessel for water at the other. Cages of easier
THE CANARY.
43
construction, made of wood, all but the front, are snug and
suitable. They should be from twelve to fourteen inches
long, ten or eleven inches
high, and six inches from
front to back, having
wire fronts, two perches,
and two tins or glasses
for seed and water. They
can be either stained or
painted any colour suit¬
able, will answer two
purposes, either for song
birds or for exhibiting
in ; but they are not so
well adapted for suspend¬
ing in front of a window
as the bell-shaped cages,
which are more orna¬
mental. "When many
male birds are kept,
they can be assorted in lots in larger cages. The females
can be placed together in breeding cages, or in a fly, according
to circumstances. In the bell-shaped cages, wherein it
must be understood only one bird should be placed, both
the eating and drinking vessels must be fixed on the out¬
side, at the extremities of the lower perch. These should be
surmounted with a cap of tin, so that the bird may not
scatter its food easily. Cleanliness will often prevent these
delicate birds from suffering many disorders, and it is very
desirable that the floor of the cage should be made moveable,
that it may be more easily cleansed and strewed with coarse
sand. Being inhabitants of a warm climate, and rendered
delicate by constant residence in rooms, and so in a manner
habituated to a temperature similar to that of their own
44
the cakaky.
country, great care in winter is necessary that the same
temperature be preserved, avoiding the exposure to cold air,
which, however refreshing in summer, cannot be otherwise
than prejudicial to them, causing sickness, and even death.
To keep them in a healthy and happy frame, it is very im¬
portant to observe that in summer they must be frequently
hung in a cage, in brilliant daylight, and, if possible, placed
in the warm sunshine, which, especially when bathing, is
very agreeable to them.
Food.—This is a most important consideration. The more
simple and true to nature the food is, the better does it agree
with these birds; whereas, when too artificially compounded,
it renders the birds weak and sickly. The best food for them
is the summer rape-seed, scalded, which is sown in spring,
distinguished from the winter rape-seed, which is sown in
autumn : it is larger and blacker than the former, and is not
so suitable for the stomach, being very strong. Like the
Linnet, they thrive very well on this food, but it should be
occasionally intermixed with some crushed hemp seed and
Canary seed, for the sake of flavouring it, and this especially
in the spring, when they are intended for breeding. As a
treat, we may give them a mixture of summer cabbage seed,
groats, whole oats, or oatmeal, with millet, flax, and Canary
seed. Here, as in everything else, we should strive to imitate
nature. With this simple mode of treatment I have reared
numerous Canaries, and kept them healthy for many years;
whereas others, who have attended theirs with the greatest
labour and care, have incessantly complained of all kinds of
vexatious and unfortunate casualties. Besides a multitude of
short essays upon the mode of treating Canaries, lengthy
volumes have also been written upon it. These contain a
variety of very artificial modes of treatment, all of which
effect no more than what the few simple ones here described
will do. The hens likewise are supplied with this food ; but
THE CANARY.
45
hi winter they are contented with roll or merely barley groata,
moistened in milk, if given to them fresh every day, to keep
it from becoming sour. Besides, both males and females
have given them in summer some dandelion, ripe plantain
seed, salad, groundsel, and water-cresses, which must be pre¬
viously washed and cleansed from anything prejudicial, and
in winter occasionally fed with pieces of sweet apple.
They require fresh water daily both for drinking and
bathing, and at moulting time a rusty nail should be occa¬
sionally placed in their drinking vessel, as this tends to
strengthen ulie stomach.
They pick up the little angular grains of sand with which
the bottom of the cage may be strewed, and which very much
assists their digestion.
These kinds of food are for the full-grown bird; the young
require different treatment, at least as long as they require
the care of their parent birds, and are being moulted.
Breeding.—The rearing of these birds is accompanied
with many difficulties, rendered still more so by reason of
the innumerable artificial means that are resorted to.
A bird is known to be old by the prominent scales of its
legs, and by its strong and long claws. Good breeders are
rare and costly. Some males are always dejected, sing but
little, are indifferent to their mates, and consequently unfitted
for breeding; others are too choloric, incessantly snap at
and hunt the females about, and indeed often kill them and
their young; others, again, are too ardent, persecute the
female while she is hatching, tear the nest, throw out the
eggs, or continually excite the female to pair, until she quits
the eggs or neglects the young.
The females have also their defects. Some merely lay, and
immediately quit their eggs as soon as laid; others feed their
young badly, maim them, or pluck out all their feathers;
others lay with much exertion and labour, and when they
D
46
THE CANAEY.
should hatch become sickly, or lay each egg after a long in¬
terval.
To correct all these defects of character and temperament
in both sexes, certain remedies are said to be efficacious; but
they are almost all deceptive, atid the fancier, notwithstand¬
ing his attention to them, is often exposed to many disap¬
pointments. The best plan, however, is to remove the
birds having these faults, and substitute others which are
without them.
Hens vary much in temperament; some are very restless,
timid, and bad sitters ; others will permit all possible free¬
dom during the period of incubation and bringing up their
young. During the early part of the breeding season you
become acquainted with the temper of your hens, and know
better how to treat them. Some treatises will say do so-and-
so, but still the directions may not be of advantage respecting
some hens. I say the best guide is experience; for the
ground-work, and general knowledge how to proceed, of
course they are useful. You may, perhaps, be breeding with
one or two to twenty pairs, and upwards, and matters may
run smoothly on as regards eggs in nests, hens sitting, others
chipped or near chipping, and some of a week or more days'
old, or about leaving their nests. I have known many
such instances of disappointment and misfortune to occur,
and all through a little too much meddling with them before
they are safely out of their nests. Even when they are out
of their nests, they require all care, for fright and want of
caution will at times cause young birds to dart wildly about
the cages until either wings or legs are broken.
To obtain birds of a brilliant plumage, it is requisite to
pair together such birds as are of similar markings, and
whose colours are distinct and regular. This is best effected
in separate breeding-cages. Variegated and checkered ones
we often produced in aviaries, where the birds pair together
THE CANARY.
47
indiscriminately. Birds of a greenish and brownish colour
matched with bright yellow ones often produce beautiful dusky
white or other favourite colours. A requisite precaution to
be observed is, that a tufted and a smooth-headed bird should
be paired, for if two crested birds be placed together they
often produce the young with a part of the head bald or
otherwise deformed.
Towards the middle of April is the best time to place
the birds in the breeding cages or partitions. Breeding
places can be constructed in various ways. Some breeders
use spacious cages. Supposing you have the advantage of
a corner or inlet in a room of between three or four feet in
breadth, six, eight, or ten breeding places can be made by
(tutting up shelves against which moveable fronts may be
fitted either to button or screw on. Each breeding com¬
partment should be at least 20 inches long and 18 inches
high. Between two of such places there should be a wooden
THE CANARY.
slide, in which, for convenience, make a small aperture,
either to be opened or kept closed at times when breeding
with two hens and one male, or when you wish to throw the
two partitions into one to afford more room and a better fly
for several birds after the breeding season is over. Do not
think I wish to encourage the breeding of two hens with
one male, for I have ever found, as a rule, that more advan¬
tage is gained when breeding with birds in pairs.
If you wish to construct your own breeding places, use
for the shelves deal wood, three-quarters of an inch thick,
which, when well planed, will be sufficiently strong, and will
not bend. The fronts of the cages are bett er made of half-inch
pine, which is lighter and easier to work up. It does not
require a vast amount of architectural skill to enable one, if
so inclined, to make his own cages. I have generally found
that where there is a natural taste for bird-breeding, one
soon becomes acquainted with the necessary ideas to meet
all requirements. In wiring your cages or fronts, use
No. 16 or 17 tinned or galvanised wire instead of iron
wire (which soon becomes shabby), for the former freshens
up when the places are taken down to be washed, which
requires to be done when breeding is over, and before placing
or keeping your birds in during the following autumn and
winter. I always have my breeding places well cleansed,
twice each year, with the strong soap suds from the house¬
hold washing-tub, to free them from insects and dirty accumu¬
lation. Before taking to pieces, give them a dressing of cam¬
phor dissolved in spirits of wine, mixing it with turpentine
and oil. This immediately destroys the red bug or vermin,
and in a great measure prevents them from escaping. The
two upright wires, where the sliding partition enters, should
be of stronger wire, say No. 11 or 12. The reason I
advise pine wood for the fronts is, that it is not so liable to
split when boring the holes for wiring. Before making ths
ME CANARY. 49
holes, gauge off with rule and pencil to a nicety, the space
from wire to wire being about five-eighths of an inch. If
much narrower a bird may possibly get its head fast, ami
the loss will be great if a valuable one. They can easily
get their heads through a space of fi ve-eighths of an inch
without fear of accident. This is also a good distance for
show cages.
For wiring purposes you require two brad-awls, two pairs
of pliers, the ends or noses of one pair to be round for
turning the ends of the wire for door-places, &c.; also have
l pair of wire-cutters. I am not only my own wire-worker
And joiner, but perform my own plumbing, staining, and
painting. If I require tin vessels made, I purchase sheets
of tin. For staining I generally use sienna, poundisg it
well in a mortar before using. It makes a nice lively colour.
Lay it on with a brush or piece of sponge. When dry, give
it a dressing of liquid size, and you will save much varnish
thereby. Mind and procure good varnish, or it will take
long to dry. Some breeders prefer paint. Dark blue looks
very nice, but do not let your wood become greasy prior to
painting. I prefer soldering the upi'ight wires to the cross¬
bars of wire rather than wrapping them with fine wire, not
only because the work looks neater and is much stronger,
but it prevents harbours and crevices for the diminutive
vermin which should be kept in check as much as possible;
it also prevents birds getting their claws or feet fast in the
wire. I also make my own solder, by melting soft lead and
pewter into bars. Use resin or spirits of salt for soldering
with, but when using the latter take care to rub off all super¬
fluous spirits, or the wire will become tarnished. When
you have done with the spirits of salt, do not put it away
with any tools, or they will become very rusty. When you
purchase spirits of salt, put a portion of zinc in to kill the
spirit, or you will not be able to work it. Before you
50 CAKARY.
can solder you will require a soldering-iron. If your iron
does not work easy, and the solder fails to adhere to
the face of it, you must heat your iron just sufficient to melt
solder, and after slightly filing up the face of the iron, ruk
it on a piece of sheet tin with a little solder and resin. You
will then obtain a face to the iron by the solder adhering to
it. It is through making the iron too hot that it loses the
face. To the uninitiated this information will be of much
service, should they require to build or construct their own
[ages or breeding-places. My experience has been obtained
with much trouble and expense. Others interested in the
cause are welcome to it.
If you have not the advantage of a corner in a room for
making the partitions or breeding places, use upright boards
for the sides of the sets of breeding partitions you may con¬
struct elsewhere. You will have no occasion to put a back
to them if you have a good wall to place them against.
It will not only save wood, but harbour fewer insects. Some
prefer breeding in open rooms. I have known great success
this way, but it can only be done where one breed of birds
is put up. If you have more than one breed no dependence
can be relied upon for purity of young stock.
Breeding places must enjoy the warmth and light of the
sun, and be supplied with nest boxes, or little wicker
baskets (two for each pair). If breeding in a room, there
ought to be placed some dwarf pines, which, being cut down
in February, will not readily lose their leaves. A wire in-
closure should be made, and placed before the window, so
that the birds may enjoy the fresh air. It will greatly con¬
tribute to make the young ones strong and healthy.
Those birds which are to be paired for the first time should
be placed together in a small cage for a week or ten days, to
accustom them to each other. If you wish two females to be
paired with one male, the females must previously be ac-
THE CANARY.
51
customed to each othei's society, by being kept in a, small
cage. As I have previously remarked, the breeding cage
should have two compartments, separated by a board, in
which a sliding door has been made. In the one compart¬
ment a lively male is enclosed with a female. When she
lias laid her eggs the sliding door is moved, and the male is
admitted to the other female, or if they should happen to
commence building at the same time turn the male in to each
occasionally. When they have both laid, the sliding door
may be kept open : the male will then visit both females
alternately, and possibly they will not trouble themselves about
each other more than an occasional sparring while defending
their own nests ; otherwise, without this precaution, jealousy
would incite them to destroy each other's nests and throw
out the eggs. In a room or aviary a male has sometimes
two or even three females placed beside him; with one of
these the male will more especially pair. But when this
favourite is about to sit, the others will receive a share of
his attention.
If an apartment thus appropriated be supplied with fine
ground moss, it is scarcely necessary to furnish them with
any other materials for their nests. But they may also
have given them cow and deer hair, and hogs' bristles, dry
and delicate hay, pieces of cotton not quite a finger's length,
and paper shavings. The coarser material they use for the
external structure, and the finer for lining the inside. They
will sometimes show indications of their instinct by building
nests after their own fashion, generally being irregular in
figure and not nicely finished, at least externally.
The female, as in the majority of birds, is usually the
architect, the male only selecting its place and procuring
the materials. When the pairing takes place, the female
attracts the male by a continuous piping note, repeated
more quickly the nearer she is to laying. An interval of
52 the caxaxy.
seven or eight days, sometimes longer, elapses between the
pairing and laying the first egg. Every day afterwards,
nearly at the same hour, an egg is laid, their number varying
from two to six. After laying is ended, the pairing is con¬
tinued during the time of incubation.
When the hens are good breeders, and do not commence
sitting from the laying of the first egg, it is superfluous to
attempt to assist nature by artificial means, and it is best i o
leave the birds entirely to themselves. In other cases it 's
customary to remove the first egg, and replace it by an
ivory or wood one, placing it in a box filled with clean
dry sand or bran, and so taking away the eggs till the
fourth is laid; all are then returned to the nest to be hatched.
They lay three or ioui times a-year, from April to August,
and some are so assiduous in pairing, that even moulting
does not interrupt them. The eggs are often sea green,
marked at one of the ends with reddish brown or violet spots
or streaks. Still some differ from others in colour and shape,
and are lighter and bluish, without any spots. The eggs of
the Belgian birds may generally be known by their more
delicate shape, being not quite so bulky as others. The
period of incubation lasts thirteen days. If from the sick¬
liness of the male or of the female any of the eggs are unim-
pregnated, they must be taken out of the nest when the hen
has sat for six or eight days, held lightly between the Angel's
in the sunshine or in a bright light; the good ones will then
appear dull and filled with veins, while the bad will either
appear quite clear or addled; these latter must be thrown
away. The male rarely relieves the female in hatching, nor
does she very willingly permit it. Immediately after feeding
ehe returns to the eggs, and if the male should not imme¬
diately leave the nest, he will be speedily compelled by pecks
and blows. The young are killed in the egg occasionally
through loud and near noises, such as thunder, the firing of it
TIIE CANARY.
53
fowling-piece, slamming of doors, and any ether loud knock¬
ing ; but perhaps the most frequent cause of failure is through
a bad sitter, and being troubled with the vermin.
As soon as the young are hatched, the old birds should
be supplied with one-fourth of hard-boiled egg, pressed
through a wire sieve, with stale plain bun, which is prepared
more readily than mincing with a knife if required for
several, some using with the egg roll steeped in water, and
this pressed out again; and, in another vessel, some rape-
seed which has been boiled, and has been re-washed in fresh
water to take away its acidity. It is requisite to take care
that this soft food does not become sour, otherwise it will
kill the young, and the cause is often not suspected. Some
persons give them merely their usual food, intermixing it
with some finely-powdered biscuit and hard boiled egg, but
I have always found the diet above prescribed more effica¬
cious, especially until the young are fledged.
It is now that the male takes the chief part in rearing
the young, and upon him devolves the duty of feeding them,
to allow the female to recover from the exhaustion of incu¬
bation.
There are various points to be observed and to contend
with during the breeding and incubation of the eggs. By
meddling too mucb with the nests or eggs, or allowing many
strangers to examine or pry about your birds during nest¬
ing, restless hens will often forsake their nests and young.
Some hens neglect their eggs just before chipping should
begin; others sit only the bare thirteen days. Many will,
if you permit, sit twice that time ; but it is unwise to allow
them, unless circumstances require you to save some particular
£ggs. Some hens have been proved famous mothers in this
respect, but the double sitting produces weakness, especially
if they are not well kept up, and there is not free ventila¬
tion. A vitiated atmosphere will encourage r fretfulness
54 the canary.
and uneasiness in hens, and where thi3 is attended with a
want of due care in providing clean nests and vermin har¬
bouring in the stale ones, how can it be wondered at that
matters do not run smooth? Of course, when mishaps
occur, they are generally attributed to the birds. Such,
however, is not always the case. That some birds will be
guilty of acts of mischief and barbarity, even with the best
of attention and care, is true enough. It is so in all crea¬
tion. When this does happen, and is clearly traced, it is
better they be got rid of. But it does not follow that
because a bird, or pair of birds, have not done well over
one nest, that they should act similarly over others. I have
known several instances of young birds having had their
beaks, ends of wings, and feet, pecked and destroyed by the
parents a day or two after they have been chipped. Cases
of this kind are difficult to treat. I have frequently been
called upon for my advice and assistance in the matter. In
some, I have found on entering a breeder's room, the air to
be so oppressive as to feel an uneasiness even concerning
oneself, and further, on examining the nests, have discovered
the red-mites infesting them, often in perfect clusters. If a
hen becomes weakened with the thirteen days' sitting, and
nearly all that time has been annoyed or troubled, especially
during the nights, with the vermin-pests, and she burys or
disposes of an egg or so, and sometimes uproots one or two
to an upmost corner of the nest, how is it to be wondered
at if, when the young are just chipped, the hen vents her
uneasiness on her offspring by pecking at them ? This, once
begun, is continued to the total maiming or disfigurement
of the young. Sometimes the male birds will commit
such acts. There are instances where the male birds are
guilty of these diabolical deeds of maiming through an
unnatural disposition, for I have seen them lift them out
of the nests with their beaks, and drop them to the bottom
THE CANARY.
of the cage, and there continue to peck at them. I have
seen the male parent even attack birds after they have left
their nests at the age of eighteen or twenty days old, and
completely scalp them. When they are found thus savage to
their offspring, they (the males) are better removed from
the cage. I have known the parent bird, the hen in parti¬
cular, bring up the young, even after the early maiming of
them, but only when the young have been placed in clean
nests free from vermin. This convinces me that the an¬
noyance and worrying by the red-mites has often been
the cause of mischief.
When a dirty nest is removed, it should be burnt.
In cases of severe maiming, the young are better destroyed,
for they will only be cripples. In supplying a clean
nest, let it be a fac simile of the one the hen had made.
A day previous to chipping, especially in June or July,
I change the eggs to a clean nest, but before so doing,
adopt my usual practice of moistening them, by dipping
them in water blood warm. This practice is very essen¬
tial in the earlier part of the breeding season, for it
materially assists in freeing the young from the egg¬
shell. Clean nests are more necessary in June and July,
for the red-mites are then more troublesome. When the
young are about ten days old, supply another clean nest.
Never mind a little trouble—in fact, you cannot well suc¬
ceed without it. To prevent, in a great measure, the hen
plucking the young birds to line her next nest, supply her
with a fresh nest when the young are fourteen days old.
Remove the nest containing the young on to another hook
or nail, and hang the new nest-box or basket in its place. The
cock-bird will readily attend to the young when so removed.
Most hens prefer building in the old position. If this is
not done, and you place in a cage a fresh box or basket,
and supply the hen with building material, they will very
66
THE CANABY.
often begin to build on tbe young birds. This plan will
save many young birds from being disfigured. It is so
essential tbat birds, required for moulting for exhibition,
should not be plucked by the parents. If so plucked they
are not so rich in plumage as when treated in the moulting
process.
An observant and systematic bird-breeder—when breed
ing with several pairs—will keep a book, in which he will
state the respective kinds of birds he may put up to breed.
He will note and number each pair in the book, mark the
cages or partitions with corresponding numbers, write
down what dates such and such hens began sitting, wh^n
tbe time of incubation is up, the number of eggs set, and
also the number of birds chipped or reared from the nests.
This will guide him much in sorting out his birds for moult¬
ing, which is of consequence to the breeder who moults
for exhibition purposes. Memory is apt to fail one at
times.
Male birds are often very mischievous to their young, by
plucking or drawing out their tail feathers soon after they
have left the nest. When this occurs, place the young
birds in a small wire cage apart from the parents, and hang
it on to the front of the breeding partition, supplying the
old birds, as usual, with food. Place the cage so close that
the young, when they fret or cry to be fed, can receive food
from the old ones through the wires, which should be opened
a little. Gradually tempt and learn the young to feed, by
placing bits of soft food on the cage. When they can do
this, take them away altogether.
If it is necessary to feed the young by hand, grated roll
tr pounded dried biscuit is taken, and mixed with pounded
rape-seed, and this food is kept in a box. As often as it
is necessary to feed them, a little of it is moistened with
some yolk of egg and water, and given them from a quilL
THE CANA.Br,
57
This must be done ten or twelve times a-day; about four
quills full is tlie portion necessary for each meal.
Until the twelfth day the young remain almost naked,
and require to be covered by the female. It will also
sometimes happen, especially in cold dry years, that the
birds scarcely get any plumage. An experiment of
Mad. . . . proves that a tepid bath accelerates their
growth. This lady has also facilitated the disclosure of the
young from the shell when too hard for the young to
break through themselves, by means of warm water.
This beautiful experiment may be profitably applied to the
eggs of other birds. It is also well known that in warm
moist weather young birds will free themselves from the
shells much easier than when a dry atmosphere prevails.
When a month old, the young may be removed from the
breeding cage. "With the usual food of the old birds they
must still be fed for some weeks upon the above kinds, for the
sudden removal of soft food often occasions death. Gradu¬
ally get them on to feeding upon Canary seed before you
discontinue soft food. It is asserted, and not without
reason, that those Canaries which are reared in an arbour,
where they have space to fly about within an enclosure of
wire, are longer-lived and stronger than those which are
reared m a chamber.
A curious and important observation which has frequently
been made, namely, when there are two females with one
male in a cage, and one dies, the other will hatch the eggs laid
by her co-mate, and rear the young as her own, and, during
this foster-mother's care, cautiously avoid the caresses of
her mate.
Young birds sometimes leave the nests with the hind
claw deformed |rom having been brought towards the front.
When this is perceived, loop the hind claw to the shank
with a piece of worsted or soft cotton, not too tight, or it
58
THE CAN A. BY.
will be contracted. Broken shanks can often be cured
by using two splinters up each side, binding it with soft
cotton. Small splinters made out of quills are good for the
purpose, for being hollow they are more adaptable to tho
shape of the leg.
It is not unusual for birds kept for singing purposes
to be seized with fits when reached down to be cleaned or
examined. This generally arises from their being hung
high up on the walls, where there is a fire or gas used.
Gas, especially, is most injurious and weakening. Birds
kept in this way often cast their feathers, and fall off in
their song. There is no wonder at this happening. [Fancy
oneself having to contend with a vitiated or exhausted
atmosphere. It is frequently remarked by those who ele¬
vate themselves by standing or getting on to a chair how
oppressive it is to the breathing organ near the ceiling.
In this close and poisonous air the poor birds have to live,
and there is no wonder that the system should become
affected, and the loss of feathers take place. They should
be hung or suspended face high, where the air is purest.
They then enjoy better health, become more familiar, and
do not suffer so much from the weakness which causes
the fits. When thus seized, a plunge in a cold bath will
often tend to restore them. Birds are more healthy and
stronger in feather when kept apart from artificial heat,
where no fire is kept. [Fresh water daily, and a free use
of it to bathe in, is an advantage to them.
To the fancier or breeder of first-class stock, who is
desirous of exhibiting birds for honours, the washing pro¬
cess is most essential. Birds are, independent of breed
and other qualifications, expected to be placed before
the notice of a judge in all possible beauty and condition
of plumage. Many fine birds have been kept in the rear
rank owing to the smoky or dirty state they have been in
THE CAHABY. 39
when exhibited. Whatever bloom they'may be possessed
pf is partly hidden by the dirt and smoke, and were unclean
birds encouraged before cleanly-looking specimens, an in«
ducement would be offered to filth, and exhibitions would
degenerate. In performing the operation of washing, much
care must be exercised. You will require a cage for
drying in before the fire, with a soft cloth placed on the
bottom inside the cage, a shaving brush (the one I use
for the washing operation is made of badger-hair, being
soft and easy), a fine soft drying cloth for extracting as
much damp as possible out of the "feathers before placing
them in the drying cage, and two bowls for washing the
birds in. When you lay hold of a bird to wash it, handle it
firmly, but carefully. Hold the bird in the left hand, with the
head towards the wrist, the tail falling over the forefinger.
When washing, do not press the thumb tight across its
neck, for, by so doing, the neck feathers may possibly
become frilled. Then, after rubbing the brush upon the
soap, apply it to the back of the bird, washing the back
and wings down to the tail. Having freely performed in
this manner, turn the bird on its back, and in a similar manner
clean the breast and underneath portion. Operate on the
head and neck, and when you find the dirt well extracted,
rinse in clean warm water, or the feathers will not be in
proper condition when the bird is dry. Do not be afraid
of soap getting into the eyes or mouth, but, of course, be
as careful as possible in this respect. The birds will be¬
come somewhat prostrate, and appear to an unpractised
person as though they were dying, but it is not often such
accidents happen. One advantage is to get through the
operation as speedily as possible, keeping the birds warm
the whole of the time. Do not have the water beyond
blood-heat for fear of injuring them, and, previous to wash¬
ing, place in each bowl a small piece of soda, which assists
60
THE CANABY.
in getting the dirt well out of the feathers. It will occupy
about six or eight minutes to wash each bird, and from
twenty minutes to half-an-hour drying. Have a good fire
to dry with, but be careful not to place the birds too near
for fear of burning them. "When one is washed, and placed
in the drying cage, proceed to operate upon another, and
as you find the first washed dry place them in another cage.
This will prevent one while drying from soiling the others,
and will afford more room in the drying cage for the re¬
mainder. One drying-cage will be sufficient for a dozen
or upwards to dry in. Birds kept in the country away
from the smoke of a town, very rarely require so much
cleansing, but keep them how you may in a neighbourhood
where there is much smoke, you cannot even, with close
covering up, prevent birds becoming soiled and dirty in
plumage.
When the tail or wing-feathers are broken, pluck out
the stumps. It will take from five to six weeks for the full
growth of new feathers. It is necessary that all birds should
be exhibited in as perfect a state of plumage as possible.
Avoid as much as possible damaging the wings and tail
feathers of London Fancy and Lizards, for with them the
growth of new feathers become more grey. When the ends
of the flight or tail feathers become curled, they can easily
be straightened by dipping in hot water and stroked through
the thumb and finger.
A great drawback to successful bird-breeding before the
early part of April, is the loss of hens that frequently
occurs, and the unsatisfactory number of eggs laid, often but
one, two, or three, and those most likely unfertile; whereas
\y delaying until a more genial and propitious season sets
m, you have a better chance of success, save the lives of
your hens, and have a full complement of eggs. This
climate is so variable, that you should not be tempted by
THE CANARY*
<51
early sunshine, or risk having to contend with frosty nights.
Many exceptions to ill-luck may happen where birds have
the advantage of artificial heat, and are bred in a rooty
over one where a fire or gas has been kept burning during
the day and part of the night. In such instances the birds
derive a certain benefit, but I do not advise either a fire to
bo kept, or gaslight (which is very injurious), to be used
in the same room, for the express purpose of forwarding
your birds. I know some writers have advocated heat from
gas as a means of promoting success. I know many cases
of the ill-effects caused through the use of it. The case
of one breeder in particular I will mention. He had gas
fixed, and burnt it in a stove every night during March and
April. The birds were forwarded very much, laid several
eggs, and reared a fine young brood, but in early May his
breeding birds began to cast feathers and moult, and an
end was put to his further success. Several of his birds
became very weakly, and died in consequence, at the very
time when they ought to have been doing best. I advise
matters taking more of their natural course, and would urge
breeders not to be too hasty in sending hens to nest, for in
early spring, especially, very cold north or north-east winds
prevail, and they are very pernicious, not only to man and
beasts, but to Canaries also, and there is less chance of the
young chipping so well as when a warmer or more humid
climate sets in. Very often in the early part of April
unfavourable weather for hens laying will prevail, and the
distressing complaint of inflammation or egg-bound will
occur. "When hens are breeding they will mostly, to«
wards the laying of their eggs, appear dull. Some may
be more robust than others, and pass through their diffi¬
culties easier; not so with some which, especially the day
prior to laying, appear much affected, and towards mid-day,
or the afternoon, become completely prostrate, and are not
E
62
THE CANAEY.
able to reach the perches, or even the nest basket or box to
deposit their eggs. It is an old-fashioned custom, I know,
for breeders to fix their nesting-places high up in some
remote corner. I do not approve of this. They do better
when not so high. The hens when somewhat ill and
affected make attemps to reach their nests, and would often
succeed were they fixed lower in the cage. "When a hen
has strength to reach its nest do not interfere with it, and
no doubt you will find the morning's present, and the hen
bearing all the signs of health. If the night be cold and
dry, and great prostration ensues, with no chance of her
reaching the nest, then you run the risk of losing her, and
she would be better taken out, placed in a small cage with
some moss at the bottom, and kept in a room where there
is warmth, with a little oil applied to the vent, and replaced
in the breeding-cage very early the next morning. Again,
if prostration should be so great, showing evident signs of
approaching death (which is very speedy at times, for I
have found various degrees of prostration), then administer
one or two drops of castor-oil, and let the hen have a warm
bath (be particular the water is not too warm), by holding
the underneath part of the bird for five or more minutes in
the water. After this anoint the vent with either a little
oil or lard, and then lay it on the moss in the cage before
the fire. You will afford relief to the hen thereby, and
most likely save its life. The cause of this prostration is
a want of proper action through the ungenial weather,
which causes an excitement or inflammation to the womb
or egg receptacle. Young hens are more liable than
those of m ire mature age. IVhen you find a hen you
expected to ^ay in the morning in a corner on the bottom
of the cage, all appearance lifeless, that poor sufferer
requires immediate assistance. Apply the oil inwardly
and outwardly as directed, and let it have the warm water
THE CANARY.
63
or a vapour-bath. Both are good, but I prefer the former,
which moistens them more effectually, and keeps up a
dewy moisture longer whilst they are in the small cage
before the fire; whereas the vapour-bath suffices only for
a time, and the skin of the bird sooner becomes dry when
before the fire. It is essential that both heat and moisture
should be brought into play. After the above treatment,
the hen will no doubt soon part with the egg. Do not
break an egg inwards, for they can be better delivered
whole. I have saved the lives of many hens with the above
treatment. Sometimes young hens will rupture themselves
by forcing the womb completely out. If you cannot, after
the aid of the warm-bath, gently- replace it, destroy the
hen, which will be more humane than allowing her to con¬
tinue in agony until death, which assuredly will take place.
Canaries may also be paired with other birds which have
a natural affinity to them. The best adapted for this pur¬
pose, as we have above seen, are the Linnet, the Lesser
Redpole, the Goldfinch, the Siskin, the Serin, and the Citril.
But successful experiments have also been made with the
Greenfinch and the Bullfinch. It has been stated that
Sparrows, Chaffinches, and Yellow Buntings, have been
paired with Canaries; but from their marked differences
it must be a very difficult matter. Dr. Jassay, of Erank-
fort-on-the-Maine, has stated that he has reared hybrids
between the male Bullfinch and the female Canary, but
which were hatched and fed by other Canaries ; and that
in Bohemia many of these hybrids are reared. " My Bull¬
finch," he says, " is so social, that as soon as removed from
his companion ho cries incessantly, and will not agree with
any other bird."
Either of these birds are reared for the purpose of being
removed very young from the nest, in which case, as regards
pairing, the difference of species is of no considerai ion; a
04 the canaby.
tamed ad alt male bird is most frequently associated with a
hen Canary. The young combine the plumage of the
parents. The hybrids produced from Linnets, Goldfinches,
and Siskins, will learn to sing well, but those with the Eed-
pole very indifferently.
When the young birds can eat alone, the males commence
warbling, and the females also, but less connectedly, and
from this the sexes may be distinguished. Practised breeders
can mostly tell the males from the females before leaving
their nests from the bold appearance of them, and the
more blooming nature of the maiden plumage. To teach a
young bird to pipe, he must now be separated from his
comrades, and also from other birds, and placed in a small
wire cage, which must, at the commencement, be covered
with linen, and subsequently, by degrees, with thicker
woollen cloth, and then a short air or other musical piece
must be whistled to him, or a flute or small organ may be
used. His lessons should be repeated five or six times a-
day, especially in the evenings and mornings, and in five or
six months he will be able to acquire the air, according to
the power of his memory.
Canaries may be accustomed to fly, but the trouble and
risk are so great, that it is hardly worth the time and care
necessary to teach them. The male is first allowed its
liberty in a place where there are trees, and the female is
hung at the window, which speedily attracts the male back
to the cage. This teaching must be continued for five or
six days, but no handling or violent attempts to take it
should be used.
But in autumn, previous to the migratory period, they
dust not be allowed to go free, as they are apt to stray
with the Linnets, with which they associate when at
liberty.
Maladies.—These domesticated birds, rarely or never
THE CANARY.
65
enjoying the open air, and having little exercise, are sub¬
jected to the following maladies :—
1. Rupture.—This is a common malady, especially iy
young birds, and is a kind of indigestion which causes in¬
flammation of the intestines. The symptoms of this malady
are a lean, transparent, blown-up body, full of small red
veins, and in which all the intestines seem to have fallen to
the lower part of the body, and seem black and tangled.
Too much nutritious food is the cause of this evil. All
remedies seem ineffective against this malady, but assistance
is sometimes obtained from a spare and simple diet, with
some alum or salt put into the drink, and the aid of the
warm bath, and administering one drop of brandy to two
drops of water.
2. The Yellow Gall in the head and eyes may be cured by
refreshing food ; but if there be a tubercle of the size of a
hemp seed, it must be cut oif, and the wound must be
anointed with fresh butter.
3. Sweating.—Some females whilst hatching have the
sweating sickness, which is injurious to the brood, and may
be detected by the feathers of the lower part of the body
being quite wet. The body of the bird should be washed
with salt and water, and the entire body with fresh spring
water to wash off the salt, and be dried rapidly before a
gentle heat. This is repeated once or twice a-day. This
sickness, however, is not so prejudicial as is usually con¬
sidered.
4. Sneezing, occasioned by a stoppage of the nostrils,
may be removed by a very small feather being passed
through them.
5. Loss of Voice.—If the male, after moulting, lose his
voice, he must have diet similar to that given to young
birds. Some persons give them a bit of bacon to peck at.
6. Constipation is cured by giving them plenty of green
food, such as water-cresses,salad, $c.
56
1av canaey.
7. Epilepsy or Fainting Fits are commonly brought on
by two great a delicacy of treatment, and also by timidity.
They ought to be kept free from alarm, either by catching
or tormenting them in any way. Feeding and indulging
them freely with sweet pampering food and keeping them
too warm and in an impure atmosphere, tends very much
to weaken the birds, and will often bring on fits. A cold
bath is often of great service in restoring them.
8. Overgrown Claws or Bealcs require to be pared with
k sharp pen-knife or scissors. Care must be taken, how¬
ever, not to cut the claws too close, else the birds may lose
too much blood, and become lame. The end of the red ray
or vein, both in the beak and claws, when held against the
light, shows exactly how far they may be cut. During
hatching, also, the nails of the female must be sometimes
cut, that they may not be caught by them when in the nest.
9. Lice are sometimes a cause of annoyance to them,
especially "when not kept clean. These lice are in the first
stage of growth of a grey colour, but become the colour of
a diminutive red bug after sucking the blood of birds. They
quickly accumulate in the nests, which should be destroyed
and fresh ones given. Frequent bathing, cleanliness in the
cage, and dry sand, mixed with bruised aniseed, scattered
upon the floor, are remedies against these enemies.
If used in breeding, the age of a Canary scarcely ex¬
tends longer than from seven to ten years; in other circum¬
stances, when carefully attended to, they may be preserved
for eighteen or twenty years.
Commendatoky Qualities.—These birds have always been
agreeable to the fancier from their beautiful plumage, ele¬
gant shape, singular capacity, and attractive familiarity, no
less than by the charms of their melodious song. Besides,
an admirable opportunity is presented of observing the dif¬
ferences of character and temperament whicb exist in these as
THE CANARY.
67
in others of their species. We find some melancholy, others
cheerful; some angry, others peaceful; some intelligent,
others dull; some industrious, others idle ; some greedy,
others frugal. But they have chiefly made themselves be¬
loved by their animated, powerful, and varying song, which
lasts almost throughout the whole year (with some even
during moulting time). Those are highly prized that sing
at night, when candles are lighted, but few birds can be
taught this habit. Those birds which intermix in their
melodies several strophes of the song of the Nightingale
are considered the finest singers. They are called Tyrolese
Canaries, as it is said they originated in the Tyrol, where
many birds of this kind are reared. After these follow
the English singers, which imitate the song of the Lark.
In Thuringia the best singers are those which can descend
through an octave, in a clear silvery tone, occasionally in¬
troducing a loud burst, like a trumpet. In breeding time,
some of the males sing so incessantly and powerfully, that
they rupture the small vessels of the lungs, and suddenly
drop down dead in the midst of their song.
In the spring, as soon as the breeding instinct is excited
by the eager calls of the male, the female emits some
solitary, broken, and inharmonious notes; and old ones,
past breeding, often do so throughout the whole year.
These birds are also distinguished by their correctness
of ear, the remarkable skill they possess of imitating all
tones, and their excellent memory. It is very delightful
to hear them when they have learnt the song of the Night¬
ingale. Not only do they imitate the notes of other birds,
and by mixing them with their own greatly improve them
(hence originates the extraordinary variety of their song),
but they will even learn to utter short words with some
degree of correctness.
When you wish to possess and retain a g(x>d songster, it
68
THE CANAET.
would be as well to observe the following rules, which, from
experience, I have found to be useful. In order that the
bird should acquire a good style of singing, his education
and training ought to begin when he leaves the nest, care¬
fully secluding him from all birds but the one whose song
it is wished that he should acquire. The same course must
be adopted during his first and second moulting ; after that
time, as he must, as it were, relearn his song, he but too
easily intermixes with it anything that he may just have
heard, and of which he was entirely ignorant the preceding
year. Here also one bird is distinguished beyond another
in its capacity. Care also must be taken to observe whether
the bird prefers solitude or the society of its comrades.
Many birds will continue silent for years unless kept by
themselves ; others, on the contrary, will only sing loudly
when excited by the presence of other birds. It is an im¬
portant matter to attend to their food, so that each bird
may have its simple allowance for the day given to it each
morning; they will then enjoy good health, and sing vigo¬
rously and cheerfully.
Fatal epidemics in birds will sometimes occur—old and
young alike falling victims to the scourge. This fatality
may be encouraged by keeping too many birds within a
given space, when, what with the disease and that continued
tormentor—
" The blood-sucking red-mite,
Ever on the hunt at night—
the birds become weak through loss of blood and rest,
being in a poorer condition on account of approaching the
moulting period, when the scourge generally takes place.
It is necessary that every precaution be taken that the young
stock, especially, are well and cleanly cared for, as regards
pure water, grit-sand, and good sound seed. One most
important matter is that the Canary seed, which should be
5HE CANARY. 59
sound and bright, be sifted and well picked before it is
given to the birds. Free use of soft food, and unripe green
food have a tendency to cause swelling. When once my
young birds have got on to Canary seed, I discontinue egg.
Cold draughts of air will often affect them, and bring on
inflammation and swelling. When they become affected
very often a drop or two of weak brandy and water will be
of great service; also a drop of castor-oil and the bread
and milk diet, and a change to a warmer situation will tend
to their recovery. When frequent mortality occurs, you
may then fear some fatal disease has set in. Have the sur¬
vivors all washed and removed to another room, and the
cages and partitions thoroughly cleansed, the walls lime-
washed, and the places disinfected with chloride of lime.
As a general diet, at this period, give groats, Canary seed,
crushed plain biscuit, and flax-seed, but no hemp or rape-
Beed. Occasionally soak a little stale bread in cold water,
and when well squeezed add a few drops of cod-liver oil,
supplying a piece to each the size of a small nut. I have
known more than one hundred birds, old and young, swept
off in a short time by the Canary epidemic. It causes sad
havoc to those who may experience its dire effects; and
there is nothing like taking active measures to endeavour
to check its progress. Yery often seed becoming impreg¬
nated with the dirt of mice will bring on much illness, and
cause many deaths.
ARTIFICIAL COLOURINa.
The artificial colouring of birds, especially Canaries, is a
tricky artifice often practised by some, who, much to their
shame and disgrace, resort to the defacing of Nature's
works for the sake of gain, and to defeat those who pursue
70
THE CANABY.
a just course. I am, therefore, compelled to allude to the
matter, having, during my many years' experience as a
judge of birds, exposed very glaring instances. For the
welfare and success of exhibitions, and for the credit of the
fancy in general, every publicity should be given where
instances of such gross fraud are found. By means of tests
and close scrutiny, deep dyes and weaker colouring matters
have been extracted from the high-coloured Canaries.
I have known Lizard birds to have been tampered with
on their feathers and legs; and Bullfinches, Virginian
Nightingales, Cockatoos, and other specimens have been
highly dressed with deep solutions and powder, for the
sake of beautifying their appearance. The exposures made
at some of the leading exhibitions, have no doubt tended
much towards checking the evil which at one time was
carried on to a great extent. In nine cases out of ten
these attempted frauds are detected; but the judges not
being aware in what way the impositions are to be palmed
upon them, it behoves them to be doubly cautious, and
not pass hastily over those specimens exhibited which at
first sight seem to be the most likely for winning highest
honours. An effectual check is to post up in every show¬
room the name of the person so offending, and frame a
rule in the schedule prohibiting him from again exhibiting.
There is a law to punish those who pass counterfeit
coin; the man who exhibits birds with counterfeit plum¬
age is no better, and committees and those who have
the management of bird-shows have, or should have, their
remedy, to a certain extent, against the evil. One
case of bird-painting, but not, in this instance, in con¬
nection with a show, was that of a man who appeared
before the magistrates at Beading for selling coloured birds.
The man called at a person's house with two birds in
cages, which he offered for sale, saying he was a servant,
the cahaitv.
71
niid his master would not let him keep them ; and ho must
therefore, get rid of them. One of the birds (a very
handsome one), the man said, had been sent to him by hi?
brother, who was a sailor, from Spain. It was red about
the head, on which it had a black feather gracefully curling
towards its beak ; a tinge of blue on the breast, and its
wings delicately shaded with yellow and areen. The bird
was purchased. The man was afterwards seen offering
other birds for sale, and as he had got no others but those
resembling that particular one sent by his sailor-brother,
he was suspected of being a cheat. On examining the
beautifully plumaged bird it was found that the gay colour¬
ing was a work of art and deceit, and that its graceful tuft
had been gummed on its head; in fact, it was only a com¬
mon hen sparrow.
A FEW HINTS TO BREEDERS AND BIRD KEEPERS.
1. Avoid, as much as possible, the borrowing of birds, for
there is a great probability of something occurring during
the time the bird is ,-t) four possession; this frequently
gives rise to murmuring, which is far better prevented.
2. "We all like to have our food clean and apart from im¬
purities. It is necessary that birds, too, should have their
food clean and wholesome, for by not supplying their seed
free from dust and dirt, disease is often brought on. Every
breeder of birds should be provided with a fine sieve, having
a mesh sufficient to allow only the dust to pass through.
Likewise use a sieve for the purpose of pressing through the
egg, and bun or bread, which saves more time than when
chopped with a knife. Use also a small hand-net for catch¬
ing the birds when kept in a room or spacious fly. Supply
fresh water daily.
72
the canar2.
3. Be ail enemy to tlie greatest enemy birds have, viz.,
the red-hug, or vermin. Although such a pest to birds, they
may be kept in check by cleanliness, not allowing stale nests
to lie about, and examining well all crevices and ends of
perches. "When a cage is infested, even when there is but
one bird in, remove the bird to another cage, and scald and
well clean the other. If you perceive any small grey spots
or mouldy-looking appearances about the crevices of the
cage, there the vermin is lurking. I have found train oil
of much use in applying to the crevices of cages and nest-
boxes.
4. On visiting a brother fancier's bird-room to look at
his birds, be cautious, and do not suddenly point your
finger close to the cage ; serious accidents ofttimes occur to
choice birds, especially those being prepared for exhibition,
through such incautiousness.
5. Avoid all depreciating remarks concerning other
fanciers' birds, extolling your own at the same time. Self-
praise of your own stock is no recommendation.
6. If you wish to purchase a bird, do so from a respect¬
able breeder or dealer, for it is better you pay a little more
for one you may depend upon than buy from itinerant
vendors.
7. Healthy birds should possess the following qualifica¬
tions :—Compact and close feathers, wings not drooping,
free from pant and wheezing, nostrils free from discharge,
no inclination to keep the head under the wings, not to
droop upon the perch, not to accumulate filth about the
vent, or have a difficulty in discharging the excrement. The
above are signs of ill-health.
8. Beware oe Cats.—Generally they arenot to betrusted,
however much you may believe you have checked them from
interfering with your birds. They have a very nice taste,
arid are excellent climbers and bird-catchers. There a,re ex-
the caeaby.
73
ceplions where cats have been kept for some time without
touching birds, but as a rule it is contrary to their nature.
9. Beware also of Mice.—Much injury is often caused
by birds becoming poisoned, owing to seed being impreg¬
nated with the filth of mice. I would advise them being
caught in traps rather than have a cat for the purpose.
Pussy might otherwise take a fancy to the birds.
The popular belief that the young birds are assisted by
flieir parents in escaping from their shells receives the fol¬
lowing correction in a work published by It. Laishley, en¬
titled, " A Popular History of British Birds' Eggs." It
states :—" The operation of leaving the shell is a very beau¬
tiful one, and exhibits very markedly the wisdom and con¬
trivance of the Creator. The beak is furnished with a bony
point, which afterwards drops off. This is protruded through
the shell. By means of its feet as levers, the animal then
turns itself a little, till by degrees the whole top of the large
end is cut very cleanly off, and & passage is opened for the
imprisoned chick to go free."
" Granivorous birds, or such as live upon vegetables, have
their intestines constructed differently from those of the
rapacious kind. Their gullet dilates just above the breast¬
bone, and forms itself into a pouch or bag, which is perhaps
better known by being called the crop. This crop is replete
with glands, the food being softened by the saliva it con¬
tains. The food is here prepared in a great measure for the
young birds, as you may see both the cock and hen heave it
up as it were when feeding their young. "When birds take
food for themselves, after becoming macerated, it passes
from the crop into the belly, where it is ground between
two pair of muscles, called the gizzard, covered on the inside
with a strong ridgy coating, which rub against one another,
and are capable of attenuating the hardest substances.
74
THE CANABY.
Tkeir action is equal to teeth in other animals. The sand
or gravel found in the gizzard is requisite in preventing the
too violent action of the coats of the stomach against eack
ather."
" In the construction of nests, every species of birds has
a peculiar architecture of its own—this being adapted to the
number of eggs, or the temperature and heat of the body.
All small birds make their nests very warm, for having
many eggs it is requisite to distribute equal warmth."
Birds kept in rooms or aviaries are more favourably cir¬
cumstanced than when in small cages, for in the former the
full use of their wings is brought into play. The follow¬
ing interesting remarks respecting the formation of a bird's
wing are extracted from a paper, by the Duke of Argyll,
published in 1865 :—" The feathers of a bird's wing have a
natural three-fold division, according to the different wing-
bones to which they are attached. The quills which form
the end of the wing are called the 'primaries,' those which
form the middle of the vane are called the 'secondaries,'
and those which are next the body of the bird are called the
' tertiaries.' The motion of a bird's wing increases from its
minimum at the shoulder-joint to its maximum at the tip.
The primary quills, which form the termination of the wing,
are those on which the chief burden or flight is cast. Each
feather has less and less weight to bear, and less and less
force to exert, in proportion as it lies nearer the body of
the bird ; and there is nothing more beautiful in the struc¬
ture of a wing than the perfect gradation in strength and
stiffness, as well as in modification of form which marks the
series from the first of the primary quills to the last and
feeblest of the tertiaries."
the canary.
75
MULES, HYBRIDS, AND MULE BREEDING.
If anything in bird breeding tests the patience of a true
fancier most, it is Mule breeding, especially when endeavour¬
ing to breed high- class birds. Year after year many truly
fine specimens have been exhibited at the various exhibi¬
tions. Were it not taking the liberty of naming the many
veteran fanciers of Mules, I could mention numerous ex¬
hibitors who, with much honour and credit, have shown
birds of great value. The practised fancier alone estimates
the worth of good Mules. The uninitiated in the mysteries of
muling often imagine they are possessed of a Mule when it
is nought else than a peculiar marked or cross-bred Canary.
Even those, I know for a fact, who have bred Canaries for
many years, not high-classed birds for exhibition purposes,
have laboured under a wrong impression. One striking
instance came under my notice at a show held at Derby in
1866, and which I referred to in the Land and Water in
October of the same year:—" I was standing close to a man
who was examining a cage of six Silver-spangled Lizards,
and on his being asked by another person what birds they
were, he, in my hearing, told him they were Mules, bred
from the Brown Linnet and Canary. Now this man had
been a breeder of birds, according to his own statement,
thirty years, and yet made so extraordinary an assertion.
He had evidently bred nothing else but common birds, or
at least he could have had no experience beyond a cer¬
tain point, and he was quite indignant on being told he
was mistaken in calling them Mules." Another instance
in Derby was that of a breeder informing me he knew
or had heard of a man breeding a splendid marked "Mule
bird," as he termed it, which information coming to my
knowledge, and loving a good Mule, I paid the owner a
visit, and having examined his stock, but not seeing the
76
THE CANARY.
choice object of my special visit, I asked to be allowed to
see bis Mule, wben be pointed to a cage just above my bead,
whicb, to my great surprise, contained nought else tban a
cross-bi'ed bird betwixt a Lizard and common Canary!
Now, I will only suppose tbis person breeding with tbis
particular so-called " Mule," and a Canary, tbe following
season witb success, and as regards young stock, I firmly
believe (for I could not make bim tbink it was otber tban
a Mule), be would feel fully convinced he was tbe possessor
of hybrids.
I also paid a visit to Leicester in 1868, to see an old
fancier who asserted be had a " clear Linnet and Canary
Mule," for which be asked tbe sum of £4. To my great
astonishment, although I doubted bim having such a bird, I
found it was a common bred ben Canary! I was once
returning from a show at Middleton, near Manchester,
where I bad been judging, and on arriving at Buxton, a
boy entered tbe railway carriage, carrying witb bim a
covered cage. I asked tbe boy what be bad got in the cage,
when be replied, " A green Linnet Mule, bis father said it
was, and he (bis father) had refused 10s. for it It's a
Darbyshire bred bird, sir." I could not help smiling at the
boy's innocence and readiness, and also bis statement of its
being a Derbyshire bred bird, as though it were better than
one bred elsewhere. On asking bim to let me look at tbe
bird, I found it to be a slightly marked common Green
Canary, and not a " Green Linnet Mule." It has fre¬
quently been said that Mules will breed with Canaries,
and that tbe first year, if it be a Mule ben, that tbe eggs
from such will only be tbe size of a pea. Tbis matter I
oave tested. I have bad Mule bens go to nest and lay eggs
the full size, but they have always been unfertile. I have
devoted all possible attention in endeavouring to succeed in
various ways, but always without any success, more than
THE CAN A It?.
77
experience. I have found that Goldfinch cock Mules will
often become uncommon fussy with hen Canaries, and wilf
pay as much attention as a Canary cock, and apparently
perform all the functions necessary for producing young, as
Mr. Hugh Hanly so truly observed. I have had cock
Mules help to bring up young birds hatched from eggs from
Canaries, and have often been pleased to notice a cock
Mule throw up the food and feed the young as well as a
Canary.
Goldfinch and Canary Mules.—The Mules bred
from the Goldfinch and Canary are more beautiful than
those of any other breed, especially the Jonques. I have
never yet seen an entirely clear good specimen, equal in
clearness and appearance to the Mealys, although many
hundreds of the best birds in England have come under
my inspection. On the other hand, many fine clear Mealy
Mules have been shown. There are six or eight classes set
apart for these birds, viz., two for Clear Mules, or as nearly
approaching clear birds (clear for choice) as possible ; two
for Yariegated or Even-Marked, which include birds marked
about each eye, or each wing, or with a dark feather on
each side of the tail; two (in some shows, not general) for
Uneven-Marked birds ; and two for dark Mules. In former
years the dark Mules were not considered of much value,
but by a wise alteration they were admitted into the sche¬
dules, and the consequence has been that many very fine
birds have often been exhibited. The Mules in general
favour are those even-marked about the eyes and wings.
Of late years they have been exhibited in such fault¬
less plumage as to gain the attention of numerous admirers.
I have been possessed of numerous fine specimens in my
time, and am proud to say that at the Southampton
show, in 1868, I succeeded in carrying off the silver cup
And two silver medals with Mules alone. The famous
78
the canary.
Jonque Mule gained for me a dozen first and second prizes
at various exhibitions in England and Glasgow, for which
honours he had travelled thousands of miles. Three years
in succession I exhibited it at Glasgow, on the last occasion
in company with a fine even-marked Mealy Mule, each of
which won for me a first prize, and a couple of well executed
gilt morocco trophies in the year 1864. The bird, with
another specimen, somewhat inferior, soon afterwards passed
from my hands to those of a gentleman residing near Man¬
chester, for the sum of £10. But although my Jonque
Mule was so excellent in every respect, I have since seen
others shown equally as good from Prestwich (near Man¬
chester), Sunderland, and Durham. The two best Jonque
Goldfinch Mules I ever witnessed were exhibited by a
Plymouth fancier, and won highest honours at the
Crystal Palace Bird Show in 1870. Without exception,
they were admitted to be the finest specimens ever seen in
England in the memory of those who saw them. There
have, during the past few years, been many beautiful Mealy
Goldfinch Mules shown. One in particular deserves notice.
This bird was bred by a member of the London Eancy
" Hand-in-Hand" Society, who resided at Walworth, Surrey.
The bird, after being exhibited at the Palace show and at
Southampton, became the property of noted exhibitors
living in Bristol, and near Leicester-square, London, but it
soon passed into the hands of a Derby fancier, from whom
it was purchased by a famous Mule exhibitor at Prestwich.
The bird was eventually claimed by a gentleman at Durham.
It was shown on many occasions, but was never defeated.
Brown Linnet and Canary Mules.—Good Mules of
this breed are scarce. It is not a common or everyday
occurrence to breed Goldfinch Mules possessed of light or
pied feathers, but it is more difficult to breed Brown Linnet
Mules of much better appearance of plumage than a Sparrow.
the canary.
Even the very best of them are much inferior in plumage
to a Goldfinch and Canary Mule. The difficulty in breeding
Linnet Mulea light is great, but when they are so bred, the
value of such is high, and the nearer they resemble the
colour of a clear Canary the more they are enhanced in
worth. They are rarely bred with uniformity of marking
and in this respect they somewhat vary from Goldfinch
Mules. Those regularly marked on the wiugs, and
about the heads, with clear bodies, and in condition and
plumage, are most prized. I have had several choice
specimens which have won for me first honours. Linnet
Mules, when well tutored under a good songster, make the
best of song-birds, their harmony generally being so very
melodious. Linnets are not so mischievous with the nests
and eggs as Goldfinches, and if paired to a Canary hen will
pay all attention to her and the young. "When they take
well to young birds they are excellent feeders, and will
bring them up strong. I have known them sometimes to
be unkind, approach a nest, and, without much ceremony,
lay hold of the birds just hatched and throw them to
the bottom of the cage, and mutilate them. They may
be treated nearly the same as Goldfinches, but occasionally
a little rapeseed (scalded) should be given. The seed known
by the name of " kedloek," a kind of wild rape, is a good
diet as a change. The Mules may be treated the same as
Canaries, only a little more hemp and flax may be supplied
occasionally.
Siskin and Canary Mules.—The Siskin (which gene¬
rally prefers to cling to the wires of a cage instead of roosting
;n the perch) will freely breed with the Canary, and some
of the offspring take after the Siskin in plumage, being
of a greenish or greyish-green appearance, and bearing the
Siskin maiks or lines on each side of the head over the
eyes. I have bred several well marked with light or pied
80
TfiE CANAEY
feathers in the wings, and tails In size the Mules are a
Little larger than the Siskin, and are of close plumage. It
brought up under a free song-bird they will sing very sweetly
and free. I have had them almost equal to Canaries in
song. They are very active, and somewhat pugnacious.
Geeeneinch and Canaby Mules.—Mules of this breed
are more bulky in form, showing much of the Greenfinch
in plumage and beak; they are dull and moderate in ap¬
pearance and colour, although good in feather. They are
scarce worth the time and expense bestowed in breeding,
And are much inferior in song.
Bullfinch and Canaey Mules.—I have certainly seen
two specimens in my lifetime stated to be " Bullfinch and
Canary Mules," and those have been exhibited at the Crystal
Palace shows, and have come under my hands for adjudi¬
cation. With respect to these so-called Mules much doubt
has existed. The first was exhibited at the show of 1870. In
length and shape it partook much of the " Yorkshire " bred
bird, and the only portion of the bird that at all resembled
the Bullfinch was the peculiar shape of the upper mandible.
The form of the beak exactly resembled that of a Lizard
Canary I once had with a similar curvature. I have seen
many peculiarities in the beaks of birds, so that I could
not place much reliance on that point, and the bird being
a clear specimen was a very unlikely colour for a cross
betwixt a Bullfinch and Canary. Many other judges had
doubts concerning the so-called Bullfinch and Canary Mule.
Moreover, one of the best naturalists of the present day
expressed his belief that the bird was only a Canary with a
malformed beak. At the following show another specimen
of a " Bullfinch and Canary " mule was shown, but this,
although appearing a more likely one of the kind, was
considered by those fully competent to form an opinion to be
a cross between the Bullfinch and Chaffinch—indeed there
THE CANARY.
81
is generally considerable mystification about the matter.
Still I do not wish to discourage any breeder from trying,
md am not going to assert that such has not been the case
Hybrids.—Specimens bred from the Bullfinch and Gold¬
finch, and Greenfinch and Goldfinch, are well worthy of
notice. For several years many exceedingly fine birds,
bearing distinct evidence of each breed, have been seen at
the best shows.
When breeding with Goldfinches, Linnets, and Siskins,
supply each with a piece of the following food:—Soak a
piece of stale bread the size of a ball in cold water for an
hour, afterwards squeeze out the water, and rub in half a
thimbleful of cod liver oil, and give to each a bit the size
of a nut, with some maw-seed. This will tend to keep them
bright and close in plumage. Now and then give a little
crushed biscuit, a few groats, some flax seed, no rape, unless
scalded (and that to the Linnets), and not too much hemp.
Dandelion, as early in spring as convenient, is very necessary.
Mule Breeding.—As the Goldfinch breeds more freely
with the Canary than any other British bird, I will confine
my remarks more particularly to it, and give my own
experience and observations. In the "merry month of
May " I commence Mule breeding, having previously pre.
pared my Goldfinches by extra feeding. I have many
instances noted down of Mules having been bred prior to
the time I have named—even as early as February, but in
that particular instance the Goldfinch and hen Canary had
been kept in a room during winter, where there was fire
and gas. Birds so kept will breed earlier; but they
begin to moult at the time they ought to be doing best
Fire or gas heat I do not recommend, preferring to wait
until genial weather should set in.
Goldfinches give signs of good condition when in full and
continuous song, by freely " slamming," and frequently
82
TIIE CANARY.
repeating the " lippet-slam-sir-widdy" notes, which are
considered the most choice. A Mule breeder may judge
whether his Finch is " well-up " by the utterance of the
" chee-ter-wee-yer" notes, and the amusing rudder-like
swaggering of its tail immediately upwards. I never attempt
to breed with a yearling Goldfinch, preferring an old bird—
a white-legged one, as it is termed by many, the colour
undergoing a change from black to white, through being
kept and moulted in the house. Many breeders prefer a
dark-legged bird—a one-year-old, fresh caught. To test
whether they can breed from yearling Finches let them be
taken when they are " grey-pates," and tried the following
spring. Possibly here and there an odd Finch may be
forward enough for breeding; but, as a rule, they will not
breed in the house when only one year old. Some persons
advise a " three-by-six," others a " cheverel." The former
is known by having the three outer tail feathers " mooned "
with the white mark in the end of each, and the six feathers
in the centre being black. All Goldfinches are not so
marked, most of them having but two of the outer tail
feathers on each side with the white mark upon them. A
"cheverel," or "chibald," is known by the mark on the
throat, dividing the red around the beak, but sometimes
only a small speck of white appears. This latter kind is in
most demand, and some fanciers believe they cannot breed
a good Mule unless they possess a " cheverel" Finch. This
is a complete delusion. I have had varied success from all
kinds. One of the best Goldfinches I ever had was a small
bird, very indifferent in colour. This bird, soon after
coming from Plymouth, lost an eye, but it did not prevent
it breeding freely with a mealy-crested—almost a white
hen—with which I had good success. With this pair 1
bred some very handsome Mules, some almost clear—one,
in particular, after taking a first prize, finding a home at
THE CAHABY.
83
Calke Abbey, near Derby. The mother of this Mule never
bred a nest of young without some of them being very light
and well marked; but the Goldfinch having died, I parted
with the hen, and the following year the gentleman to
whom I sold her bred from her a nest of Mules "as
dark as mice." My one-eyed Pinch was neither a " three-
by-six " nor a " cheverel "—nothing but a common-looking
bird. On the other hand, I have bred good Mules from
fine looking Pinches possessed of plenty of showy colour,
and have proved to my entire satisfaction that good Mules
can be bred without selecting a " cheverel " Pinch.
For several years I obtained young Goldfinches (nestlings)
from a pear-tree, in an orchard at a place called Barrowash,
near Derby. I kept them until they were two years old,
and bred from them—some of the breeding-hens being good
marked birds, others indifferent and dark. In connection
with Goldfinches, those I reared yearly from the nests did
not exhibit the wildness and fluttering habits of other
Finches. They became so quiet and free that they would
feed from my moutli or pull at my whiskers when placing
myself close to the cage. Mule breeding, as I have before
remarked, requires much attention and patience, and many
fanciers are disappointed, season after season, with the ap¬
pearance of the young brood, although the hens have been
of a good strain ; a clear bird, which it often takes years to
obtain, which is evenly pencilled about the eyes, with a
pair of faultless wings, bearing a rich yellow throughout the
bars of the same, and with a fine bronze tinge on the face,
is invaluable. These points in a fine specimen, added to
Uoomy appearance throughout, and prime condition, accom¬
panied with fair size and form, and a pair of bright, full
eyes, peering through a clean cut and snake-like head, gives
quite an aristocratic appearance to the Mule. Unlike Nor¬
wich, London Fancy and Lizard a. they do not deteriorate
84
THE CANARY.
in appearance after moulting. I have known first-class birds
to realise as much as <£10 each. To attain success, every
Attention must he paid to the Finches, not only at the
breeding time, hut during the winter previous, respecting
their diet. I vary the diet with flax, millet, groats, maw¬
seed, coarse Scotch meal, a little egg, and stale bun, and
thistle-seed. When thistles are ripening, I generally secure
a supply of heads, hut cut off the down previous to placing
them with the Goldfinches. Now and then a small piece of
the soaked bread, with cod-liver oil rubbed into it, has a
tendency to prevent asthma. Breeding in cages I prefer for
muleing—the birds are more under control, especially the
Goldfinch. I have tried each way. On one occasion I had
placed half a dozen hens with a couple of Finches in my
room, supplying them with the requisite building materials,
and all went well for a time ; hut one day, on entering my
room, I saw portions of egg-shells here and there. On
examining the nests one day, not an egg or bird was to he
found. The Goldfinches had been at work. IJpon the
floor, here and there, I found eggs containing birds near
upon chipping, and also young birds on the floor, de¬
stroyed and mutilated about the wings and feet. I set my
hens to work without a mate, and with the first that com.
mences to build I place the Goldfinch. When another hen
begins nesting, I place the Goldfinch with her for a time,
changing him from one to the other. One Goldfinch is
sufficient for three or four hens. I prefer using the Gold¬
finches with several hens, but never allow them to remain
with the hens up to the time of laying, for fear of the eggs
being broken. Hens not paired with the Goldfinches will
sit well upon their eggs, so that there is some difference
from Canary breeding. When two birds are paired together,
of course it would be unwise to take away the male, foy
possibly the hen would fret;, and leave hey egg»-
THE CAWABT.
85
In other respects hens for Muleing may he treated as in
Canary breeding. They are liable to the same accidents,
but are net so subject to be egg-bound, owing to the
time of the year (May) when they are put up for Mule
breeding. Previous to breeding with the Goldfinch, if the
hen is of a strain known to throw the young with broken or
pied plumage, I contrive to have a nest for her with a
Canary. According to the colour of the hen, so I place with
her a male Canary of the same colour. I generally breed my
Mules from hens termed common hens, of a lemon or brim¬
stone appearance. I have also bred several excellent Mules
from the Yorkshire hen ; they are more sleek and somewhat
longer than when the Mules are bred from a short thick-set
hen. I have frequently bred from Norwich bens, but witb
less success. Still, when light-coloured Mules are bred from
Norwich hens, they are more bloomy. I have known really
first-class Mules to have been bred from Norwich hens. It
does not follow that Mule-breeding hens should always be
clear or free from dark feathers. I have bred from a heavily
marked strain, and had nice marked Mules, and have known
others to be equally fortunate in this respect. But I prefer
breeding from a strain from which good marked or light-
coloured Mules have been bred. When I can contrive to
obtain a nest of young, and afterwards breed them in-and-in
as regards relationship and colour, I prefer it. Such birds I
have proved to be most reliable for marked Mules. I know
many who make a yearly practice of breeding Mules, who
would not waste their time by Canary breeding.
Most Mule breeders will agree with me that there is
much chance work in Mule breeding; but on this point I am
satisfied, that if a breeder were to try a dozen hens bred from
known Muleing strains, against the like number of chance or
hap-hazard hens, that the advantage would be considerably
favour of the former. Light-coloured Mules may be
86
tub canary.
known as soon as tliey are chipped, owing to their light
or flesh-coloured appearance. If they appear dark in the
skin when they are chipped, make up your mind for
dark Mules. There is much prying and quizzing in this
respect, and it has often amused me to hear some breeders
assert that they have a " clear Mule in the nest," when by
chance or accident it may have happened that the male
Canary has had access to the hen whilst breeding with the
Goldfinch.
The following are the points by which Canary Mules are
pdged:—
Beaks- - -rather larger and more pointed than the Canary's.
Head—not so round and full as the Canary's.
Heck—somewhat slender.
Eyes—fierce, spectacle-marked, with dark feathers around.
Face—of a bronze red hue, the stronger the colour the
better, and as free as possible from slaty-coloured
feathers about the cheeks.
Body—smart throughout and clear, having no dark or
slate-coloured feathers about the loins or uppermost part
of the tail.
Wings—smaller flight feathers dark, the larger flight
feathers barred with a yellow bloomy tinge from the
shoulders.
Feathers—throughout close and in good condition. The
yellow or jonque specimens should possess strong colour.
The mealy specimens almost white, with bloomy yellow
tinge strong on the large flight feathers, and slightly
showing on the breast.
Tail—clear preferred, but if having a dark feather on each
side, which is frequently the case in good specimens, t-i
be considered a good show bird.
Legs and Feet—not coarse, twisted awry, or nails deficient.
THE CANARY.
87
Clear Goldfinch and Canary Mules should have similar
properties to the above, excepting the spectacle eye-marks
and smaller flight feathers. Such birds are rarely bred, but
they are of great value. Like the above, there are two kinds,
the j on que and mealy.
In shape and form the dark Goldfinch and Canary Mulea
ere the same as the foregoing, but should be dark on the
wings and tails. There are jonque and mealy specimens.
The former should possess as much golden bronze appearance
as possible throughout. The face around the beak should be
very bright, presenting a rich bronze scarlet. The breast
feathers should not be light, but of a rich golden tinge. The
mealy specimens are a little stronger in build, and should
have as much colour as possible, but presenting a fine mealy
tinge.
The Brown Linnet and Canary Mules resemble the
Canary in the light feathers throughout; but size, con¬
dition, plumage, and regularity of marks, make them more
showy and valuable. There is but one class for these birds,
although they vary in appearance. Some are nearly white,
others of a yellowish or buff colour. First-class specimens
srre rare, tb e difficulty in breeding such being very great,
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a3 recommended bv the greatest english authority oh the skin,
Prof. T PL ERASMUS WILSON, F.R.S., Pres. of the P.ova' Col. of Surgeons, £
England, anc ALL other Leading Authorities on the Skin.
CoimilessBea7ucrmsLailiessIMuiliiigMrs. Lillle Langti?, rcco'nmenaitsYJitues *
AND PREFER PEAKS' SOAP TO ANY OTHER.
TiicfoHoviy: from the world-renowned Socgstre:. is a samj.l e t th j _srnds of Testiin oaials. 4
Testimonial/, om ?"adame ADEiANA PATTI. «
, "i have found it matchless for ' &p~7~. o §
1 the hands and complexion" A, ^A r ^
r fears' *s for Sale tbroagb-.
k dvt fjW CMUbed. World. v-*~———-—- ^