CANARIES HYBRIDS es-BRITlSH- BIRDS I N • CAGE -AN D AVIARY EDITED -BY S-H-LEWER FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY or THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS IN CAGE AND AVIARY CINNAMON CANAKII-S 1. Self-yellow Cinnamon 2. SELF-ituFh Cinnamon 3. Hvenly Cinnamon-marked Yellow CANARIES, HYBRIDS AND BRITISH BIRDS IN CAGE AND AVIARY BY JOHN ROBSON AND OTHER LEADING SPECIALISTS EDITED BY S. H. LEWER Of "The Feathered World," and "Canary and Cage-Bird Life " IVITH 18 COLOURED PLJTES BT A. F. LYDON AND E. F. BAILEY AND OTHER ILLUSfRJ-TIONS CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED LONDON, NEW YORK, TORONTO AND MELBOURNE 1911 <^J»^ffiV 1?''.08 JUN 1 1956 ALL KK.HTS RliSliRVED A HAITI 1 AMILY. Miss Slack's Aviary and Kennel combined at Stanwi.v, Carlisle. FOREWORD The enormous development in tlie catje-bird fancy durincr the tliirty years which have elapsed since Blakston"s classic work, " Canaries and Cage Birds," was published from the Belle Sauvage press, forms the necessity for the present volume. Following on much the same lines of treatment as Blakston in his deservedly popular book, and — save for the exclusion of foreign birds — covering the same ground, we shall treat of Canaries. Hybrids, and British birds, their management and exhibition, on lines abreast of the experiences of the most successful breeders and exhibitors of the day. As Editor, the writer of this note has been fortunate in securing for this work the hel]> of such an acknowledged authority as Mr. John Robson. the well-known judge of cage-birds and expert adviser to a leading fancy journal. Mr. Robson's wide experience will be reinforced by that of leading specialists. The historical chapter is from the pen of Dr. A. R. Galloway, of Aberdeen, who has not only made a special study of the literature of the subject, but has devoted 3'ears of experimental research to the many problems involved in the origin and variation of the Canary. av FOREWORD Allusion has been made to the work of Mr. \V. A. IJlakston. and in such measure as may be possible, cousiderin;,' the changes which have taken place, use will be made of the valuable material which his great treatise contains. The coloured i)lates lor the work are Injin Ihe l)riislies ol' Mr. A. F. Lydon and !\Ir. K. !•'. JiailcN. artists whose work needs no reeoniinfiidat ion to lovers of cage-birds. They have necessarily aimed at showing ideal exhibition sjiecimens. and the birds thus skilfully portrayed furnish useful guides to fanciers in their selection of show birds. The illustrations in the te.xt have been chosen with the object of interesting and prac- t legally helping bird-keepers in the successful pursuit oi their hobby, and in this connec- tion the Editor is under no small debt of obligation to the many kind contributors to the journals with which he is so intimately associated. Few hobbies are more easily a\ailable to town-dwellers than that of axiculture, and few give the same pleasure with so little ex|)ense. For tlie working man debarred by city surroundings from the pleasures of a garden or allotment, cage-bird keeping offers a welcome relief to the monotony of his daily toil. It is also essentially a home pursuit, and in this respect has its own distinct advantages over many other relaxations. Our mission then is to help in the intelligent pursuit of such a humanising and elevating hobby. S. 11 Lewek. /'/toli\-rnf->t hy Mr. AlUit Silvfr. A ri-T MAUl'lE AND TfS OWNER. CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. Introductory .... 2. History of the Caxary . 3. History of the Canary {continued) 4. The Breeding Room 5. Cages and Cage-Making . 6. Nests and Other Appliances 7. Indoor Aviaries 8. Outdoor Aviaries . 9. The Egg and Development of the Young Bird 10. Pairing and Sitting ..... 11. Hatching and Rearing ..... 12. The Canary's Plumage and Moulting 1.3. Moulting on Colour Food .... 14. Exhibiting and Washing ... 15. Shows, Judging, Reporting and Technical Terms 16. Pedigree or Line Breeding . 17. The Norwich Canary 18. Breeding the Norwich Canary 19. Breeding Evenly-marked Canaries 20. The Green Canary 21. The Cinnamon Canary . 22. The Crested Canary 23. The Border Fancy Canary 24. The Lizard Canary 25. The London Fancy Canary 26. The Belgian Canary 27. The Scotch Fancy Canary 28. The Yorkshire Canary . 29. The Lancashire Coppy . 30. The Old Dutch Canary and Dutch Frill 31. The German or Roller Canary page 1 9 36 46 60 74 84 92 99 115 142 153 175 190 198 206 224 237 244 252 208 290 294 305 313 319 324 331 335 338 VI CONTENTS HYBRIDS CHAPTER 32. Bkitisii Fixcii and (\\xauy Ilviiiiins 33. 13kkkdix(; FiNtii-fAXAnv TIvbuids .... 34. Hyhrids bktwkkn Two Bkitisii Birds 35. TiiF. Bi!F.Ki)ix(; ov IIvukids fko.m Two British Birds PAGE 34.1 3.50 3.-)0 3(;4 BRITISH BIRDS AMENABLi: TO CAPTIVITY IN C.A.GE OR AVIARY 36. Thrushes and Thrush-like Birds 37. Warblers, Accentors, etc. 38. Tits, Wrens, Wagtails. Shrikes, etc. 39. The Finches ...... 40. Starlings, Crows, Larks, Wcjodi'eckers, etc. 41. The Diseases of Cage Birds . 308 3.S2 390 401 410 417 JACkUWN (Photograph by B. liaiilcy, Hclby.) INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS Aviary. Indoor, 75, 81, 82, 140 , Ouldoor, 73, 84, 87, 89, 91, 92 Bath, Zinc, 70 Breeding Rooms, 44, 45, 47, 56, 99, 142 British Birds Blackbirds. Young, 106 Dartford Warljler, .384 Golden-Crested Wren, 168 Goldfinch, An Exliiljilion 10 and Young, 173 Grasshopper Warljler, 65 Hcdge-Sparrow, 124 House-Sparrow, 124 Jays, Young, 121 Magpie, iv Reed-Warl)Ier, 65 Sedge-Warbler, 65 Siskin, 11 Starling, Silver Grey, 32 Stonechal, 220 Thrush, Young, 141, 198 Tree-Sparrow, 124 Wheatear, 220 MTiinchat, 220 Cages Bath, 70 Belgian, 177 Belgian Breeding, 318 Blackbird Show, 369 Border Fancy Show, 178 Breeding, Double Box, 49 ■ , Single Box. 48 , Three Compartment, 133 Crest, 36 Crest and Crestbred, Show, 176 Doors, 50 Drying, 181, 182 Finch Show, 401 Cages (coniimicd) — German Roller, 338 Lancashire Show. 177 Lark Show. 413 iVlelhod of Cleaning, 72 Missel Thrush Show, 369 Norwich Show, 175 Nursery, 71, 128 Pipit Show, 397 Scotch Fancy Show, 178 Show, for Insectivorous Birds, 376 Stand for Flight, 60 Starling Show, 369 Stock, for Insectivorous Birds, 375 Thrush Show, 369 Travelling, for Belgian, 317 Turn-Rail, for, 52 Wagtail, Show, 397 Wirework for, 54 Woodpecker Show, 415 Yorkshire Show, 177 Cage-Rack, A Simi)le, 60 Canaries Belgian, 29, 315 Border Fancy, 16, 157 Cinnamon, 16, 211, 252, 257, 277 Clear Yellow Hen, 5 Crest, 12, 28, 269. 283 Crestbred, 28, 152 Dutch Frill. 21, 32, 335 Eveidy-marked Yorkshire, 103 German Roller, 19, 339 Green, 247 Green Border Fancy, 250 Lancashire Coppy, 21, 332 Plainhead, 20, 332 Lizard, 24, 83, 137, 302 London Fancy, 25, 305, 309 Norwich Plainhead, 24, 53, 228, 233 vm INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS Canaries (continued) — Scotch Fancy, 29, 115, 200 White, 32 Willi. 12. 11.') Yorkshire, 19 Yorkshire, Youiifi, 98 Young, 1, 71, 153 Caps, Defective, in I.i/.ards, 9f., 97 Chilli. KiO Crests, Defective, 277 Drinking Vessels. 59. (19. ,S(). 139 Egg, Barren and I'eilile, 113 , Diagram of, 94 Drawer, Earthenware, 69 , Enihryo in, 90, 97, 98 Mill. 70 Sieve, 70 Trav, 109 Egg-food. Diawer. fiS Egg-trough. Class, 69 Eye Marks on Even-niniked Dirds. 230 Feather, Showing '" Spangling." 298 Feathers, .\rrangenieul ot on a ^■(lung IJird. I of Wing. 169 Heating Ai)paralus. Dcwhursl's, 39 , l':ieclrie. 10 How lo llolil a Small I'.ird. 119 llVBIilDS Bullfineh-Canary. Ill Goldfinch-Hullfineh. 77 Goldfinch (Clear)-C:inary, 77 Goldlinch-Canary. .3 1 1 Goldfinch-Canai-j', Inevenly .Marked, 111 Greenfmch Canary, 351 26 Hydiuds (conlinned) — Linnet-Bulinnch, 77 Linnet-Canary, 315. 351 Kedpoll-IJulllineh. 359 Redpoll-t^anary. 351 Uedpoll-tloldlinch. Ill Siskin-Canary, (^lear Yellow. 35 , Ticked. Ill Measure, Canary. 206 Moulling Room. 151 Nest Box, Wooden, 61 , Earthenware, and Wire Bracket, 67 ■ Pan, 66 , Tin, 66 Ornithological Regions (d' Small Bird, 118 Packing Tray, 188 Pepper, American Red, 160 ■ . Natal, 160 , Tasteless, 165 Perches, Various, 57 Red Mile. Micro-pho(ograi)h of, 61 Sand Wssel. 71 Seed-lii)])|)ers, 58, 79 Shows, Scenes al. 6. 189, 190, 223 Spangling. I-Valhers of Lizard to Show, 29S Staging for Show. 191 Travidling Case for Cages. 188 Washing a Canary. 171. 183, 181, 185 Wing, l)efecli\(ly Marked. 2 11 , I'oul. in l.i/ard. 29S . I'erfcclly Marked. 1^ II , Showing Insertion of Ouills, 109 Wire-Work lor Cages, 51 LIST OF COLOUR PLATES CANARIES The Cinnamox The Norwich The Lancashire The Yorkshire The Border Fan'cy The Yellow Piebald Scotch Fancy : Clear Buff Scotch F Clear Yellow Belgian VNCY The Broken-Capped Silver Lizard : Clear-Capped Gold Lizard JoNQUE London Fancy ...... Crests and Crestbred ........ Green Canaries ......... Frontispiece Facing page 40 „ 56 „ 84 „ 104 „ 128 „ 152 „ 184 „ 214 HYBRIDS Dark Canary Mules : Yellow Siskin, Yellow Linnet, Yellow Goldfinch, Buff Twite ....... Clear Yellow Goldfinch Mule, Ticked Buff Linnet Mule, Yellow Canary. Bullfinch Mule ....... Siskin-Greenfinch, Goldfinch-Bullfinch, Greenfinch-Bullfinch, Redpoll-Goldfinch, Linnet-Bullfinch .... „ 234 „ 304 X LIST OF COLOUR PLATES BRITISH BIRDS SoN(; Tiiursii, ^VAX\vl^(;, Bf-ackbird ..... Bi; AMRi,i;riNCir, Grei.ntinc ii. Ciiaifixcii. Goldfinch Siskin. Lesser UKDroLi,. liiLEiiNcii, Linnet WliriETllROAT. Bl.ALKCAI'. GoLDCREST, ReDSTART, Nk; II'IINC Al.K Thee Creeper. Bay"s Wactail, Skylark, Meadow Pipit Hawitncii, Corn Buntinc;. Lesser Spotted \Vooi)PE(:ker, Yellow Bunting .......... . Fac'ni» " :37(i J? ■,y 388 jy 400 „ 410 long-tailed tit.s. (.I'liulii^tiiph by A. J. R. Roberts.) " WE ARE SEVEN " A Unique Photograph of a Nest of young Canaries belonging to Mr. Thos. Adamson. CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS IN CAGE AND AVIARY CHAPTER I INTRODUCTORY The longing for something to protect and care foi* is one of the strongest feelings implanted within us, and one outcome of it is the desire to keep animals under our control, which in its due place is, undoubt- edly, one of our healthiest instincts. From what it arises, other than being a wise gift, we will not stay to inquire ; but that the desire does exist, in a greater or less degree, in all of us, and that in many it is a strongly-marked peculiarity, few will venture to deny. It is true that the lower animals are all placed in subjection to man ; but the disposition to which we refer is not born of any desire to subdue or destroy, but is rather the offspring of some tenderer chord in our nature which impels us to make friends of them, to break down some of the barriers which separate us, to study their habits and attend to their wants, sub- ordinating the whole to their and our advantage. We know that man is to a certain degree a predatory animal, and that an element in his character, different from the higher trait to which we ha\'e referred, enters into the case of those who indulge in what, for want of a better word, is known as " sport " ; but even in the field some- thing very like an intimate friendshi]) and intelligent confidence is cemented between him and animals which are made to subserve the pursuit of what is, possibly, a legitimate CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS end, though sensitive minds may question its morality. We do not inchidc witliin the ranks ol' sportsmen the man witli the gun wlio brinirs to the ground every rare leathered erea- ture he comes across, and by such ruthless destruction robs us and our country ol' many beautilul birds, which should be with us in numbers and even make this their breeding-place. Such reckless slaugh- ter does not come within the scope of either sport or morality. A feeling aldn to this predatory dispo- sition may be seen in the eagerness with which some village urchin ex- The Young pg^^s iiis energies in the Idea. ,. construction ol snares or trajis. or steals stealthily along through copse or by hedgerow, armed with catapult or other clumsy contrivance of home manu- facture, knowing no fatigue and despising every obstacle, happy it only by the exer- cise of patience and skill he can compass the death or capture of even one small bird. To him, the advent of winter, with its frost and snow and long dark nights, means the arrival of his sporting season, when, impelled by hunger, his "game" leaves its usual haunts and seeks the home- stead by day, or affords him by night all the excitement and glories of netting tlie siiellercd sides of stacks, the overhanging eaves of barns, and the still riclur preserves of ivy-chul walls. But the lad has a warm corner in his heart for ail that. The friendly robin, enticed l)y crumbs, takes its morning meal at his window, and is allowed to come and go, hopping in and out from imder the treacherous stable-sieve, delieatcly jjoised over the baited spot to whieli he wishes to lure other birds, and is a privileged visitor. The half-frozen tiuush. ea])tured in the snow on one of the lad's hunting ex|)editions. or some wounded sufferer with broken wing, appeals to his sympalliies. is eared for, tenderly nursed, and, lliougii ii eai)tive, becomes a pet. The young rabbits, taken from their downy bed -a short burrow in some falinw liiul ,i lioiiie in his hutch, and when grown well, the lad has not the heart to kill them, and so sets them at liberty, himself scarcely less hai)py than they. The nest of young birds, long marked ilown and daily visited with furtive steps lest other watchful eyes should discover them, carefully carried home in his cap, become objects of extreme solicitude, and are possibly actually killed with kindness, A strange medley is the lad — a compound of thought and thought- lessness, but good at the heart. Nothing which appeals trustingly to his better nature appeals in vain ; and so it is, we believe, that this desire to have some- thing to love and care for overcomes the other and lower tendency. It grows with our growth and strengthens with our strength, and when satisfied teaches many a lesson of abnegation of self. The love of pets, indeed, insensibly leads us to the greater study of Nature. The volume lies open before us re- Nature piete with interest, and the studv Study, is alike absorbing whether the subject be our own wonderful anatomy or the structure of a mollusc ; the oak which has seen the sunnners and winters of a century, or the fungus which springs u]) in a few hours. Cage-birds are on our particular leaf of this inexhaustible volume, and we propose to look at them from a homely jioint of view — homely in every sense of the word. This will not be an abstruse work, but one in which the everyday life and management of the most popular and attractive cage-birds, foreign birds alone excepted, will be exhaustively treated. It is not intended for the naturalist or the ornithologist pro])er, though i\en they may. jierhaps. dip into its pages and learn something of the lishments in tliis country them form no inconsidcraljle that are worked as business concerns pure item in the Tuinor industries and simj^lc. It is one of those businesses of the coiuitry. The mmibcr which. ]ierha])s. |)rcsents no l:)ettcr balance of amateur breeders wlio a.dojit one or sheet than docs a small jioultry cstaljlish- more of the many varieties of the Canary ment maintained e\|)rcssly for a su]i])l\- as their speciality, and make the develo])- of eggs. Half the profit consists in the ment of its Ijcautics their study, is very ])lcasurc : and the other half in money, large, as the index of the catalogue of any which might go in more (|ucslioiiai)lc ways, pid)lic exhibition can attest, and the mun- l>ut which is saved in small sums, by every bcr is greatly augmented b\- the contimious investment in seed or other necessary, and stream poured into the bird markets of returned in tiic lumj) just at a time when A Fl.NU. An Afternoon Ramble ot the Border City Ornithological Socifl' An Important Industry. London, Jlanchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, (Jlasgow, Preston, and other large towns, by those who make a business of it. 'i'lii- city of Xorwich, wilh the surrounding \il- lages and hamlets, counts its l)reedeis by the thousand ; while in Coventry. I)ci'l)y. Northani|)ton, Not I ingham. and other towns in the midland district where labour is of a sedentary character, as well as in many towns in Yorkshire and Lancashire, the Canary is the poor man's savings l)ank ; the substitute for the family pig where sanitary laws forbid the erection of a sty. A vcrv large number of the working classes it is useful. The occasional self-denial called into operation in ministering to the wants of creatures not ai)lc to provide for them- scl\cs. and tiic lessons of kiniliuss thus taught, must also be wi-illcn down on the credit side of the accoimt. Few hobbies pay. e\cc|)l in the hands of larger (■ai)italists than are the breeders of Canaries for the London market, for it is from collage homes t hat t he main supply grees the charms of its widely dilTcring ])arents. Since such nudes, as these crosses are often erroneously called (hybrids being the correct term), are sterile, the objection has been raised as to the uselessness of raising stock that cannot ]icrpetuate their race : but to the hybridbreedcr this matters little, for his delight is in overcoming the dilliculties of their production, and. once secured, hybrids arc hardy and long-li\t(l. Hybrids. as well as. in the case of the rarer crosses, most valuable as show birds. In due course in these pages we shall, therefore, deal with this section of the fancy, and strive to remove some of the many obstacles which beset the ]Dath of the breeder of hybrids. No section of a bird-show is so interesting to the general public as that which contains examples of many of our native ^y'*'*'' birds, staged to perfection in Birds. '^ ' health, plumage, and steadiness, and thus affording to the onlooker a closer study of their charms than is possible with the same birds in their wild state. Such an exhibition is the best reply to those who hold it wrong to cage a wild bird at all. Thev do not take into account the pleasure and the hunumising elTect of the study of birds imder the only ]iossible conditions open to workers in big cities, and also fail to realise the care and affection lavished on their birds by the thousands of enthusiastic keepers of British birds in these islands. Such fanciers yield to none in their detesta- tion of cruelty to birds, whether in in- sanitary bird-sho])s, or at the hands of unskilled, careless bird-catchers, and ask only to be judged by the results they achieve in successfully keei)ing some of the most delicate of our insect i\orous birds in full health and vigour, both in cages and the larger liberty of well planned aviaries. British birds that some years since were considered almost im])racticable as cage- birds are now frccpiently met witii at ex- hibitions, and whilst adding to the delight anil instruction of show-goers, also illustrate the remarkable advance made in the science of bird-kee])ing. and especially in the direc- tion of ]ir<)\i(ling the birds with the natural foods of their wild state. As with the dilTcrent varieties of the Canary and the many interesting hybrids already alluded to, so we shall hn|)c in later chapters to deal with the various British birds judged suitable for conlinement. and to furnish such hints as may help to a more intelligent ap])reciation of their needs and of the many apparent trifles which make up the (lilTerencc between success and its reverse in their luanagenient. o CO s >' i as 2 o -^ o H 1 ai ^ O 5 Z ^ o = s^ I H 8 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS We say " apparent " trifles, ior the siuall- est work of creative power cannot really be considered a trifle, nor are lliey trillers who jfive a careful attention to fhe many secm- inff insijinifieant works of nature with whicli they are surrounded. He is not a trifler who makes tlie " short lived insect of a day " a life-long study, nor he who can find food for thought in contemplation of the lowest form of animal organism ; any more than he who makes the study of the higher works of creation his constant occupation. Nor is he a trifler who can read a page of the world's history in a fragment of rock which, crop|:)ing up by the roadside, S])eaks to him with a tongue that cannot lie of that distant beginning when this jilanet of oiu-s was created ; any more than he who extracts from the fjowels of the earth the treasures warehoused there for ages. Nor is he a trifler who carefully gathers the wild flowers in the hedgerow or the grasses of our fields, or notes forms of vegetable existence where the uneducated eye can detect nothing ; any more than he who cultivates broad acres, or who brings the flowers and fruits of the tropics under control in our latitudes. Neither is he a trifler who, from among the endless re- sources at the connnand of any thinker wlio goes through the world witli his eyes open, selects for his special study the feathered portion of creation ; nor when, among otiier marvels of instinctive work, he finds his attention arrested by a simple httle bird's nest is he any more a trifler than the men whose constructive genius designed the temples of old Egypt, wlio l)uilt the hoary Pyramids, who carved the solid mountains of the Nile into edifices of colossal proportions, or those who raised, brick by brick from their foundations, the more florid but less imj)osing structures of modern times. There is a time for every- tliing, even for trifles, if such there be. Our trifle is the cage-birtl of to-day — the fancier's Canary, hybrid, or British bird — and when we take into consideration the wonderful strides and improvements that have been made even within tlie past twenty years, there is nuich for us to advance for the consideration of the pres- ent-day fancier. We propose to deal with eacli l)ird by describing minutely its distinctive features, showing how to keep it, feed it, moult it, develop its beauties, improve its shape and feather, wash it, dry it, send it to the show ; how to get it t here, what to do with it when, it is there, and how- to get it home again ; how to aehiev'C suc- cess, how to ])rofit by defeat : as well as how to hel]) each other, and so help ourselves. CHAPTER II HISTORY OF THE CANARY* BY A. RUDOLF GALLOWAY. MB.. CM.. M.A. THEORIES OF ORIGIN At the present day there is little doubt that all the varieties of Canary have been evolved from the Wild Canary All Derived (^Seriniis Canaria), of the Qt^.»^-»c Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Azores. t It is comparatively easy for us, in these days of scientific progress, to come to this conclusion ; but we can understand the great difficulty that writers on this sub- ject, well into the nineteenth century, had in understanding the origin of a bird which, even in the commencement of the eighteenth century, had twenty-nine varie- ties placed to its credit. It was impossible for them to believe that all those could have come from one ancestor, and accordingly many fanciful origins were given — some, no doubt, having a foundation on what was supposed to be fact, but which turns out to be fallacy, *For permission to incorporate part of this paper, I am in(iebte."), were conciucred Lugo. 'I'iic approximate size islands : — ■ Teneriffc, the largest : (irand Canary : 24 miles diameter. Palma : 26 by 16 miles. • Mostly from K ncyclopcEdia liritannica. by Alonzo de of the main 00 bv 30 miles. H en Ui u z X a a o w I H I H Z Q Z u u Q a z Of z < o Q z o H J O > Q CO 14 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Lanzarotte : 31 by 5 to 10 miles. Fuerteveutura : 52 by 12 miles. Gomera : 23 miles loiifj. HieiTo : 18 by 15 miles. In the case ol the Canary Islands it is possible that the natives had domesticated the Canary many years before its intro- duction into Europe. Aitiiouuii known to Arabian fjeographers in the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, the Azores were believed to The Azores. , , • i i -i. i ti have been uninhabited until annexed by I'ortugal, 1432-1457. Coloni- sation went on well, and in 14(!(j they were presented by Alphonso V'. to his aunt, Isabella Duchess of Burjjundy. An influx of Flemish settlers followed, and the islands were known as the Flemish Islands. The area of St. Michael, the largest of the Azores, is 224 square miles. Birds are so plentiful that 420,000, including many Canaries, are slaughtered annually (Encijcl. Brit.). It may be inferred, from the fact that Ciesncr in 1555 speaks of the birds which the English call Canaries, that a very early importation of the bird had taken place into England, and probably this came from the Azores into England, Belgium, and France some thirty years before the in- troduction to other European countries. An island, thirty by thirteen miles, Madeira was not annexed by l*()rtugal till 1420, although discovered long before 1351 by Portuguese ves- sels under (ienoese captains. The advent of the Canary is thus seen to be independent of the usually given tale of a shipload of Canaries, bound i'or JyCghorn. being wrecked on the island of l^lba. The extract from Olina,* who wrote in 1622 with reference to this, may be given, as illustrating an im])ortant feature in the Canary. \iz. varial)ility, which will have im])ortant bearings in the sequel. "There are also found ol' this sort, of birds in the Island II va a ; F p.c. Matings, 2. Progeny, 6. Dark-eyed, 5. Pink-eyed, 1. IV. (I.e. X d.e. Matings. 91. Progeny, 283. Dark-eyed, 283. Pink-eyed, 0. IV. 1. d.e. X d.e. F. Matings, 4. Progeny, 16. Dark-eyed, 16. IV. 2. d.e. F X d.e. F. Matings, 5. Progeny, 21. Dark-eyed : ^f 7, ? 2, o 6 = 15. Pink-eyed : 'oung one, the mother being also normal in colour. The jiigeon is ])crfeetly clear (no dark feathers). The eyes were not noticeably abnormal. I h.ivc bred hybrids (1rizc at liathgate, in perfect plu- mage, has moulted, in the second year, into a Dutch Frill hybrid, the body- feathers, although still cinnamon, showing the most extraordinary twists and turns. The lather of this hybrid has no Dutch Frill blooil. as 1 have bivtl the strain for many HISTORY OF THE CANARY 21 years, and never owned a Dvitch Frill Canary. ((i) The origin of our birds of shape and ■position : The same hybrid, along with the frilled feathers, lias assumed a semi-upright position, thus indicating the origin of our Canaries of shape and position — e.g., Lan- casliire. Belgian, Scotch Fancy, which are su])posed to have come originally from the old Dutch variety. (7) The start of a Fan-tailed Canary : I have also noted that cinnamon Canaries and hybrids sometimes develop an extra nundjer of tail-feathers. One cinnamon- variegated Canary of 1908 has thirteen. I have also two hybrids with fourteen each. (8) The origin of the Lizard and London Fancy Canaries : I have bred and now possess alive two Siskin-Canary hybrids, one with a perfectlj^ shaped golden-yellow cap (most of the rest of the bird being dai'k — heavily variegated) and the other ^vith a beautiful silver-spangled back (most of the rest of the bird being clear).* The ea]i and spangled back are characteristics of the Lizard Canary — a specimen of which THE LANCASHIRE COPPY CANARY. I never possessed. The spangled back appeared at the first moult, just as occurs in the spangling of the Lizard Canary. 'Second prize. City of Glasgow show (1909). I have also bred several other Siskin- Canary hj'brids with irregular or broken Lizard caps. The Canary ]>arcnt in each case was of THE FRILLED CANARY. a strain with cinnamon blood, but with no Lizard cross. Li addition to these characteristics of the Lizard occurring in the hybrids from a cinnamon-bred Canary, we know the Lizard and London Fancy Canaries both show the same unstable character of plu- mage as the original cinnamon, both of these varieties being fit to exhibit only during the show season after their first moult, owing to subsequent changes in plumage, and both being extremely alike in nest-feather and again at three or four years of age. Consequently we may safely infer that both Lizard and London Fancy have been derived from cinnamon Canaries. THE EVOLUTION OF THE CANARY Bearing in mind these points with regartl to cinnamon wild birds and hybrids, let VIS now turn to the Canary and study the earliest authentic records of its different varieties. We have already mentioned that the CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AiND BRITISH BIRDS first static in the CNulution c)!' our laxoiiritc cage-bird Iroin the wild (rrcen ty|ie dcscrilied by Gesncr was the oeciir- Evidence rence ol" a urcv \arietv. from rni I Hervieux.* ^''^' <'<»l<»"'' ^''^y occurs as a. sport ill se\( ral ol' our wild birds at present, and is closely allied to the well-known cinnamon S]iorts. or the occurrence ol' this initial jfi'cy stage we have ample evidence in the most interesting and instructive account of the Canary by Hervieux. f One is inclined to attach much importance to this authors statements, as they bear evidence ol' being Founded on actual experiments and are not mere repetitions from other writers. Indeed, many of the stories concern- ing the breeding of those mules, which we, at the jircsent time, regard as imp()ssil)le — e.g., C'hail inch-Canary. Yellow -ha nnner- Canary — have probably arisen from the too free intci'pretation and misundcrstandiug of ner\'ieux"s statements ; for he instances the above two hybrids, but only to illus- trate his nomenclature : " A male Canary being coupled with a female Chaflinch, the young which come from them are named Serin niiilds- de Pinroii.^' And the othci's the same : " Canary nude of the Linnet," " Canary nuile of the Yellow-hammer (linuiiil)." " Canary nude of the Ciold- fineh." IIa\ing stated this, he adtls : " Of all those birds of which I am about to S|)eak, those which one pairs most commonly with our Canaries are the Goldfinches, male and female, for the others are but seldom usctl above all at ])rescnt, so that is an experiment which some new fanciers {iitni- veaux Cnricu.i) wish to make, to sec what sorts of nudes are produced from these difl'ereiit birds." This clearly proves that Hervieux had no |)crsoual knowledge of the Yellow- hammer-Canary and Challinch-Canary hy- brids, which sul)sc(|iicnt writers (r.^'., J?ulTnu) • Triiile. (Irs Serina tlr Vftiitirir. iinr J/n-rini.i- (17i:{). TliiTc ai-f vurions editions fioiii 17(1!) 17s."). Tlir oldi-st inosl complete one is tliiit of 17i:i, wliicli I liave used. t C. I, \V. Noorduijii, of (;roriinKeii, informs me Hint Hervieux was Inspector of Canary l)ieeding to Die Diieliesse de Uerry. state, on this inadetjuatc evidence, to have been bred. This ])rcparcs us to receive Hervieux's list of varieties of the Canary in 1713 with a considera))le amount of assurance that we are dealing with facts which, being ))ro]ierly intcr|)r(te(l. are of the utmost imixirtance. JJut we meet in all translators, and in many subsequent writers (whether pro- fessed translators or not), with Subsequent , . . ^ great errors even m tnc rcn- trrors. ■ deling of the variety names. For instance, the writer of the Canary article in Rees' Encyclopa?dia (1819) trans- lates the term " Isabelle " as " pink," and gaily proceeds to speak of the ])ink Canary, and also the pink Cantirv with red eyes ! This translation occurs also in BulTon. Jk'l'ore ({noting the varieties, in order to understand the nomenclature it is desirable to give and carefully trtmslate the following ])assage : — " // fdul rntuirqiicr (/ii'il // a hicn des Srriiis dotil jc vicns de jimltr, i/iri onl nulrc la queue hlanehe, des pluuw.s bUinehes « une ciile, el souveni aux deux ailes : mais mah^re celle diljerenee jxirlieuliere. les Ciirieux nc leur diiuneiil jiiis lui iiiiire ikiiii, (jiie Serin a queue blunehe. ou raee de Puuaelwz.'' (" It is necessai'v to mention that there ai'i' many Canai'ies. of which I am about to S])eak. which ha\c. besides the white ttiil, the feathers of one wing, and often of both, white; but in s|)ite of this par- ticular din'crenee, hmciers (Curienx) do not give them another name than Ctuiary with white tail, or N'afiegated kind.") It is e\ident that A'ariegation. as we now know it. was just Ijcginning at that time, and that it afose from the sporting types of which '" (iris," " ,Iaime," and " ]}lou(le ■ are mentioned. For Hervieux says tiiat wc know Canaries of these tyi)es, when they ai'c of the \arii'gatcd raee, as htiviug : (1) Several white feathers in the tail, (2) several while claws (ergol.^), (;}) /(■ tluvel. The transitional stage of the bird is :dso shown by IIcr\'ieux"s uncertainty as to the kinds to iuehide uiukr the term HISTORY OF THE CANARY 23 " Variegated race," for he also adds (p. 272) : " I say also that there are Canaries ■which are ot the variegated race which ha^'e not, however, any of the three marks which I have given above, or which have not even one of them ; so that it is neces- sary to leave it to the good faith of those who sell them to you for the variegated race." These explanations prove that the term " race de Panachez " strictly means with white tail, with a few white body- feathers, or with both these variations from the self-grey or self-cinnamon in their different shades. In our muling experiments we ha\'e shown that the first variations to occur are these particular ones — viz., white feathers in tail, a small white spot at the back of the head or on other parts of the body. Our term " Variegated " is denoted towards the end of the list (" which conuuences with the commonest and Ihiishcs with the most rare ") by the single word, " Panache " — e.g., " Serin Panaeke coDimim." To understand the list, we nuist also recollect, as I have shown in my experi- ments with wild cinnanion sports, that self-cinnamon is a varying colour, and frequently changes in the same bird through various shades of pale cinnamon to a creamy white, often with a gloss of yellow on the surface {blond dore). We must also remember that the colour grey is, like cinnamon, one of the jiallid variations which occur in „ ^^J. , Nature — e.g., grey Greenfinch, Greenfinch. & ■ t^ j a very beautiful example of which, a female, was shown at the Scottish National Show, 1909. and is the property of Mr. J. ^V. Bruce, Coldstream. This bird is said to be three years old, and not to have changed its colour ; but it is quite likely that other examples might grow paler, just as the cinnamon type does, for present-day grey and grizzle crests invari- ably moult lighter each year until ulti- mately they become clear.* * Two silver-grey Linnets (i. caiinabina) died in my possession, were examined, found to be females, and are now preserved. A beautiful silver-c;rey StarliiiK gained first prize in the Rare-featliercd class at the Cryst:il Palace Show, 1!)1U. This bird is also of the female se.\. Hervieux's List. The mottled or spangled type of varia- tion (in my opinion, closely allied to cinna- mon) also appears in the "agate "' varieties. Having considered these preliminary points, we are now in a position to inter- pret the list itself : — " Noms que Von donne aux Serins, selon leurs difjerentes couleur,s." " Je croy qiCil est apropos de marquer ici les nonis que Von donne communcment aux Serins, selon leurs difjerentes couleurs ; afin que Von srache en quelle classe, on pliitot en quel degrc de beautc sont les Serins que Von a, ou ceux que Von souhaite avoir : pour cet efjet je me suis propose de les nommer par ordre, en comrneni^ant par les plus communs, et finissant par les plus rares.'' 1. Serin Gris commun. (The ordinary grey Canary.) 2. Serin Gris aux duvets * et aux pattes blanches, quon appelle Race de Panachez. (Slightly variegated Frilled Canary with white feet.) 3. Serin Gris a queue blancJie, race de Panachez. (Slightly variegated Canary with white tail.) 4. 6'erm Blond commun. (The ordinary Pale Canary.) 5. Serin Blond aux yeux rouges. (The Pale Canary with \nnk eyes.) G. Serin Blond dore. (The Pale Canary glossed with yellow.) 7. Serin Blond aux duvets, race de Pana- chez. (Slightly variegated Pale Frilled Canary. ) 8. Serin Blond a queue blanche, race de Panachez. (Slightly variegated Pale Canary with white tail.) * "i)Mft'^s" means the liuht feathers which adorn the under-surface of the body of birds, and may be translated downy or frilled— for it is this part of the bird that tirst shows the tendency to excess of feather seen in Dutch Frills. Hervieux's explanation of "le diivef." at page 271, may be translated as follows : '■ which shows itself, when taking your Canary in your hand, you find on it, ou blowing it under the body and stomach, a little white down {tin petit duvet bliinr), and in consequence of a diftei-ent colour from the natural plumage." He also adds : " There are some Canaries which have much more of this down than others. This is what one finds with the fanciers; one they call Serins au petit duvet, that is to say, those which show a little, and the others they call Serins aa grand duvet, that is to say, tho.se which have much ; this down does not appear usually till near the moult." 24 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS it. Serin ./(iiiik- coiiniiiin. (The leinou- ycUow CiUKiiy.) 10. Serin .hiiinc cuid- duict.s. race de /^^ / 7 THE NOKWICH I'l.AINHEAD CANARY. Pfniachcz. (Sliolitly \aricoatc i: \N MCl * .Voir. - Smli i\n\Us .-iml l;ul I'l'.Uiicr.s ,irc must ly liluck nr .sniiiUy wlicii spread out, luil wlicn in i>o.silioii sliiiu llu'ir yrllowisli frn'i'ii oil,i;iiifj; iii.iinly. t llcrvii'ux j;ivcs llic Paris prii-cs of ("anarirs in 1713; lluy Krailu.illy iiicrcaso in price alonfi liis list from ■•Serin Cris coninnni" al 21. lov. (two livres len sous— (no sliillinjis anil rivepemci to " Serin plein el jiarfail " .It I.V. (L'li.w.l ; In the 17'.i:i l,oiiil(in eililion of ■' linllon's N.itur;il History," class :tll is inclndeil in llei-vieux's 17i:i lisl i^f varieties, u liei'e 1 liave lieen unable (o timl it. All the varieties except li'.l and Mil are menlioneil in (lie 17U9 and 1711 editions of llorvieux. CHAPTER III HISTORY OF THE CANARY {ioiitinufd) The " Sport Origin Proven. \ The study of Hervieux"s most instructive list, which begins with the commonest and ends with the rarest, com- bined with a knowledge of the nature and behaviour of sports in wild birds generally, proves the " sport "' origin of all the varieties of the Canary. In classes 1 to 3 we have the grey Canary, varying in the direction of frilled and white feathers and white feet. In 4 to 8 the pale type (either of grey or cinnamon) shows the same variations, but in addition a more marked tendency to albinism (pink-eye), and towards the dif- ferentiation between "yellow" and "buff." In 9 to 11 the uniformly lemon-yellow Canary shows sim- ilar plumage variations. In 12 to 15 the original Lizard proclaims its cinnamon descent by having pink eyes, besides the plumage changes like the others. In Canary and Cage-bird Life for April 16th, 1909, Mr. L. Butterworth's lectiire to the Rochdale Ornithological Club on " The Lizard Canary Fancy, Past and Present," is given. In it, this lemon-yellow varia- tion, with its tendency to become paler, is described in connection with the Lizard Canary of forty years ago. At the same time, the " duvet,'' or frilled variety, appeared. As these statements from an experienced and observant fancier are important historically, I give them in full, premising that this lemon-yellow colour in mules is well known to be due to cin- namon inheritance. " When I first started to breed the Lizard Canary there was a strain of Lizards which was very plentiful in and around Rochdale, known as the Lemon Lizard, or Lemon Jonque, on account of tlic cap lieing a pale yellow colour, somewhat the colour of a lemon. In its nest feathers it had a back full of straight, narrow rowing ; but after its flrsl moult the colour of its cap and the tips of the small feathers were of the same pale yellow colour, the spangle being not nearly so distinct as that of the orange- coloured variety. Breeders, seeing that it stood no chance on the show bench, refused to breed with it, and, consequently, in a years the strain died out. THE LONDON FANCY CANARY. few " About the same time there was another strain, known as the Flat or Hollow-backed Lizard. This was a class of bird with a back full of large, distinct spangling, or moons, as we called them. The moons were distributed all over the back and not in straight, regular rows, as you see them in the Lizards of to-day. This class of bird had very often a split or parting down the centre of the back, and as it very rarely got into the money at any show, gradu- ally became scarce, until it has almost met with the same fate as the Lemon Jonque. I should never pair two golds or two silvers together without a special reason. . . . " I remember experimenting in this direction many years ago. I paired a gold cock with a gold hen, and succeeded in breeding some decent young from the pair. Then I inbred with two of the young ones, also both golds. The result was the feathers on the young birds bred from 25 26 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AiND BRITISH BIRDS the inljrcd pair, instead of lying close to the body, grew the wrong way about. They turned up over the back just like those on a Frizzle fowl, which convincetl me that yoii can go too far in that direction." In classes 10 to 20 tlic oriyinal cinna- mon (lisjilays similar variations to those in previous classes. Class '21 is specially interesting to us, as the only white Canary* ever seen by British fanciers was exhibited, gaining 1st prize, at the Crystal Palace shows of 190!t and 1910, and is undoubtedly of cinnamon descent, (Sec page .33,) In 22 to 26 we have the start of our present-day variegated varieties. Class 27 is interest- ing, as indicating what I call a cinnamon- green variegation, for these birds, the produce of a cinnamon cock with a dark- eyed hen, are all males, and undoubtedly show more pinkness of the eye than other green-variegated birds. They also fre- quently show a tendency to the dark green, almost black, I>ondon Fancy mark- ings. In class 28 we have the start of the London Fancy — now almost extinct — and its occur- rence immediately after class 27 may be of some assistance in re-establishing this beautiful variety. In class 29 we have the appearance, of which I have had experience, of a rich orange-yellow bird. The special (piality of rich colour which characterises the Norwich Canary has ])robably its origin here. Class 30, mentioned by Buffon as being in Hervieux's list, whether there or not, at all events shows that crest was known about 17.")(), In our ciimaTtion muling experiments we have shown that position is correlated with ciiinaiiioii sporting and frills. In this maimer our birds of |)osition — Lancashire, Yorkshire, Dutch Frill, Belgian, etc, — have arisen. We have thus been able to trace the origin of all our present-day varieties, the subsequent perfecting of the different classes being due to the (careful selection and skilfid breeding of many generations " Sec "Canary Breeding" for coloured ligui-e. of fanciers. It only remains for some enterprising breeder to follow out the experiments farther and introduce some new varieties, c.<^.. Fantail, Trum])eter, Black, Tiunbler,* Silkie. and many others. In the English (1718) translation of Hervievi.x the term " ditvct " is taken to mean "rough-footed," and ''Panache" and " liace dc Panachez " are both translated " copplc-crowned.'" The one interpreta- tion is as nonsensical as the other, and quite as bad as that of the writer already mentioned who describes " Isabelle " as pink. But the reference to copple- crowns is interesting, as probably indicat- ing the existence of a crested Canary in P'ngland before 1718, One feels, however, that in the case of this translator one has to deal with a poultry or pigeon, and not a Canary fancier, I may mention that Temminck, in his Histoire Naturelle Generale des GalUnaces, describes the Silk Fowl under the name of the Coq a Duvet, and gives it the scien- tific title of Gallus LanaUis (Tegetmeier's "Poultry Book," 1867). Also, in support of my interpretation of " Panache,'' let me quote the following : — " Description des Coidcurs d'lin Canari Panache, observe avec M. de Montbeil- lurd.''f: '"The shades and arrangement of the colours of the variegated Canaries differ exceedingly ; some are black on the head, others not ; some are spotted irre- gularly, and others with great regularity. The differences of cdlour are commonly perceived only on the upper jiart of the bird ; they consist of two large black spots on each wing, the one l)cri)rc and the other behind, in a large crescent of the same colour placed on the back, ]K)int- ing its concavity towards the head, and joining by its horns to the two anterior black sj)ots of the wings. Lastly, the tail is sur- rounded behind by a half-collar of grey, which seems to be a compound colour resulting from the intimate mixture of black and yellow," * Since wrilinfj tliis I )mve discovered a TnuibltT Linnel, as already ini-ntioncil. tBuflbn's "Nat. llist. of Birds." London, 17'J3. HISTORY OF THE CANARY 27 At this stage also, let me refer shortly to another old book on song-birds that agrees in every detail with .. _ '" \. , .. my interpretation of Her- vieux's list of varieties of the Canary, and also adds some additional in- formation. The title is : "A Natural History of English Song-Birds and Such of the Foreign as are usually Brought Over, and Esteem'd for their Singing, etc." By Mr. Eleazer Albin. London, 1759 (3rd Edit.). Albin's knowledge of the song-birds he mentions, and their proper treatment in confinement, is so complete and excellent {e.g., his treatment of the Goldfinch with regard to hemp-seed) that this little book would be an up-to-date guide at the present day. On this account I attach much im- portance to his list of varieties of the Canary given on page 86 : — 1. " Bright lovely yellow, with jet-black spots." This undoubtedly describes the London Fancy Canary, Albin's List which, like the Lizard of Varieties mc ^ .. j Hervieux), we of Canary v 6 " in 1759. believe to be derived from the cinnamon, and which is now almost extinct. 2. " The mealy-bird, so named from the mealy kind of colour which seems to cover his feathers." This is the buff bird of the present day. 3. " Mottled birds : their chief colour is white mottled with black or brownish spots." These are our green-variegated and cinnamon-variegated varieties. 4. " All yellow." Our clear yellow. 5. " All white." 6. " Grey." This is the original grey, the Serin Gris of Hervieux, which is closely allied to the cinnamon Canary. 7. Other varieties not named. " The Epitome of the Art of Husbandry." London, 1675. By J. B., Gent. — At this date in England Canaries were Blagrove's gj-ggn, and variegation had evidently not occurred, for the author, Joseph Blagrove, who is par- ticularly well informed with regard to singing birds, says (p. 107) : " Many Country-People cannot distinguish a Canary from one of our common Green Birds, etc."* The above reference would seem to indicate that, in spite of a probable early importation of the Canary into England, little progress had been made in its domes- tication, and it also lends colour to the legend that the initial varieties (including even the London Fancy) were introduced by immigrant Huguenots (c/. Hervieux's list of varieties). COMPARATIVE EVOLUTION OF OTHER DOMESTI- CATED SPECIES It will probably be found that in other domesticated animals a similar line of development has been fol- The Evolu= lowed, and I have mentioned tion of the ^^g ^j. ^^^^ points of simi- Domestic '^ Fowl. larity in the domestic fowl. In it the Game varieties seem to form a more or less direct line from Galhis bankiva, while those which show greatest diversity in type generally and in plumage owe this variability to the original Cochin, which in 1867 not only included a definite cinnamon variety and a white variety in its family, but also had as its prevailing colour buff of various shades — e.g., lemon Cochins, silver-buff Cochins, etc. {vide Tegetmeier's " Poultry Book," 1867). The Cochin shows the variability which we have seen to occur in cinnamon Canaries and hybrids. 1. According to Tegetmeier (" Poultry Book," 1867), this variety of fowl has the defect of " twisted primary quill feathers " much more frequently than any other. It is probably because this " defect " was made a disqualifying point in poultry shows that the Frizzled Cochin has not become an established variety. 2. The Silk Cochin, or Emu Fowl, is known. 3. Grouse and Partridge Cochins repre- sent the spangled varieties. 4. " There is a tendency in Cochins to produce an extraordinary number of cocks in nearly every brood " (Tegetmeier). We * See another reference to "Tlie Epitome" on p. 12. 28 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS have thus a sexual pecuharity in Cochins just as in cinnamon Canaries (c/. " Men- (leHan Inheritance." p. .'$1). 5. Cochins arc also j)cculiarly subject to visual defects, like albino birds. " The eye CRESTBRED CANARY. sliould be red. ... In all cases of blind- ness pearl-eyed birds " (a further stage of albinism) " have been the suiTerers " (Tegetmeier). This pearl eye is said to be " very hereditary " in Cochins (Wright's " Poultry Book," 1902). C. B. Daven- port, in " Inheritance in Poultry," quoting McGrew (1904, p. ,526). mentions the Bufi Cochin as probably the oldest Chinese variety, and cites records of the oldest monastery — Hoangho — to the efTect that tliis fowl was cultivated by the l)rother- hodd L.'jOO years ago. l'"r()m the same author a very important confirmation of our theory is obtained. Referring to the indigenous Buff Cocliin of China, a traveller says that " no two can be foimd of exactly the same c()l(iiii' : some are a chestnut colour, others darker, and some quite light" (McCirew, ]!»()1, p. 527). With regard to the UnW Cochins first imported into iMigland. Wriglit agrees with Tegetmeier in saying that the colour varied from lightest silver bufT and silver cinnamon, through lemons and bull's, to the deepest coloured cinnamons. Thus we have in the Cochin the same variability that we have seen to occur in our cinnamon sports and hybrids, and we can understand how Gallus hankiva, through a cinnamon sport, might be the ancestor of all our present varieties without the aid of a separate ancestor for the Aseel-Malay Group, as invoked by Davenport. We have, moreover, evidence of the sporting tendency in Bankiva, for Darwin, quot- ing Mr. Blyth, says that the species varies considerably in the wild state, some from near the Himalaya being paler coloured than those from otlier parts of India.* An interesting point also in connection with this cinnamon sport origin of all our domestic varieties (which sport occurs, as we have shown, from the female side) is the following statement by Blumenbach, 1813 (given by Tegetmeier) : — " What we have observed above concerning the aberra- tions of the formative nisus -namely, that it occurs less frequently in animals of the male sex than in females — is confirmed by the examples of this variety of poultry, distinguished by the protuberance on the head ; for of this deformity very slight traces indeed are found in the cocks, and those but seldom." Darwin supports Blumenbach in his statement that this protuberance, with its accompanying crest, was originally confined to the female sex (loc. cil., p. 270). .Since wi'iling the aliovc. ^Ir. I.ewcr has sent me a most interesting article on " The Origin of Our Breeds of Corroborative p„„it.ry," by Henrv Scher- Evidence. ; -^ ' . , ren, F.Z.S.. IVI.B.O.l .. wlueh appeared in The Fcatherid World for October 1 Ith, 1907 (with coloured plate). •I)ar«in, " Tlie Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication," 1875, Vol. I., p. 217. HISTORY OF THE CANARY 29 This will be found to corroborate my theory. Aldrovandus' classification in 1599 is given : — 1. Common farm poultry, with Game characteristics, the female slightly crested. 2. Paduans, a crested variety with pale- coloured (yellow) beak and legs, and the wild plumage broken up with white, green, red and yellow. 3. A " buskined," or feather-legged race colour of the Cochin is of high antiquity, and stating that it has been transferred to many other breeds by crossing — e.g., Buff Wyandotte — quotes McGrew (1901, p. 24):— " Two distinct lines were produced under different methods. One was formed from Wyandotte-Buff Cochin cross ; the other came through the Rhode Island Red- Wyandotte cross. The Rhode Island Red BELGIAN CANARY. with similar characteristics. Evidently the original Cochin. 4. A dwarf race. The original Bantam. 5. Turkish fowls, in which Lewis Wright saw a fairly strong resemblance to the Pencilled Hamburghs. (Compare my origin of the Lizard Canary.) 6. Persians. Tailless or rumpless fowls. Aldrovandus also mentions : — - 7. P^rizzled Fowl. 8. Woolly Fowl. The Silkie Fowl of the present day. The term " Buff " in poultry indicates colour, not quality of feather. The buff colour has been grafted on to the different varieties of poultry exactly in the same manner as cinnamon in Cana- ries— e.g., Cinnamon Norwich, Cinnamon Crests, Cinnamon-marked York- shires. Davenport, after showing that the buff Buff Poultry and Cinnamon Canaries. SCOTCH FANCY CANARY. is, however, as is well known, a direct descendant of the Buff Cochin. The Buff Plymouth Rocks were derived directly or indirectly from the Buff Cochin. The his- tory of the Buff Leghorn is the same — the offspring of a yellow Danish Leghorn cock and Buff Cochin pullets mated with a yellow Leghorn hen. The produce — ■ three-fourths yellow Leghorn and one- fourth Buff Cochin — gave (Wyckoff. 1904, p. 527) the first Buff Leghorns ever shown." The Buff " Orpingtons," a highly modern and mongrel breed — have a similar histor\-, being chiefly Buff Cochin and Dorking (Wright, 1902, p. 296). The behaviour of the buff colour in these crosses is exactly the same as we have shown to occur in the cinnamon colour of Canaries ; for the Buff Leghorns, for instance, were not obtained directly from the buff mother, but from her sons, in the same manner as we have 30 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS demonstrated cinnamon feathers in Canaries to be inherited irt)m the male side. We may safely assume that the buff varieties of jioultry correspond witli the cinnamon varieties of the Canary ; tliat both are due to an original early cinnamon sjiort ; and that this spoi-t or mutation is. in all pro- bability, the cause of the great diversity of all the varieties of the species. In the case of the Pigeon also evidence is adducible whicli proves that the first change from the Blue Rock Early I'iireon (Columba livia) was »!. '^n^ ' " one in the direction of the Pjgeon. albinism. In " The Dovecot and Aviary " (Rev. E. S. Dixon, 1851), the author gives a pas- sage in full from Varro, who lived from 116-27 B.C. He translates it thus : — " If ever you should establish a Dovery, you would consider the birds your own, although they were wild. For two sorts of Pigeons ai'e usually kept in a Dovery : the one belonging to rural districts, and, as others call it, a Rock Pigeon, which is kept in towers, and among the beams and is of a idiile colour principally, but the country sort is without white or variegated colours. From these two original stocks a third mixed or mongrel kind is bred for the sake of the produce."' SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS All Canary varieties have arisen from a grey or cinnamon sport occurring in the female — the pallid type of variation which occurs at present among many wild birds. This theory is advanced from a study of : 1. Wild sports generally, in nature and in confinement. 2. Cinnamon and cinnamon-bred hybrids, which frequently show characteristics of Canary varieties arising de novo. 4. The earliest Canary literature. 5. Collateral evidence of a similar nature in poultry and Pigeons. " Dark-eye " and " pink-eye " are found to behave generally in ]\Iendelian fashion, for from Group IV. (d.e. X d.e.), page 17, it is evident that there is a homozygous ty]>e of dark-eyed Canary. Also from (mou]^ IV., 2, 3, 4, it Inheritance of Eye Colour. rafters {colitininibiis) of a farndiouse, and aj>pears that there is also a heterozygous* which is on that accoimt named ' Columba,' or imjjure form occurring in the male as since from natural timidity it seeks the well as the female. highest of roofs ; wlience it hajipens that The jiink-eycd birds being homozygous,* the rustic Pigeons especially seek for if we arrange our groups of matings towers, to which they may at their own according to Mendelian principles, we find : pleasure fly from the fields, and return Group III. d.e. X p.e. Matings, 33. thither. The second kind of Pigeons is more ([uiet ; and contented with the food given at home, it accustoms itself to feed within the limits of the gate. This kind IV. 2 d.e. V ■ d.e. F. Matings, 5 IVogeny, 21 3 Fd.e. d.e. ,, 3 ., 12 4 d.e. F ,■ (I.e. ,^ 4 j> 1(1 Progeny, 110. Dark-eyed, 110. In this group dark-eyed is dominant and pink-eyed recessive. The following heterozygous matings: — d.e. 1.5 p.e., G 8 „ 2 32 11 3 1 III. 43 The result closely a])]iroximates to : The following iietcrozygous ■: homozygous matings 2 !•' d.e. X j).c. 3 d.e. F X ]i.c. 4 F d.e. X F p.e. 5 d.e. F X F p.e. Matings, 1 Progeny, 3 d.e., 1 p.e., 2 3 „ 12 „ 4 „ .-> 1 „ 2 „ 0 „ 2 23 10 10 ■ For explanaliou of these term.s see pp. 31-2. I'nknown, 3. HISTORY OF THE CANARY 31 This result gives the required 50 per cent, of each. One would expect the female of the homozygous type of dark-eyed Canary to be homozygous, as well as the A Sugges= male, and I have evidence of tion for the ^^\^[^ j,^ several of my females Breeding of . . , Male Birds gi^'i"ff ^'^ry large percentages Only. of dark - eyed males when mated to pink-eyed males, the proportion of 6 to 1 occurring several times. It is probable that a homozygous dark-eyed female would be completely dominant. over the cinnamon male, and that male dark-eyed progeny only would result. I can prove the occurrence of wild heterozygous males by the following most interesting result, viz., a "^" family of young Greenfinches Interesting , . , t / i ? ,^ „ mi Result. which I bred m 1908. The father is a wild caught bird that I selected as being of the colour which I think indicates a heterozygous nature, not only in wild birds, but also in Canaries — viz., a colour I call cinna- mon-green. To any casual observer, how- ever, the bird would pass as a normally coloured Greenfinch. The mother is one of my pale cinnamon — almost creamy-white — Greenfinches already mentioned. The family of five consisted of four cin- namons and one of a greyish type, all much paler than the normally coloured young of Greenfinches. Unfortunately the whole family died from one to three months old, and on examination proved to be four cinnamon cocks and one grey hen. Otlier characters which I have proved to behave as recessives are : (a) buffness, (b) crest-bred plain-headedness. Inheritance fheir contrasted characters- Characters. (") yellowness, (b) crestedness — exhibit more or less imper- fect dominance (see " Canary Breeding "). It is essential in studying Mendelian phenomena as occurring in fancy varieties that the most strict definition of the char- acters under examination be made, and that their nomenclature, and behaviour under varying conditions be thoroughly understood. A fancier is trained to detect differences which others are quite unable to see, and his success depends on the careful balanc- ing of factors which to the uninitiated are unobservable. It would therefore save much confusion if sharply-defined facts only were taken into consideration meantime, and if no assump- tions were made with regard to technical "fancy" points, which the skilled breeder alone understands. On the other hand, it may help the fancier in his breeding operations if I give the following short account Mendelian ^f Mendelian inheritance with Inheritance. an explanation of some of its nomenclature. The term "gamete" is applied to the reproductive elements — male and female — spermatozoon and ovum. The cell formed by the union of a male and female gamete is called a " zygote." A zygote formed by the union of two similar gametes (e.g., both with pure dark-eyed character) is called a " homozygote," while the term " heterozygote " is applied to the zygote formed by the union of two dissimilar gametes (e.g., one with the pure dark-eyed, and the other with the pure pink-eyed character). A simple and fairly typical case of Mendelian inheritance is shown by my dark - eyed male :< pink - eyed female matings (Group III.). This may be more easily understood by the following diagram, where d stands for the pure dark-eyed character, p for the pure pink-eyed charac- ter, and (d) for the impure or heterozygous dark-eyed character. d ? P (d) X — (d) (d) (d) Id I d 2(d) d (d) (d) Ip I P i P 32 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS III the first cross (P",) all the young are dark-eyed and heterozygous, d being dominant and p recessive. WTien these young are interbred, the proportions ob- tained are 3 dark-eyed to 1 pink-eyed, 3 to 1, 75 per cent, to 25 per cent. (Group IV., 2, 3, 4). The 3 dark-eyed on being tested are found to consist of 1 pure dark, and 2 impure dark, so that the composition "X=> SILVER-GREY STARLING. Exhibttcd at the Crystal I'alace, I'JIO. by Mr. P. Walih. (.See footnote p. 23.) of F^, is Id + 2 (d) 4- 1 ]>, or 25 per cent., 50 per cent., 25 per cent., the typical Mendelian proportion. Of these the d breed pure, and the p breed pure, but from the 2 (d) the same proportions are again obtained, viz., Id -I- 2(d) + Ip. The in- heritance of eye colour, however, docs not behave throughout in sinijiie Mendelian fashion, being coni])li('alcd with the ques- tion of se.x as already explained in con- nection witli ciimanion inheritance. In order to cx])lain on iNIcndclian lines the results of the reciprocal mating to that already given, viz., pink-eyed male x dark-eyed female, it is necessary to refer to the interesting parallel ease in the Currant Moth {Abraxas grossulariata) given by Doncaster in Report IV. to the Evolu- tion Committee of the Royal Society, where the explanation of Bateson and Punnett with regard to this mating is given. They suppose that (1) femaleness is dominant ; (2) that female individuals are heterozygous in respect of sex, having the constitution $ $ , and producing male- bearing and female-bearing eggs in equal numbers ; and that males are homozygous, of constitution $ $ producing only male- bearing spermatozoa ; (3) that there is a gametic repulsion between femaleness and the dark-eyed character. The following table gives their ex- planation of this mating of homozygous pink-eyed male heterozygous dark-eyed female Canary : — Parents. Constitu- tion. Gametes. Offspring. Dark-eyed female Pink-eyed male dp 9 6 VV 6 S P(?.P(? PP9cJ dPf^c? = pink-eyed females 50% = dark eyed males 50% As the same result is obtained with a wild female, it is supposed that all wild females of the Currant Moth are hetero- zygous with regard to colour. This theory that all wild females are heterozygous in colour is interesting from the point of view of my theory of the evolu- tion of all our Canary varieties from the wild albinistic female, and, so far, in my Canary matin^s of this description ((iroup I.), my results are in accordance with the theory. Nevertheless, it is doubtful if all wild females are heterozygous in coloin-, just as it is probably not the case that the ordinary black-eyed hen Canaries are necessaril\ hybrids (heterozygous) in the ])ink-eye character, as su})i)osed by Dur- ham and Marryatt (Report IV., Evolution Committee of Royal Society, p. 60). For I have had long experience of the much inbred crested variety, pure dark-eyed both on the male and female side ((Jmu]) IV.). If the females had been heterozygous in colour, some of the 283 young would certainly have shown pink-eye, or cinnamon COLOUR, POSITION, FOKM AND FEATHER VARIATION IN THE CANARY. A white Canary and a Dutch Frill exhibited at the Crystal Palace, 1910, by Mr. W. Kiesel and Mr. C. I. Young. 34 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS feathers ; this did not occur. I have also had experience of dark-eyed females being almost perfectly dominant over jiink-eyed males — i.e., the dark-eyed female is homo- zygous. In the fancier's view, also, it stands to reason that there nnist be a dilTcrence between a pure dark-eyed female, and one bred from a pink-eyed ancestry by a single dark-eyed cross. In like manner it is certain that although the majority of wild males may be homozygous in colour, heterozygous wild males occur {.see account of my Greenfinch family on p. 31). The following table explains the constitution of the pure dark-eyed female, heterozygous in sex, and also of the offspring — all males — obtained from her and a pink-eyed male. Parents. Constitu- Gametes, tion. Offspring. Pure dd 'J ^5 d?,dr^ dp^? = dark-eyed dark-eyed males, heter- female ozygous m sex and colour, 50% Pink-eyed PP 6 6 P6.P6 dp66 = dark-eyed male males, heler- ozygous in colour only, 50% In the offspring dp,? ^ , dark-eyedness and maleness are dominant over pink- eyedness and femaleness. In tlie oifsjjring d p ,7 :t , dark-eyedness is likewise dominant over pink-eyedness, and tlie gametic con- stitution includes pink-eyed male gametes. If we suppose the |)ure dark -eyed female to be homozygous also in sex, d d ? $ , there would result 100 per cent, dark-eyed male progeny, heterozygous in colour and sex (dp,? ? ). The above matings with their gametic constitution and the results obtained will be siniplilied by studying what are, alter all. the chief points of itnportatice in the Mendelian theory, viz., the conception of the Unit Character, and the |)rinciple of Gametic Se^tegaiinn . R. C. Punnett, in his " Mendelism " (Bowes & I3ov/es, Cambridge), says : — Unit Characters "The hetcrozygote frequently exhiliils llie form of the pure dominant, from which it can only t)e distinguished by the lest of breeding. Thai the recessive character is likewise carried is sliown by the fact that when heterozygotes are bred inter se, one quarter of the otlsijiing prciiluced are recessive. "There are cases, however, in which Ihe lieterozygote does not resemble the dominant, but has a character peculiar to itself. " These facts led Mendel to the concejjlion of pairs of unit characters, of which either can l)e carried by any one gamete to the exclusion of the other. A fundamental property of the gamete is that it can bear either one such a pair of characters, though not both. But the hetcrozygote is formed by the union of two dissimilar gametes, and consequently the cells of the individual into which it grows nuist contain l)olh characters. To reconcile these statements it must be supposed that at some cell division in the formation of gametes a primitive germ-cell divides into two dissimilar portions. Instead of the dominant and re- cessive consliluents passing in combination to the two daughter-cells, the whole of the dominant goes into one of these, and the whole of the recessi\e into the other. From this it follows that every gamete contains one only of such a pair of characters, i.e., it is pure for that character. In other words, a simple lietero- zygote produces gametes of tiro lroves equally effective in preventing tlie ingress of any marauding cat. For a similar reason, if there be a fireplace in the room — one of the best ventilators — it should also be wired over ; for where the chimney-pots are of primitive construction, or where there are none at all, cats not unfrequently gain access by the chinmey. In the case of an ordinary window a wire covering is still indispensable, and a per- forated zinc contrivance, six or eight inches deep, may be adapted to the top for use when the state of the weather might render it unadvisable to allow it to be opened without some protection. A similar con- trivance in the door or in the wall above it, and as near the ceiling as possible, will assist to keep up a supply of fresh air. A ventilating brick, or one of the many simple ventilators which can be opened and closed at will, may be inserted in the wall or door, instead of the perforated zinc, and any trouble or expense incurred in doing the work thoroughly will repay itself in the health and comfort of the stock. As it is so near the roof, it might be imagined that an attic would be either uncomfortably warm or correspondingly cold ; but the best breeding-room we ever had was what Johnson defines to be " the topmost room of the house," although he gives the meaning of cock-loft to be " the room above tlic garret " : ]icrhaps the current of air in the cock-loft acts as a gulf stream to the attic — a sort of atmo- spheric (ly- wheel. A breeding-room can hardly be said to be complete without some kind of heating apparatus. To this it is pro- Methods of i,.ii)ie some may demur, but Heating. , ' . i i i i. wc can only say m rei)ly that those are fortunate who can do without it. Such a variety of circumstances combine to make the usage of one district different from that of another, that the " custom of the port," with its statistical results, must not be accepted as a standard rule calculated to produce the like elsewhere. Difference in latitude and variation in other physical relations make just all the differ- ence between the natural productions of any two places, and a certain amount of artificial treatment must be resorted to in order to bring them on a level. AVe do not say that Canaries would feel the rigour of an ordinary English winter more in one part of the country than in another, but the critical time is when Nature begins to wake up from her winter's sleep. In some places she seems to slumber with one eye open, and in others to relapse into a state of such insensibility as to suggest no awakening. In the one instance she is quick in answering to the call, and balmy airs soon arouse her from temporary inactivity : in the other, pulse is almost dead and circulation is induced c>nly by long and gradual effort. So with occupants of our bird-rooms, who are soon affected by external influences ; their awakening indoors is simultaneous with that out-of-doors, and every swelling bud or early s])ring flower is but the in- dicator of a corresponding spring-time in bird-life. When the one is late in being roused into life, so is the other ; and we hear in some j)laces of pairing, nesting, breeding, and all the excitement attending it, weeks, aye, almost months before those in a less favoured district dare even think of making any preparations for the cam- paign, lest too nuich haste might result in disaster. To obviate the evils arising from this, prudence would suggest that where a reasonably early start is contemplated, sometliing should be done to assist in main- taining an equal)le tcmjieraturc, so that breeding operations may be folk)wed out independently of the weather. The way in which Canaries are affected by climatic alternations will be pointed out in our chaj)ters on general management ; our object here is to explain simple methods of warming the breeding-room, by which means the dangers attendant on early nests THE BREEDING-ROOM 39 may be averted, and other discomforts which wait on a late spring considerably ameliorated. This last is the true object of artificial heating ; not to force birds out of season, but to make the most of them in season — to. combat adverse cir- cumstances by means that most nearly approximate to those employed by Nature. The best means of heating a bird-room is undoubtedly by hot-water pipes that pass along the side of the room, for which the water is kept hot either by a stove or gas jet arranged in a casing outside the room. But as such a construction is some- Hot=Water Pipes. attached. This apparatus can be heated by oil, and we understand that an automatic oil tank will last from fifteen to twenty hours without re-filling. For ourselves, however, we certainly prefer to use gas. The tubes d d are of welded iron ; c is a copper tank, from which the apparatus is fed ; the water passes from it by means of the fine tube / into the lower large tube d ; a condensing pipe g completes a most efficient apparatus. Mr. Dewhurst says of it : "It constitutes a great advan- tage in the utilisation of hot water for heating purposes, and is constructed upon the principle embodied in the well-known MR. H. DEWHURST'S "ECONOMIC" HEATING APPARATUS. what expensive, and as all houses are not convenient for equipment of this kind, the working-man is greatly handicapped in availing himself of it. There are, how- ever, some handy hot-water coils which can be arranged in a room for heating with a gas jet which is enclosed in a small copper casing, and has a flue to carry off the deleterious products of combustion. Mr. H. Dewhurst, of West Kensington, London, brought out such an apparatus some years ago known as the " Economic Heating Apparatus," of which he is the sole maker. On this page is an illustration of the appara- tus, and it will be seen that it takes up but little space. It can be stood either down the centre of the room or at one side — in any position, indeed, that is most conve- nient, for it can be fixed anywhere by screwing it to the floor through the flanges at the bottom of the two less, b is the copper casing enclosing the gas jet and boiler, with the circulating pipes c c fact that radiated heat is the best and most healthy form of heat. The import- ance of this feature is evident, as the injurious products given off by most heat- ing appliances make the atmosphere un- pleasant and detrimental to health. By reason of the construction of the boiler and cover the heat is generated more quickly than with coal boilers. The ab- sence of dirt, the saving in labour, and the facility of maintaining any desired temper- ature are some of the other advantages of this system which combine to render it superior to a coal fire, while its indisputable hygienic qualities make it superior to any existing gas stove. Without attention and without firing, and consequent risk of over-heating and explosion, a regular and uniform temperature may be maintained for hours at a time, by simply setting the gas tap. Another advantage of the heater is that the boiler can be fixed in an independent position outside the room, 40 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS and connected through the wall to the radiator ; as it is self-contained, an ex- perienced fitter is not required to fix it. The boilers, tanks, and boiler cases are made of stout, hard copper throughout, which does not rust and will wear for years. The tubes are of heavy welded iron, and the fittings of best n.allcable iron. The One of the latest heating apparatus by which a bird-room may be kept at a genial temperature is an electric stove patented by Messrs. Rorke Bros., of Barnes. London, a diagram of which is shown on this page. Messrs. Rorke's description of it is as follows : " A is the electric stove ; no lamps are Electric Stoves. MESSRS. RORKE'S ELECTRIC STOVE. burners are made of brass, and are adajited for atmosplieric flames and cannot rust." These heaters can be obtained in any size and constructed to suit any special place, either vertical or horizontal, or to fit any angle. No. 1 size, suitable for any ordinary room, has a length over all of fi ft. by 1 ft. G in. by 7 in., and to keep the rf)om at a tcinjieraturc of say 00' or 65° will consume about 4 cubic feet of gas per hour. This would involve a cost of Id. for 8 hours with gas at 2s. lid. per 1,000, which compares favourably with any other means of heating. We use one of these apparatus in our own bird-room at the commencement of the breeding season, when the nights are cold, and have found it a most efiicient means of maintaining a general temperature at a nominal cost. required in this, as llie heat is produced by the passage of electricity through wires ; it is therefore non-luminous. The elec- tricity for the stove is taken from any source of supply at any ordinary voltage. One of the supply wires is broken at the automatic switch 1), with the result that when the automatic switch is ' on ' the electric stove is ' on,' and when the switch is ' o(T ' the stove is ' ofi'.' The mo\cments of the switch 1) arc governed by the maxi- mum and minimum thermometer B. This thermometer is of the ordinary type, in which the mercury ri.ses in one limb, say the right, for a rise of temperature and for a fall of temperature it rises in the left limb : as a con.sequence the two contacts (one on the right and the other on the left) shown in the illu.stration (which enter into the tube by thin platinum wires) are p w 1 ^ ••^^ -i y-' ^ i^ . - ■-■ ^"■" . L - -.:* /r NORWICH CANARIES Clear Yellow (Colour-fed) Ticked Buff (Colour fed) iiven-marked yellow (natural colour) THE BREEDING-ROOM 4i each alternately covered or left free from the mercury column. If now tlic contacts are put at say 55^ ¥. on the left and 60° on the right, and a further contact is made at the bottom of the U, it is clear that an electric circuit can be established through the thermometer either when the temper- ature falls to 55° or when it rises to 60°. By using this fact the energy from two ordinary small bell batteries C is made to pass either round a small electric magnet on the front part of the switch D, which closes the switch, or round a similar magnet at the back part, which opens the switch. By an arrangement in the switch itself the small current generated by the bell batteries is cut off and left ready for the next movement. The general action of the system is as follows : Suppose the main supply is turned on and the temper- ature is at 54° or anything lower, the switch D will be found 'on,' and the current will pass through it to the stove A. The temperature will slowly rise in the room until it reaches 60°, when the right-hand side circuit in the thermometer will be made, and, as before explained, the switch will move ' off,' and the stove be discon- nected, to come on again only if the temperature falls to 55°. It is obvious that the range of temperature can be anything required ; for instance, 60° to 62°. Owing to the accuracy of the thermometer the system is quite infallible, and can be left practically without attention. Tiie cost is cut down to its scientific minimum owing to the certainty that the supply will be cut right off the instant it is not required. Consequently the system can compete as regards cost with any other forms of heat- ing without their attendant disadvantages. In some cases it is a good plan to stand the stove over or near a ventilating grating — if there be such in the room— as in this manner a supply of fresh air is drawn into the room and heated in its passage through the stove. Sometimes, also, it is w'orth consideration to place a small dish of water near or on the stove — not, as with gas or oil stoves, to endeavour ineffectually to trap the poisonous fumes, but in order to 6 Gas=Stove9. keep the air at a proper degree of moisture ; but this, of course, is a refinement that in no way concerns the system described." Messrs. Rorke further inform us that the cost for working the system from Christ- mas to April with electricity, at the "power and heating "" rate of Id. per unit for a room of 1,000 cubic feet, is under 20s. for an average winter, the temperature maintained being 55° to 60°. We also know many fanciers who have used — and do still use — the Hygienic Syphon gas-stove as a means of heat- ing their bird-room, and with every success. This stove condenses its own fumes into water. There are sundry other means of heating the room, such as a gas jet below several inverted flower- pots arranged one upon another, oil-stoves, and so on ; but there is too great risk at- tached to them, and many have lost their whole stud of birds through mishaps with such arrangements. It is, therefore, need- less for us to say more than that we be- lieve either in using a means which is fairly safe or having no heat at all. Such are the things to be borne in mind in selecting a good breeding-room, and we have but one more precau- The Mouse tio^ary measure to which to Pest. refer. This relates to the ex- clusion of mice, which can make themselves troublesome in various ways if they once gain access to the room. There is no such effective mouse-trap as a cat, but the cat is not wanted in the very place where the mice are ; if it clears the lower part of the house it does its duty very well, but it would never do to have it hunting about in the neighbourhood of the bird-room. The most effectual method of excluding mice is to nail strips of tin, bent at a right angle, on the floor and against the skirting-board. Perseverance and good teeth on the part of the mice will find a road through anything else, and it requires but a small hole to admit a regiment in single file. The bottom of the door should be protected by a similar contrivance. Should there be no skirting-board, as is sometimes the case in old rooms, a stout strip of wood must be 42 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS miilc'd to the floor close to the wall, and a sharp k)ok-oiit kept lor holes that tiiey may be stopped up at once with plaster of Paris or cement. Any holes in the floor itself must be covered with tin. If mice sho\ild take possession of the room, summary ejection of D "-"^ *°M- the whole fraternity is better Poison Mice. •' and more easy of accom- plishment than tedious operations with traps. Poisoninfj can be resorted to with- out any risk of unpleasant results from the mice dying in their holes, for if one or two should do so their bodies are only very small. If the floor be well swept for two or three nights in succession and baited with a small heap of oatmeal, which must idtimately be mixed with some vermin poison, the entire colony can be cleared out without any trouble in one or two nights, when mice and poison should be buried. But if poisoning be oljjected to, examine the room for holes and stop up all but one. If the room be entered at night with a light, the mice will at once make for this one loophole of escape, which can be closed before even a single mouse has time to reach it ; for unless the cages are so placed that the mice cannot by any possible means get into them, they will be foimd ban- queting in the seed-hoppers. If a large box be previously placed on the vacant side of the room, about an inch from the wall, every marauder will run behind it. There need be no hurry to bring about the (U'noiicment, and every long tail must be beaten out of cover ; not one will attempt to leave the shelter of the l)ox. A gentle squeeze, and that batch can be swept up, the box replaced, the hole un- stopped, and the operation repeated in an hour. There will soon be no mice to squeeze. It is wholesale slaughter, but death is instantaneous and merciful. Dirty cages, filthy little tracks in their frecpicnlcd runs, soiled seed, ;uhI ixrhaps a dead bird or two, are sullicicnt incentives to a massacre which need never occur again if the proper ])rccautions are then taken to prevent the ingress of these ])csts. ^Ve have referred to the cat as an Cats f. Mice. eirccti\c mouse destroyer. Some persons succeed in training their cats in such a way that they are allowed free access to the bird-room; indccfl, not a few turn puss into the room every night to mount guard antl protect the cages from the inroads of mice ; and where the cat has been brought up to the work from kittcnhood, it is astonishing how faithfully it will dis- charge its trust. We cannot but think, however, that the practice is fraught with great danger, and do not consider that a breeding-room containing valuable stock is the right place in which to connncncc " happy family " experiments. We say so in justice to the claims of the birds, which have no right to be exposed to such a risk. Our general experience of cats is that they are cats, and that, under favourable conditions, the cat nature will assert itself. It has to do so but once to entail disastrous consequences, and we think that the chance of that once shoidd not be allowed. Ciranted that puss sits down to watch her favourite hole from w hich she has bagged many a mouse, and watches it as only a cat can ; but a slight flutter in one of the cages breaks the stillness of the room, and she is there in a moment, and that unfortunate bird is either " killed fatally dead " or frightened to death. The cat's appetite thus whetted, she makes a complete job of the work before she tires of the anuisement of jnitting her velvet paws through the wires. We have known it to happen in more than one instance and think that shutting a cat in a nxim among birds is like smoking a pipe beside a keg of gunjiowdcr with the head out : but one single spark is wanted to do mischief. " A place for everything, and everything in its place," is the motto for a well-ordered room ; and the jilace for the cat is on the outside of the door. Wc have spoken of mice only, as tliey are the most connnon depredators, and arc ccrlain tf) be attracted to a bird-room. J{ut in counliy districts, where other kinds of vermin not unrreciucntly visit the home- stead, the greatest care should be taken THE BREEDING-ROOM 43 to exclude those known to be of a most cruel and bloodtliirsty disposition. In old buildings in which the walls are none of the soundest, a weasel or stoat may easily secrete himself and play havoc. These gentlemen can squeeze through an opening something smaller than a crack ; indeed, the how, when, and where of their ingress is often a mystery, and they must be guarded against with extreme watchfulness. We need only refer to a disastrous loss sustained by the late IMr. J. Yallop, of Cossey, near Xoi'wich, when a stoat which obtained admission to his bird-room des- troyed between sixty and seventy valuable birds, to show the necessity for vigilance in this direction. The lessons of such a catastrophe shoidd not be lost upon thoughtfid fanciers, who should ever study to reduce the possibility of an accident within the narrowest limits. On page 44 we give a sketch of the interior of a bird-room with a view to instructing our readers in the arrange- An Outside ^^^^^^^ ^j ^j^^ ^ -^^ ^j Bird=House. ... ^ , , breedmg-room to the best advantage. This sketch is of an outside bird-house the property of an enthusiastic Yorkshire breeder, Mr. W. Gladwin, of Cat ford, which for efficient arrangement would be difficult to surpass. The house is built of stout matchboarding with an inner lining of the same material ; the space between the two is filled with saw- dust, thus dovibly protecting the house from the vagaries of the weather. The roof is of Gothic design, and is made of stout matchboarding covered with corru- gated iron ; the front, back, and sides of the house are also covered with this material, making it entirely weather-proof. Further, to ensure freedom from damp, the house stands some 18 inches above the ground, with two steps uj) into it. The floor is made of stout board, lined on the under- neath side with thick zinc as a further preventive against damp and draughts. There are double doors, with a porch, so that when the house is entered the outer door is closed before the inner one is opened, thus preventing an inrush of cold air, or the escape of any bird which might by chance be out of its cage. There are two windows in the front, one on either side of the door, and a smaller one, high up near to the roof, in each side of the house. This arrangement affords an even distribution of light all through the house without the use of too much glass, which has a tend- ency to cause excessive heat in the summer and does not exclude the cold in the winter. The top panel of these windows works on a hinge, and when opened falls back into closed sides of sheet zinc cut on the slant, with a flange down the front on which the panel rests. This contrivance allows an abundance of air to enter the room through an aperture of about 12 inches at the top. The flange on the zinc sides pre- vents any possibility of draught, even to those birds that are close to the windows. The small side window on the left of the sketch is sho\\n open. The whole of the interior of the house, including the ceiling, is varnished. The house has not been selected for notice because it is an outhouse, but on account of its neatly arranged Interior interior, which can be adapted Arrange^ ^^ ^ room of a house. In ment of , Bird=Room. o*^"" sketch we are only able to show the back and a }3or- tion of each side of the room ; the main windows are, as we have mentioned, on either side of the door in the front, and thus give ample light to the cages both at the back and sides of the room. The cages are all of uniform size, and stand in racks of which the u]:)rights are of wood ; the cross-bars, on which the cages rest, are lengths of small metal gas-piping. By the use of a rack in which to stand the cages, and by the adoption of a uniform size for the cages, every cage can be fitted into its place without the waste of an inch of space. One has only to look at the illustration to note the neat effect this system gives to a room, and how it sets off the birds. These racks will be fully explained later. In the room illustrated there are four tiers of cages ; but the number of cages can be regulated according THE BREEDING-ROOM 45 to tlie size of the room. It will be seen that a stout wooden beading about 2 inches hii,'h is arranged round the floor about 1 ft. from the front of the cages. This serves to catch any seed-husks that may drop from the cages, and keejis them on the inside near the cages. The centre of the floor is thus kept tidy and free from husks. Against the front, below one of the windows, a j^lain square table is required whereon to stand the seed, egg food, water, and other requisites when attending to the birds ; below the other window can be placed a closed-in cupboard in which to keep the various utensils. A chair at one side is also desirable whereon one may sit to view and admire the birds in a spare half-hour when their wants have been satisfied. Then the room is complete so far as fittings are concerned. THE MORNING ROUND. iFwm a tthoto^raph by Mr. T. E. Butty.) A CANARY MKKKDhK AMJ SOMK UF Mr. J. rrcnf;Sro\X', ot Kishton. in liis Hre HIS I lUM'HIHS. :diii;; Ktinm. CHAPTER V GAGES AND CAGli-M AMNG It is quite ])o.ssil)le to go to an extreme ; to build with such strict resjard to the line and |)hniuiict and to conduct our Httlc estahhslimcnt with such |)ainl'ul order and rcgidarity as si'rionsly to interfere witli the eomrort ol' the ohjeets under our charge. We iiavc a wliolesoine aversion to the wliolc I'aniily of antimacassars, and tiuy arc a large tribe. \'et we do not wish to be understood as objecting to a well- ordered J)reeding-r()oTn — anything but that ; it is only l''rench jiolish, and a sort of clock- work niechaiiisni wliich adniils ol' no de\i- ation from a set line, that we object to when they ((l)trudc themselves to the exelusion of llii' eond'orl and well-being of the birds. " Anything will do for a cage." No ; anything will not do for a cage. The anything-will-do system is bad from end to end, and is born of a careless slo\ cn- lincss which goes about with holes in its stockings. Tlierc is a fitness in things, and a harmony which satisfies the judgment and pleases the eye as much as Dutch gold and stucco are repellent to it. If there be one ])laee more than another in which we like to see liandsome cages, it is in a work- mg-man"s cottage. They help tt) cover his walls, and am])ly repay any pains bestowed in making them and in keei)ing them clean. In fitting up a breeding-room with cages, s|)ace can sometimes be economised by utilising recesses. Wc refer The Use of ,,, ,]|jj. .|j. l„.],,„yi„y to the Recesses. . ^ sphere ol contrivances ; and we nrc told that a good contriver is belter than lie lh;d hath a large a])petite. Uecesses are also sometimes available in rooms otlicr than fliosc set ap.'irt for birds, and may e\(n be the imhi a\ailal)le sj)aec at conmiand. They can be adapted to — or rather eonxerled into— cages with little 40 CAGES AND GAGE-MAKING 47 trouble and not much expense. We must assume that there is no paper on the wall ; if there be, it ean readily be removed by ■wetting it, and the plaster laid bare. No better natural sides and back for a breeding- cage can be devised than a dry wall. The exact places to be occupied by the shelving shovdd be set off with a square. The shelves should be 18 inches apart and made of half-inch ordinary yellow pine, planed, and the freer from coarse knots the better. If the recess be reasonably square, the shelves ean be fitted in tightly without injuring the wall in any way, beyond the driving in of a few nails to sup- port them or to fix small ledges on which the ends may rest. Each shelf must, in any case, be bevelled off to the exact angle of the particular niche into which it is intended to slide, and must be flush with the wall all round, especially at the back. Any spaces which oeeur between the shelf and the wall, be they ever so small, must be filled in with thin plaster of Paris, for the same reason that cage-bottoms must be made flush witli the back and sides of the cage — viz., to prevent dry sand from running through, and also to ]>revent insects from harbouring in them. Tliis is, perhaps, the most difficult part of the business, but it is of the utmost imjDortance. It must, however, be noted in passing that these contrivances do not allow of the insect pest being dealt with as effec- tually as it can be in cages which can be lifted about and removed from the rack on which they stand, or from the nails on which they hang. However deep the recess may be, it is not advisable that the shelving be more than about 12 inches from back to front ; but if it be not very deep, and it is wished to bring the cage fronts out in the same line as the jamb of the chimney which usually forms the recess, an inch or two is not of so much consequence as disturbing the uniformity desired : but we do not advocate deep cages. If there be width enough, the space at command may be divided into two or three compartments by permanent partitions or by slides, and the whole will then represent a large cage ; and here we will leave it, to enter on the subject of cage- making proper. Different towns and different schools of fanciers affect different breeding appliances. Custom and long usage deter- _ ""® mine many fashions, quite irre- spective of their suitability. The ancient, heavy, cumbersome, two-wheeled, four-horse plough ean doubtless be found in use, even now, in some parts ; while in most a light, effective machine, which a man might almost swing over his shoulder, is used. Each has its merits and demerits, and nobody will dispute either. In Scot- land— and thousands of Canaries are bred beyond the Tweed — open-wire cages are used to a very large extent, while a few miles south of the old Roman wall such a thing is unknown. The " London " breed- ing cage, the ordinary sale article of wire- workers and cage-makers, in its early days was considered in the South to be the most perfect breeding cage ever produced ; but it has since proved to be one of the most unsuitable it is possible to have. The various compartments arranged at the right-hand side of the cage for the hens to nest in, with a compartment below in which to place the yoimg birds when thej' are first taken from the parents, become nothing but harbours for filth and vermin, and are quite unnecessary. Though they are still made by the ordinary wire-workers and cage-makers — who, as a rule, are not fanciers — no practical breeder would think of using such a breeding cage, or recommend the amateur or novice to do so. Of course, many beginners in London buy such cages, until their disadvantages are pointed out by some exi^erienced breeder, when they are quickly replaced by the more common- sense cage of to-day. The cage we recommend is one with the top, back, and sides of wood, and with the front only wired — a business- like looking article not got up for show, but for prac- tical use. It can be made in one, two, three, four, or any number of compart- ments. A cage of one compartment. The Best Cage. 48 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS intended for the use of one pair of birds only, is known as a sinoic brccdin<^ cafre. Tiic- illustration on tliis patjc shows such a caoc fitted with a nioval)le wire front, sccd- hopper, glass drinking vessel, and earth- enware egg drawer, all in their proper positions as used while breeding. A small glass vessel may also he fixed against the perch by ])assing a wiiv pin through the lip of the vessel. In this may be placed other tit-bits, such as a. little maw-seed. SINGLE BOX BREEDING CAGE. Willi WIKH FRONT AND FITTINGS. bread and milk, or l)oilcd rape, any of which are best given in a sc})arate vessel. The only other article requii'ed in this cage is the earthenware nest-pan, hung either in the centre of the back of the cage, or at one end, whichever the breeder prefers. A small wire rack on the outside of the wire front, in which to place the nest- building material for the hen to ])ull through the wires, completes the fittings. It will be observed in the illustration of this cage that the turn-rail at the bottom is open ; it is arranged thus to show its method of working. This cage is free from any fixed tra])i)iiigs inside in whicii insect pests may gather ; the fittings are all movable. Sand-tr.iys can. of course, be used where preferred, but this cage has no sand-tray — simply the turn-rail in front, which is removed when tiie cage is cleaned out. A two-compartment c;i,ge is called a " double breeding cage," Jind allords accom- modation for two pairs of Compart= birds, one pair in each com- ment Cages. . , , partmcnt. and so on. In describing cages we shall adopt these terms. A " stack " of cages is simply a nuiltiplieation of compartments built either in one ])iccc or in sections, though when built in one |)iccc it is more generally spoken of as an eight- or sixteen-eompart- mcnt cage, according to the number of pairs it is intended to accommodate, and is understood to be one piece of furniture. Thirt}' years ago it was quite a common thing in the North for fanciers to make long cages with eight or ten breeding com- partments ; others were made in a ehest- of-drawcrs I'ashiitn, with a " stack " of twelve compartiuents. There were thus four compartments at the bottom, the top of which formed the base of four compart- ments above : the top of these again formed the base of the topmost four eompart- mcuts. A little wood is saved by such an arrangement, but these large structures are awkward to move and handle when it is necessary to wash and rc|)aint them, and altogether these disadvantages far out- weigh the little gained by the saving of wood. The single-storey cages of some- what smaller dimensions — not exceeding, say, four compartments arranged side by side with movable jiartitions -are very handy, and are as easily moved about for the jiurpose of cleaning or for arranging in order as are double cages ; during the moulting season and winter mouths they are easily converted into flight cages by removing the partitions. We only projjose to deal with the double breeding cage, leaving it to the fancier to cut his coat according to his clcith in the matter of multi- j)lication. We will luiw proceed to con.struct our cage, which, to begin with, is nothing more than a box 40 inches long. If) inches high, and 10 inches deep (for Vork.shires it might be 17 inches or IS inches high), made of yellow ])inc wood about three-eighths of an inch thick. It must be i)Iaiu(l smooth. rubl)e(l down with fine glasspai)cr. and neatly and securely put together. Every joint should fit as r il' it should l)c too slaek. a downward tap between the wires will improve mattci's without ])uttinij the bar out of scpiare in a way to olTend the eye. The door can be fastened with a tiny button, or a wire, bone, or brass catch fixed on the front cross-bar of the ca"e. middle M'ooden bar and top of cage is, however, not absolutely necessary if a No. 13 gauge wire be used for the upright wires, and the cage is not of the loftiest dimensions. It is. however, advisable to have it for the more lofty cages. Before dismissing the subject of cage- making, we must refer brieflv to one other \ W II 1 -i'l.A.NNKI) IMIUIOK {I'kotot^mph supplied by Miosis, Forsc & Sun, Lcylou.) A glance at the illustrations will i-ender these directions lor door-making pcrleclly plain and easy of accomplishment. The linishing operation oT the whole is the binding of the wires to the strength- ening cross-wire bar with the thin la))ping material already mentioned in our inventory of necessaries. We give an illustration on page 51. of the orthodox twist which tight ens the whole, and makes it impossible to dis- place any wire or widen the space between them so as to permit I he cscMpc ol' ;i bird. If it be preferred, the cr<)ss-\vire bar and upright wires may l)c soldered together instead of being l)oini(l with I he line wire : either method answers e(iualiy well. This strcngtlicning cross-wire bar between the method ol' wiring, simply i)ecause it in- cludes an excellent desci-i|)t ion ol'a sell'-clos- iiig door,\ery much in use, both A Sliding jii l,rcediiig and exhibition Door. cages. This method (•(insists ni substituting for the wooden cross-bar a cross ]iicce ol' wire, ol' the same gauge as the n])right wires, or one gauge stronger, to which the iiprighl wii'cs muNi he bound in the manner prc\iously indicated. The door, a pattern of which is shown (in ]Mlaee it jirevcnts the birds from quarrelling with each other, should one in each com- jiartment be feed- ing at the same time, and in the second ])lace, shoidd it be neces- sary, it enables the seed nnxturc for the two com- partments to be varied. l''or instance, in one compartment may be a pair of birds which arc fee])ly is given. 'I'he middle ])artition in the doid^lc hopper is made just suilieicntly high to allow the glass top to slide over it. This glass also alTords light for the birds to feed by, and enables them to see the seed without dilfieulty, e\"en in a cage to which they are not accustomed. The old-fashioned seed-drawer, with the holes inside the cage, is now almost obso- lete. As a method of su|)plying food it may be as good as any other, but the trouble of making and fixing the inside box, couj)lcd ^vitli the facilities it affords to insects and the difficulty of getting at them, have caused the hopper to super- sede it. Some old-fashioned fanciers, however, have a liking for old-fashioned contrivances, and still stick to this seed-drawer. We have no wish to try to |)ei'siiadc them to the contrary, but would simply point out that the seed-hopper is nuich the l)etter, if only for the reasdii that the seed is kt-pt clean and free from the birds" droppings. ()!' water- vessels there is an endless \aric-ty of patlci-ns and materials. We will iKil undertake to I'ccom- ,' 7 meiul one as bemy- sunel'ioi- to Vessels. ' another, but geucrally wc use the ordiiiar\' opcu-to|i round glass vessel, illustrated on the next page. It is egg- shaped inside, so has no corners at the bottom: it is eonsecjuently easily cleaned out and kept clean. It is easily adjusted to the cage, as it requires only a ])iece of wire bent round lo its si/.c with tlie lauls GAGES AND GAGE-MAKING 59 OPEN TOP ROUND GLASS DRINK- ING-VESSEL. made hook-shape in a siniihir manner to the ends of the wire arms for the short cross-perches previously described. These, when pressed over the top cdoe of the bottom cross-bar, hokl the round wire frame firm ; the glass drinlcer cannot slip through owing to the flanged edge of the top. In the list of open water-vessels will be found, too, the glass and earthen- ware cups, which also re- quire to be suspended in wire loops. The covered-in round- topped glass bottles are still used for both seed and water in song cages, though not to such an extent as they were. We have a great objection to them, for while they may be handy for the seed they are anj-thing but suitable for the water ; they are most difficult to clean, and as the edges round the opening are very rough, one's fingers are often cut in the effort to clean the inside of the vessel. Great care is also required to fit them so that the mouth of the bottle is exactly opposite to the wire hole, and very little is sufficient to displace them; the bird is then deprived of water or seed, as the case may be, until the mischief is discovered. Another glass drinking-vessel in general use in many j^arts of the north of England is the half-moon shape (shown in the next column). It will be observed that the flat side of the vessel rests against the front of the cage, and that the wire looiJ is passed through the front bar with the ends bent inside to hold it in jaosition. A better method of fixing the wires is to make the ends into hooks, so that they grip over the top of the bar. The wire loop can then be removed when the cages are washed, etc The well-known conical glass fountain with projecting lip is a rather expen- sive but admirable reservoir, which furnishes a continual supply of clean Mater. We know of no better water-vessel than this, if the wire hole be placed above the cross- bar and adjacent to one of the perches, ^- HALF-MOON SHAPED DRINKING-VESSEL. SO that egg and other soft foods which soon decompose are not likely to be thrown into the mouth. When used in con- nection with large flights, where a group of birds are flying together, it is not so quickly cleaned as the open-topped drink- ing-vessels, and two or three of the lat- ter placed a little apart along the front of a flight would answer the same purpose. If, however, the water holes are limited in the flight, then the conical fountain will well supply the need, as more than one— if of fair size — will not be required unless there is a great number of birds, and the flight is very large. It is not necessary for the amateur cage- maker to have a complete kit of joiner's tools. He should have two Ca°l^ ^°^ ^^^^^ ^°"^ ^ 1^*^"^' ''^'"^ *^^^ other MaKing. ^ tenon or back saw), a " jack " and a smoothing plane, a couple of hammers (one very light and the other a little heavier), two bradawls (one to carry No. 14 or No. 15 gauge wire and the other to carry No. 16 or No. 17 gauge), a marking gauge — which we fully described, and which he would make himself — a square, a couple of sharp chisels, differing in size, a medium-sized screw-driver, a „ ,, . ,. . CONICAL GLASS pair of cutting pliers, a pair fountain. of round - pointed pliers, a 2-foot rule, an oil-stone, and a soldering iron. Additions can be made to the kit as they are found to be helpful, such as a brace and bits, files, different sized chisels, compasses, etc. Apart from breeding purposes, all varie- ties of canaries and hybrids may be kept in box-shaped cages, though they may, as we shall describe, differ a little in size and arrangement. CHAPTER VI NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES In following out the jilan of our work we propose to deal with the apjiliances belonging to the bird-room as occasions for their use may ])rcsent themselves. We have bnilt our cage and Fixing ^j^^^j j^. ^^.j^]j ^_j^g ^.j^j.gp j^i^gQ, the Cage. lute necessaries, and now proceed to hang it up or place it against the wall in some way. There are more ways than 07ic. Perha])S, instead of a single cage, it may be one of four orsixccjni- partments, and it may be proposed to stand it on a small table, in which are drawers for seed, and tins, and all kinds of neat little arrangements. It is diihcult to dis- abuse anyone of the idea that such things are dangerous in the bird-room. \A'e do not object to them in the breakfast-room or library, or in any room into which the idea of furnituic enters as an element, but while such tables are valuable adjuncts to the bird-rot)m as stores for accessories, it is advisable not to stand large flight- cages on them. If this be done there is a possibility that the drawers may become infested with red mite, through the con- nection with the ciigc. It is miich better to stand flight-e;igcs on a ])edcstal similar to that shown in the diagiani on this ))age. .Such can be made any height ami length. The cage rests on the EleuAuon of ftoodcn D/uib'ons ------ Kc.^t.1 6- f/rto/itn cf End Piece Ftin oVmooden Top STAND FOR FLIGHT CAGES. A SIMI'LF, CAGE. RACK. four u|)rights. and thus no hai'bour for insects is alTordcd beneath it. With such an arrangi'iucnt, too, three or four flights can bi' placed one above the other with jjcrfcct salcty. A small block of wood, al)oul half an inch scpiarc, should l)c placed at each of tiic four top corners of the lirst cage f(ir tlir second one to rest K ^-=^~ upon, and so on, for the others. This arrangement jircvcnts the 60 NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES 6i bottom of one flight-cage touching the top of the one below it, and again there is no harbourage between for insects. Should, as sometimes happens, a colony of mites form on the top of one of the flight-cages the advantage of this system is at once apparent. A sharp look-out will soon reveal the pests, and with the space between the cages they can be destroyed without much difhculty. With such a stack of " flights " before him, the wisdom of adopting uniformity in size and arrangement of jiarts will now be ajiparent to the fancier. Seed-hoppers and water-vessels will be seen to be in rows, one above the other, and apart from the pleasing efl'ect to the eye, the convenience of the whole will be manifest in many ways. For single and double breeding-cages the use of the rack described in comiection with the sketch of a room 7 , on page 44 is far iireferable to Advantages ... , of the Rack, hangmg them on the wall. In the first place the possi- bilitv of insects congregating between the back of the cage and the wall is prevented, for when stood in a rack a space of about an inch can be allowed between the cages and wall. The cages can also be arranged in a much more uniform manner in the rack, for tlie regularity of the hanging is dependent upon the unevenness, or other\vise, of the chinks between the bricks, wherein the nails have to be driven. An illustra- tion of one of these racks ready for standing the cages in is given on page 60, together with sectional and other dia- gi'ams . Bird-rooms should be thoroughly cleansed and renovated once a year, in the early spring for preference, just ^ ® . , before the birds are paired Question of i. i t Cleanliness. "P lof breedmg. The walls andceilings should be distem- pered, and tables, drawers, and any other accessories sci'ubbed down in the same manner as the housewife carries out her spring-cleaning. Have a real turn out. The cages should all be taken into the yard and given a thorough good scrubbing inside and out. AVhcn they are dry any that may be getting bare should be re-cnamelled or painted both inside and out. It is a good plan to re-enamel or paint them all over every second or third year, but in an}^ case they should be washed everv spring before breeding commences. Much MICRO-PHOTOGRAPH OF RED NUTE. MUCH ENLARGED. (Photograph supplied by Mr. S. Dean.) slavery is thereby avoided during the breeding season in attempts to keep down the insect pest, and precautionary measures secured against the attacks of epidemics. AVhen cages have become greatly soiled during the breeding season, as they so often do, from the droppings of the yoimg birds, it is always advisable to scrub them out directly after the breeding season, esjjecially if it is intended to keej) birds in them during the autumn and winter. Nest -boxes play an important part in the economy of the breeding-cage, and the contrivances and arrange- ^®®*" ments for them varv greatly in Boxes. c ' actual practice. Square wooden boxes are largely used in some districts even now, and some breeders maintain that they are warmer for the birds than 62 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS those of cartlicnwarc. We ourselves are j?lad tliat this old-1'ashionecl nest-box is fast falling into disuse, and giving place to the more sanitary nest-pan, which forms much less harbourage for the red mite pest than the ordinary wooden box. Tiiat the latter is warmer for the birds is pure imagination ; for the earthenware becomes eipially warm from the heat given off from the body of the l)ir(l. For our own part, we should hesitate now to use either a scjuarc wooden ncst-box or nests of ■\vici them clean ; burn them. These remarks have followed on our reference to wooden nest-boxes, basket- work and similar nests, and we think that the reason of our objection to them is now patent. Pos- sibly none of our objections is very serious, but \\e are staiuieh believ- ers in the (jld adage — " Pre- \cnti()n is bet- ter than cure."' We do not assert that the wooden nest- box is not used successfully; indeed, we shall now endeavour to show that it is. It is strange that some people should adhere for so long a time to early teachings in the I'ace of a newer and lestlox^'" '-'"^^ ^•'•^^'l- I>^ ^^'«-wich, Ihc city of Canary breeders, a wooden box shaped something like a kitchen soajj-hox (as can be seen by a refer- ence to the illustration) is considered the correct thing, and scarcely anything but dried moss is sup|)lied for building material. Yet who shall say that the Norwich men arc not successful breeders ? \\\- belicNC that the sa,ine methods arc a])|5li('d in cer- tain of the Midland districts. Xorthampton in p;irt icuhir. aiiol her st i-onghold oj' .Xorwich breeding. This doubtless arises from the fact that the example of the Xorwich brecdeis was followed in the early da-\'s. and continued as ;i matter of custom. In laet it is only necessary to fui-nisli a hen Canary with some niche in- other, aiul she w ill snon occupy it ; all else failing, she will take possession of the egg-drawer, or even deposit nesting stuff in the seed-hopper, or in the corner of the cage bottom. She must build. The wooden box requires no lining at the hands of the fancier. A more skilful architect than he will weave her own felt, and furnish it in a way compared with which all other attempts are but the most clumsy bungling. We are quite ])re]:)ared for the statement that years of domestica- tion have done their work in impairing the architectural skill of the Canary, and that it is necessary for their comfort to assist them in this res])ect. It may be so : and yet if the ofTsjiring of a wild bird, which never in its life saw a nest built, can con- struct its own habitation, why shoidd }iot the offspring of a tame one, which in its tm-n never saw one built, be able to do the same thing ? The fact is, many of the finches build very slovenly nests as com- pared with other birds, and birds of the same family vary much in the dis])l;iv of a knowledge of the art of nidification, as every schoolboy knows. The character of the nest is there, but the fmish is fre- (|ucntly wanting. And so it is with our I'aged Canaries. One will do its work in the most masterly way and tui'ii out its nest with ex(]uisite finish, while another will content itself with a mere apology scarcely worth the name. No two build their nests exactly .alike : one makes the most ])erfect cup. so dvv\> that you wonder how she will manage to sit in it; another hlis up hei' l)i>\. or nest-pan. leaving barely the slightest depression in which l() dei)osit her eggs : another makes ;ui o\al cavity: and another in\a.i'iably selects the corner of her box. lca\ing the wood exposed on two sides, nuich in the same way as we sometimes find a wihl bird's nest built against a branch, |)art of which jiositively forms a portion of the inside of it. And these birds always do the same thing if they build lialf-a-dozen times in the season, and yet somehow always manage to take care of their eggs and their young ones if left alone. Perhaps \\itli all our consideration and well-meant endeavours to assist them, they know as GRASSHOPPER WARBLER. REED WARBLER. SEDGE WARBLER. 66 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Tin Nest= Pans. TIN NEST-PAN. inuc'li about, it as we do, and, it may be. a little more. On this page is given an illustration of a tin nest- pan, which has rendered good service in days gone by : some breeders, indeed, use it even now. It is eup-shaped, with a zinc bottom, perforated for j)ur])oses of ventilation. It is attached to an u])right back, j^recisely similar in construction to the old-fashioned sconces in vogue before the days of gas, which, containing a spluttering candle, were hung against the wall to render the darkness visible It is suspended against the back of the cage, on a sti'ong ilat-hca.dcd tack or nail, di'iven in at a \cry acute angle ; the hole ill tiic tin is sii.-ipcd like an in\ertcd keyhole, through the enlarged eye of which the head of the nail passes, the narrow t-ut allowing the tin to fall on the shank. The inclined position of the nail generally alTords sullicient grij) to prevent the nest being pulled to one side by the bird. This will constantly happen if the tin be suspended on a screw, as there is then notiiiug but the friclinn of the nest against the back of the cage to |)revcnt its oscillating freely, unless the head of the screw be sent well home so as to bite the edges of the slit, in which case it sometinus bites too much, and it is not easy to lift the nest olT ;iiis or youii"'. We cannot say tliat these nests are entirely free I'roni the inseet-]iest. hut. inasmuch as they olTcr the least amount of shelter, insects are not found in them in such nnndiers as in the ordinary nesting contrivances. There is one ditliculty to contend with in breedinu- domesticated birds, such as the Canary, which does not occur Slovenly ;„ (.,„uiect ion with wild birds: Hens. ,11- this arises when tlie lien is uiven to slovenliness in building her nest. In tliose circumstances she will often lill the nest with all manner of rubbish that is within her reach, and that may have accumulated in the cage. This must be removed from the nest by the breeder, or otherwise the hard substance would be liable to damage the fragile shell of the eggs while the hen is sitting, and so render them useless. It is well known that there are many British birds who make no nest at all. but simply lay their eggs in a depression in the ground; but the shell of such eggs differs entirel>- in strength and thickness from those of birds like the Canary, whose general instinct is to build a nest wherein to deposit their eggs. We can only ron<-hidc. Iherefoi'c, that the hen Canaries which build slo\cnly nests, or no nest ;it all, arc of a slovt'iily dis- ])osition. l''or these hens a nest must be shaped out as a means of protection for the eggs. It is. howc\er. useless to at tempt t(( form a nesi for them until the\' ha\e l.'iiil Ihcii' Inll clulch of eggs. Should Ihe nest be placed in the cage before this lime, the hens, in nine cases out of ten. will inunedialely |)nll il lo pieces. This, how- ever, will not happen when Ihe full com- plement of eggs has been laid, as the hens are then broody, and desirous of sittiiii;- on their eggs in the nest. All that is necessary to make a good nest is a little doe-hair placed in the nest- Egg=Drawers and Troughs. ]ian. It should be shajK-d out with the lingers, and finished olf by making the inside smooth and tirm. This is best done by twisting a hot boiled fowl's egg round and round a few times. If the eggs are then placed in the nest and returned to the cage the hen will immediately take possession and commence her duty con- cerning them. AVe have digressed a little, and allowed ourselves to tres})ass slightly on wiuit is, strictly, in the province of " general manage- ment." but we have found it diHicult to say all we wished about the various kinds of nesting apparatus without doing so in some degree. We find, on referring to our inventor}-, that there are not many api)lianccs left to describe : and we may as well dispose of the most important of those which remain, and then dismiss this portion of our subject. It is well not to have anything to make, or to get, at a time when it is wanted for immediate use — a fact the truth of which we all of us experience at some time in our lives. Kg.g-drawers, or troughs, must be our next consideration. These are shallow pans in which is su]i])lied the egg-food. There are various kinds : some are made of tin. others of glass, and others again of white glazed earthenware. Tliose of tin we do not care for, in- asmuch as e g g-f o o d , being of a moist na- ture, does nol keep sweet for so long a time in a tin vessel as it does in one of glass or c.irl henware. We t herel'oi-e rci onimend t he bleeder to use either tiie cart henware or glass I rough, or drawer, for this ])uri)ose. One of the mo.st handy of these for use in a cage of which the doors are all wire, and slide up and down, is illustrated herewith. 'J'liis drawer is made of white glazed ware, is of I. Aid llhNWAKK F.GG-FOOU DKAWKR. NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES 69 nice size and depth, and is notched out at either side just behind the front, so as to allow the door to drop down close upon it. This arrangement makes it impossible for the birds to escape beneath the door, and at the same time the egg-drawer is securely fastened. By means of this eflicient trough the breeder is enabled to give his birds their fresh supjily of egg- food in a very short space of time and without disturb- ing them in the least. He simply has to raise the door a little, lift out the egg-drawer, turn out any stale food which may have been left, wipe the drawer dry with a cloth — this should al- ways be done when fresh egg-food is given — put the required quantity of egg-food in the drawer and replace it. Where the cage door does not slide up and down, but opens outwards, a very useful trough, made in both white glazed ware and glass, is here shown. The bottom of this vessel is oval, so that there are no cor- ners for the egg-food to 1 o d s e in. and conse- quently it is quickly cleaned out. It is fixed to the front wires of the cage inside, against one of the cross- perches, and has for this purpose a lip with a hole through it. This lip is passed through between two of the wires, and a piece of wire about three inches long is slipped half- way through the hole in the lip, which holds the vessel securely in its place. GLASS OR EARTHEN- WARE EGG-TROUGH WITH LIP TO FIX BE- TWEEN WIRES. A SHALLOW EARTHENWARE EGG-DRAWER. Shallow earthenware drawers, such as that illustrated, are also largely used, but are not recommended. They are so shallow that much of the egg-food is wasted by being knocked out with the bird's beak. There is a possibility that this stale egg-food may lie on the floor of the cage and form a dangerous attraction to the young birds when they are able to leave the nest. Should they pick about amongst it diarrhoea cjuickly super- venes. For this form of drawer, too, the front of the cage small glass ok has to be cut to allow of ^^™''*^'*'' its insertion. It will there- fore be seen that the deeper drawers and troughs before described are not only more advantageous but more convenient. Another useful little vessel, made in both glazed earthenware and glass, is also illus- trated. In this may be given a supply of boiled or soaked rape-seed when the birds are breeding. It does not occupy much room if stood on the bottom of the cage, and holds as much as should be given at one time. These vessels are also useful for supplying the young birds with a little egg-food while they are in the nursery cage. Crushed seed can also be given in one of them if so desired, or a little bread that lias been soaked in scalded milk. It will thus be seen how useful a few of such vessels are in the bird-room during the breeding season. In point of cleanliness nothing equals these earthen- ware or glass vessels. As we have dealt with the most suitable vessels in which egg-food can be given, it will not be out of j^lace if we Egg=Food. , , „ ,, , . now treat 01 the best way of preparing the egg-food itself. Various methods are adopted. One. which we remember when quite a boy, was simply to cut in halves a cold hard-boiled egg, unshelled ; the two halves were cut through again, and each pair of birds that was feeding young, was supplied with a quarter, being allowed to feed from the solid piece of egg. This was, of course, a very ex- 70 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS EGGSIEVE. pensive method of S'^'i"S egp-food where a hirire number of birds was kept, and led to the adoption of another that was less extravafjant. This plan was to cut the co-^ into slices after it had been shelled, and mince it up fine with a knife on a clean piece of board kept for the ])urpose. By this method the c^tr was given in smaller quantities, and one etjjj served more pairs than when it was merely cut into (piarters. Experience led to still greater improve- ments, and a very sim- ]ile but ef- f e c t i v e utensil was adopted for the p r e- ])aration of the food. This was the egg-sieve, as it was sometimes called, or the egg- box. It consists of a wooden frame about 3 inches high, and 8 or 10 inches stpiare, with a top of perforated zinc through which hard-boiled eggs are squeezed by pressure with the blade of a dinner knife or a small wooden spatula. It is a most simple and effective contrivance for accomplishing the pur]K)se desired, doing more thoroughly in a few seconds what could scarcely be done in half an hour mulcr the old system of cho])i)ing, though the egg when thus manipulated is still always spoken of as "chopped" when referred to in the dietary. It is better to cut the egg up into slices, so as to relieve the perforated zinc of a great deal of ])ressure which would otherwise have to be exerted to force the uncut egg through. An adjunct to Ihc egg-sieve is a board to place underneath it. on which to receive what is ])asscd through, for the |)urj)ose of mixing —one clamped at each end to pre- vent war|)ing will be found most service- able. There is now an even more ra|)id means than the sieve by which to pre- pare our egg-food — an egg-mill. 'l"hc type illustrated is a mill which has a {•ylindcr perforated with holes of dilTcr- ent sizes, and toothed. The shelled egg is placed whole in the receiver on top. EGG-NULL. The Bath^Cage. with the required amount of biscuit, whole, or broken just sulliciently to go into the aperture. The ram is I)laced on the top, the handle of the mill given two or three turns, and the egg and biscuit will pass round the cylinder and be ejected on to a board which is ])laccd ready to receive it. The whole jjrocess docs not occupy nujre than a cou|)lc of minutes. The food may, of course, need just a little more blending with the |)oint of a knife, after it has passed through the mill. The bath-cage is a sine qua non, and can be purchased in a variety of shapes. It is ]n-actically a small cage, the bottom of which forms a trough a})ont 2 inches dee]), and may be had either in the form of a zinc trough wired over, or with a wooden bottom containing a zinc or eartlien- ware basin. This bath-cage has a wooden top and bottom and four u])rights, and i^ wired in the form of a cage, with one side entirely ojien. Two strong hooks in front serve to attach it to the ojien doorway of the i)ird's cage. Ill the illiist ra t inn of the buth- cagc gi\'cn. a proj e c 1 1 n g wire from one of the uprights will be observed which comes in front of wooden batm cage. /I.NC nATH. NESTS AND OTHER APPLIANCES 71 WHITE EARTHENWARE BASIN FOR BATH-GAGE. the open door of the cage, about two or three inches from the top of the bath-cage. This wire — which projects about an inch — forms a rest for the sliding wire door of the cage to rest upon. There is thus no possible fear of the door dropping down when the bath is in jiosition. and so shutting the bird in the bath-cage or, what would be worse still, drop- ping on to tlie bird as it passed through the doorway in- to the bath. Several of these bath-cages will be re- quired, according to the size of the estab- lishment ; for birds have their own ideas as to the right time of the day for a wash. The replenishing of the water-vessels is generally the signal for a dip while the water is clean ; and the Canary can manage a very fair shampoo through his water-hole. A thorough wash is another thing, and it frequently happens that when one wishes the birds to wash they will take no notice of the bath ; but at length, after a few preliminary sprinklings, in goes one bird with a splash, and then out pops every head through its water-hole, and there is a general commotion in the cages. This is washing-time, and the advantage of having several baths at hand to indulge the birds while they are in the humour will be seen as soon as the baths are suspended from the doorways. A square white glazed earthenware basin suitable for use in the bath- cage is illustrated herewith. Another most useful accessory to the breeding-cage is a small wire rack to hook on the WIRE RACK FOR BUILD- ^''""'^^ ^^ ^^"^ ^agC. iNG MATERIAL. iu whicli doe-hair Miscellaneous Requirements. or other building material may be placed. The birds will pull this through the Avires of the cage, and use it to build their nest with. Where coarse-cut saw- dust is used for covering the bottom of the cages a sujiply of sharp, gritty sand must be given in a tin or eart h c n \v a r c vessel stood in the cage. Avery useful earthen- ware vessel for such is here illustrated. Nursery cages, the use of which will be explained later, must not be overlooked. These can be bought much ciica])cr and better than they can be made, vinless one is very handy indeed with tools. The cheap rate at which small cages can be manufactured is due to its being a home industry, iu which the work of many little hands is EARTHENWARE VESSEL FOR SAND. Nursery Cages. THE NURSERY CAGE. turned to account. The cages we use as nurseries can be bought at about 9s. a dozen, and a handy size is nine inches long, seven inches wide, and nine inches high. They have light wooden frames, with the bottom, top, and one end of wood, except for a space of about two inches, between the top of the 72 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS lower wooden cross-bar and the bottom indeed in many cmcrfjcncies. A rollinted to the pur])ose. To begin with, it should ha\'e a w.arm as])cct and be well ])rotected from draughts : if a conservatory or sinnlar glass erection, it nuist be well shaded from the strong sunlight. As far as possible 74 INDOOR AVIARIES 75 all extremes, must be avoided, for it should be remembered that the birds will to a certain extent lead an artificial existence and be more liable to feel the injurious eifects of external influences. Tlie most important consideration of all is to effect thorough ventilation with complete free- dom from draughts — a more frequent cause of death to Ca- naries than many people imagine. Too much at- tention cannot be paid to this, and our instruc- tions on the point are most emphatic. A bird which can be acclima- tised to almost any extent can be killed in twenty-four hours in a draughty room. Having selected a suitable room, proceed to furnish it by placing in it a nvunber of " Christmas trees " — small firs — of various sizes. These, if obtained at a nursery, can be lifted in the autumn, and will, if carefully raised and well potted, live the year through, by which time they will be about done for ; as, apart from the unfavourable cir- cumstances in which they are placed, the birds will make sad havoc of them. In their selection substantial plants with flat, spreading branches, should be chosen. They should be tastefully arranged on such stands as can be extemporised for the purpose, singly or in clumps, filling up corners — arranging them, in fact, in any way and every way to suit the individual taste. Avoid, however, placing them so that any part of the room cannot be got at if necessary; for old birds as well as young are apt to flutter away into inaccessible corners, and make no effort to release them- selves from positions not dangerous in reality, but from which the birds seem to think escape is hopeless. For instance, if a bird, when frightened, should happen to flutter about and scramble between a tree-box and the wall, the chances are that it would remain there and die without ever trying to get free again. It is this sort of contingency that must be guarded against as far as jiossible. These are simjDle matters, but the result Trees and Plants for the Aviary HIGHEST TYPE OF INDOOR AVIARY. of experience shows them to be important. Nothing jars more unpleasantly on sensitive minds than to find that any creature under our care has suffered through circumstances which we might have prevented by the exercise of a little forethought ; one such death in the little household is quite enough to leave behind it unpleasant memories which detract greatly from our pleasures. One would think that, to use a common expression, birds would " have more sense " than to behave so foolishly ; but it is not exactly the want of what we call sense which induces such misfortunes. The bird from some cause or other becomes fright- ened, or perhaps it leaves its nest before it is able to take care of itself, and naturally betakes itself to the quietest corner it can find, where, removed from observation, it remains till the little heart ceases to beat. 76 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS The most unaccountable accidents ironi the most inijirobablc causes will hap]K-n at the best of times, and it certainly behoves us to use every precaution against them. There is no excuse for leaving water-jugs and similar traps standing about. The bird has no intention of committing suicide, yet it finds its way into the jug and cannot find its way out. This and many other misadventures have happened to our know- ledge, and we are anxious to save others the pain and vexation they cause, for if an accident docs occur it is usually to one of the best birds or a particular favourite. In addition to the firs, trees and shrubs of various tints of foliage, may be used, for they not only give a set-off to the birds, but a pleasing effect to their surroimdings. Ferns, too, may be introduced, and so may many of our flowering pot-plants, hung in wire baskets at various heights and positions, or from brackets at the sides. A few fantastically-shaped branches (from which all loose bark must be removed, for reasons which will here- The alter appear) mav be arranged ^r"r''°K i" i-^'^tic fashion", and anv old of Perches. gnarled stumps or roots may be utilised in a similar way. The branches are not intended for nesting-places, but only as jjcrches. Nothing is more out of character in a room such as we are describ- ing than long, straight perches : but sub- stitutes nnist be ])rovided. C.inaries are not always on the wing, but will not often visit the lloor. except to feed or on dllicr matters of business. The trees tlieuiselves arc not suitable for ]Hrching on, unless any should have faii'ly substantial hrauches. and some conil'oi'table resting-places must, thereli)rc. be provided. The birds will soon lind these out, .■iiid the (ihjcet ot using tlu' sui)plemenlary i)ranehes is that the whole ma\' look as natural and attractive as ])ossible. II'. ill |)laee of such an arrange- ment, one or more long jjcrches be used, the result will he that the birds will generally be seen sitting in a row, in not very pietnres(iuc lashidii, on the to]>most bar, to which I hey will also inunediately retreat when anyone enters the room. To ob\iate this, all ledges over doors and windows, nnist be rendered vmteiudjle, and more tempting ])laces offered. The l)irerehed up aloft somewhere out of sight. Another commendable arrangement for such aviaries is to ha\e a munber of short perches, about three — but not more than four — inches in length, on which only one bird, or not more than a ]>air can rest, fixed end-ways into the sides of the room at various heights. This is easily done by driving a wooden peg into the wall, and then screwing the end of the perch to it, tight up to the wall. The positions of the ]>crches must be so regulated that the droppings or excreta from the birds resting on the higher ones do not fall on to the backs of those perching on the lower ones. These short perches prevent much fighting, as they keep the birds well distributed about the room. It will be lound that each bird — or pair, as the case may be — will elnim its own ])ereh. and always make for it. Ordinary nesting-boxes are out of place in a well-furnished aviary, though they might be cast in a rustic? Nesting mould. The birds will Arrangements. select then' own nestuig- l)laccs in which to l)\iild. and not .1 little annisement will be derived Ironi noticing the ini|>ossiblc corners some will choose. The slightest ])rojection will snlliec for one, and it will spend a great amount of time and lalmur in eonsl met ing its nest imder eircunistanees ol seir-iuii)osed dillieulty. Not unrre(iuently. sonic jilace will he chosen oil wliieli it may seem .■ilinost iiu])ossil)le a nest could rest ; but it will be found that the Canary is not a bad architect, and generally turns out to be the best jmlge of a site. Domesticaticm, however, has impaired this wonderful instinctive faculty, and it will he seen that some will make attempts INTERESTING HYBRIDS. Goldfinch-Bullfinch. Linnet Bullfinch. Clear Goldfinch.Canary. 78 CANARIES, HYliRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS which tiini out perfectly futile, while others will comineuce to build on a I'ouudatiou manifestly sandy, in which case it may be well to supply a nest-box. if the bird has shown a determination to settle in that sjjot and no other. Constant ministration to its daily wants seems to have affected the bird's self-reliance ; and though it is wise to leave well alone, it is advisable to maintain a careful w^ateh. Draw a line between watchfulness and inquisitive inter- ference, and there need be little fear for the results. The small wooden wicker travelling cages, in which the Cierman Canaries are imj^orted to this country make excellent nesting- ))laces, and are greatly favoured by the birds. The whole of the wicker should be removed from one end, so that the birds can pass in and out freely, and the cages luuig in various parts of the aviary. They may be placed so that all the outer parts are covered by the foliage of plants growing in the aviary, with the open end left exposed for the entry of the birds. A few birch brooms placed uj^side down amongst the shrubs with an old Black- bird's or Thrush's nest ])laced in them are quarters quickly taken possession of ; the birds will build their own nest inside the old one. An earthenware nest, similar to those used for the breeding-cage (sec jiage 07) may also be hung here and there amongst the foliage, without spoiling the general effect. A good supply of nesting material should be furnished, such as fibrous roots, where they can be obtained; long, line, dry grass from the hedge-side; hay; ])lenly of moss, and, if it can be had, the coarser kind of hclieii ; soft cow-hair makes capital material for nests, and is always kc|)l in stock at the better class of bird-shops: a supply of soft feathers will he ;i|)prcciated. ;is will, also, some rabbit-down and doe-hair. The hair and these latter niatei'ials arc best packed in small nets, and sus|)cn(l(il in positions where the birds can get a good |iull al tlicin. liuilding material which a hii'd has some difliculty to obtain, to pull fiMui a Pleasures of an Aviary. net or other enclosure, is nuicli more appreciated than that which it can pick up. from the floor. The former is carried oil' to the nest with nuich greater triumph, as though a great feat had been accom- plished. This ])rovision of material also prevents birds from jilueking each other. If building material be allowed to lie about, the finer stuff will nearly all be wasted. We have mentioned the materials which ought to be supplied, but there are some which ouoht not to be admitted on any account — such as cotton, wool, or other long, tough stuff, which can become entangled in the birds' feet. Wool becomes twisted round the feet in a most dangerous way, and, as it cannot be so readily per- ceived in a room as in a small cage, a bird may sulTcr exceedingly, and even lose its toes, before the cause of the misfortune is discovered. To complete the furnishing we might arrange in the centre of the room, or some other convenient ])art, a foun- tain which could be kept continually playing, thus in- suring the birds a constant su]i]ily of fresh drinking and bathing water. .V small rustic chair, placed in the most retired corner, in which the observer can sit quietly and watch tlic busy world at work around him. will jirovidc a large fund of interest to the bird-l()\er. 'J'he only reciuirement really necessary is that the observer docs sit cinietly. It matters not then if there be a nest within a foot of his elbow, or even built on the back of his chair : things will go on just as regularly in his |)resence as in his absence. Such an a\iary is il- lustrated on page 75. Look which way \\c will, we continually find something fresh to attract [\\r atlciition and interest the mind, and the aviary is ^■oted tlic best room in the house. A few items, all iinpiirlaiit in tluar way. ha\c' to be included in our inventory. 'i'lic door should be strewn Sand and ^^|,,, ,.|^..,,| ^.,,,,| .,,,,, .^ ^, |,. Lime. . of old lime rubbish will be liiund conducixc to the general health of the birds, as \w\\ as furnishing a necessary INDOOR AVIARIES 79 clement in the formation of egg-shell. This need not be crushed so small as to become dust : that will accumulate quickly enough without any assistance ; but if pieces of a crumbly natiu'c are accessible to the birds, they will not fail to avail themselves of them, and with beneficial results. This should be renewed at very short intervals, say weekly, or at most, every two or three weeks. When the birds have picked it over and it begins to get soiled it may still serve as a covering for the floor, but nothing fvu'ther, for it is virtually dirt, and it is well to remove it from the aviary altogether. In sweeping- it up there is no occasion to flourish a long handled brush and create as much terror as possible amongst the occupants. It should be done gently and quietly, and then the birds will take no notice of either brush or sweeper. It is, in fact, only necessary to use a broom at intervals when the aviary is being given an extra clean- out, as a square-mouthed shovel, spade, or scraper, will, in the ordinary way, remove all that is necessary. It will soon be seen, too, that the supply of fresh sand will be as eagerly looked for as a supply of fresh food, and every bird in the room will be down on the floor in a moment to turn over the fresh stuff and take in a supply with which to assist his little mill to grind its seed. In country places, where they can easily be obtained, thin clover-sods will be a great acquisition, and almost every over= pj^j-i- qJ them will be turned to some good purpose. All work and no play does not suit a Canary any more than the youth in the legendary poem, who is reported to have been made very dull by the process ; and birds are as fond as other creatures of amusing themselves. Nothing entertains them more than picking and pulling to pieces something of this kind, which they will do with manj^ a resolute tug. It is this attention to little wants, which may not perhaps be absolute neces- saries, that goes far to make up the sum of their happiness. The subject of feeding will afford matter for special consideration. It is no part of the fitting-up of an aviary, though the receptacles for food and water. The Food ^^,g ^j^jj^^ ^^^^^ ^Q ^Q ^^.j^,^ j^ Supply. We do not advise the scattering of much seed on the floor, as a great portion of it would by that means be wasted. Canaries do not scratch and search for their food like the gallince, or feast till the dish is empty and then pick the bones. Throw a handful of corn to poultry among loose gravel, and not a single grain will be allowed to hide itself ; but the natural habits and instincts of the Canary do not lead it to search in this way, and unless the quantity of seed thrown down be very trifling, it will only be trodden in and hidden luider the sand, to be scraped up with droppings and soiled sand. We are satisfied that sweet seed, supplied to the birds in a receptacle which protects it from the contamination of dust and the birds' droppings, is a preventive of disease. All seeds, except those which are given in very small quantities, should be placed in self-supplying hoppers, by which plan there will always be f food at com- ,.f- mand. and the waste will be reduced to a VO:;: *fS SSWEfl*! rasrarsflHI Ws ■ l''- pr- J •^ — 1 ' '- — ^ ^— '.■- ^^^ ,'■■ /mSS" m 1 n 1 m u m . AMiat is scat- tered from the "'"" , P 11 • SELF-SUPPLYING SEED-HOPPER. hopper falls m one place, and may be collected and sifted without so much probability of its being crushed and trodden into the floor. All our sweepings go to the poultry ; but the fact of having povdtry to pick over waste food is no reason why food should be wasted. We show a handy form of self-supplying seed-hopper on this page. The top part of the front is of glass, so that the state of the sujiply can alwaj's be seen. These seed-hoppers are generally made of zinc or wood, some are of mahogany. It will be observed that there is a hole in the back at the top by which the hopper can be hung up. It should be hung in a So CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS jirominent, bright ])Osition, so tliat tlic birds have no (hlliculty in finding tlic seed ; not too higli up. but well away from the floor. If it is stood on the floor it is not only likely to become very dusty and (Urty, but should there be any mice about it is they and not tlie birds wlio would feast on the seed. Three or four of these self-supplying ho))- pers should hang in different parts of the aviarv if it is a large one and contains a good number of occupants. Tiie seeds which are given in small cpiantities as tit- bits may be placed in a small earthenware vessel such as is illustrated among the breeding-cage utensils {see page 69). The earthenware vessel used for the sand in cages mav likewise be brought into use. Water, i)lenty of it, fresh and clear, can be supplied from a large fountain, an ilhistration of which is here Water= given. It is simply a glass '^^^^^'^^ alobe with a long "neck in- and Baths. '^ verted m an earthenware i)ot open at tlie top. and furnished near the bottom with apertures, the lower edges of which are slightly liiglier than the bottom of the glass neck. Smaller edi- tions maj' be placed on suitable brackets, the only thing required being that there shall l)e some kind of ]>crch or other restiug- |)lace from wliicli the birds can lia\e free access to the water-holes. Let it be boi'iic in mind Ihal though a bird's instinct leads it to huild its nest, to look for food and water, and to be in many resi)ects of a \vvy inciuisitivc character, il has no intuition which teaches it Ihal water exists for il, not in hrociks or pools, hut in ;i glass globe inverted in an eaii luuwarc put which ma\' look to tlie bird as much like an (iiLiine of war as anything else, i\Iany Canaries. when changed from one cage to anotlici' and i'e(|uired to put their heads throni;li a hole into a formidable-looking eovei'ed-in rccc|)tacle in search of what they had been accustomed to (iud in an open vessel, OKINKINC; FOUN TAIN. have never foimd their water, and have died before the matter coidd be renieched. It, is therefore necessary, in using covered- in vessels in the aviary, to see that young birds and new-comers find their Avay to them ; a " general management " hint, but not f>ut of place. The drinking fountain illustrated has an advantage over the conical drinking- vcssel with a lip. as the glass globe can be lifted out of the earthenware jar and thoroughly cleaned, likewise the inside of the jar. Water kee])s nuieh cleaner in a jar of this description with apertures through which the birds can })ut their heads to drink tlian in vessels made with the lip, which catch nmeh dirt, and even the droppings from the birds, A bath is the last requisite, and nothing is more suitable for the ))urpose than a large shallow dish, which should be intro- duced every day k)V an hour or two. If this be done before sweeping-up time, there will not be much dust. There is no danger in lea\ing a bath in the room constantly, pro\i(Icd the water l)e not more than one or two inches deep : l)ut not nuich is gained by it. because unless nearly all the birds bathe at the same time, those which are not in the humour to do so while the water is clean will not bathe alter it has become soiled. Familiarity with the bath also seems to do away with the desire to use it ; whereas, if it be introduced only for a short time during the day, the birds splash into it '" head over ears "" almost before it can l)e |)laced on the ground. On ))age SI we illustrate a room which is fitted n[i in a much sim|)k'r maimer for the successful kecjiing and A Simpler ]„.eedinii' of cauc-birds living Aviary. . • together m grou|is. liiough it lacks the cla.boration of I he high-class indoor aviary, birds can be kept and bred successfully iiiuler these i)Iainer conditions if Ihc room l)c not overcrowded — a reserva- tion lo lie borne in mind under any con- ditions. In lifting u]) siicHi a room all that is necessary is first to distemper the walls and ceiling, and then arrangx' the neees- sai\' tittiuiis which are to make the room INDOOR AVIARIES Si comfortable for the birds. No. 1 shows a birds' food is kept free from the contamina- shapely dead tree with a goodly number tion of these pests, even should they gain of branches shooting out in all directions, access to the room. The bottom of the but with the leaves stripped oif. This is leg of the table can be fixed into a wooden fixed firmly into a large garden pot of mould box about six inches in depth by putting or a square box stood on the floor of the a strong screw, or a couple of screws, room. The branches are made good use of by the birds as perches. No. 2 is a shallow dish for the birds to bathe in ; it can be as large again in circumfer- ence as suggested in the illustration, or even larger, provided that it is not more than two inches deep — a depth that prevents any possibility of birds get- ting drowned. This bath can also be combined with a fountain. The water A SIMPLE INDOOR AVIARY. trickles into the bath from a smaller pan or saucer, into which the spray from the fountain first dro]"s. There must be an outlet near the top of the bath to carry off the surplus Avater into some convenient receptacle, or possibly it could be carried out of doors by a small waste- pipe — a plan which would be much the through the bottom of the box into better. the end of the leg. The box should The arrangement is shown in the accom- then be filled with garden mould, and, if panying diagram 2rt. Such a fountain could desired, a little rape-seed can be scattered either be supplied with water direct from the over the surface. This will soon shoot pipes laid into the house, or from a small up and keep the top of the box of mould cistern, which could be placed close to green with its young foliage. As this is the ceiling of the room, and from which the devoured by the birds fresh supplies of water could be conveyed through a small seed can be sprinkled, and a continuous pipe, as shown in the illustration. The cis- crop secured. The box with the table can tern will be seen on the right side of the be stood upon the floor in any part of the room near the ceiling, with the small room, as the weight of soil will keep it firm pipe running down the side of the wall and steady. and across to the fountain. If the box of soil is not considered No. 3 is a single-legged table on which desirable, the leg of the table can be screwed may be placed the birds' soft food and other to a piece of board about two inches wide tit-bits. As the leg fits into the centre and a foot long, and by this be fixed securely of the table-toiD it is impossible for mice to the floor of the room by means of two to gain access to the table, and thus the or three screws. 11 82 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS No. 4 giv^es an illustration of an eartlien- ware tray suitable for giving soft food. or sand, if the floor of the room be covered with rough-cut pine sawdust. In the event of its being used lor soft food it would, of course, be stood on the small table alrcadv referred to. No. 5 walls. No. 10 is a wire flight built outside the window. \Vhen the weather is genial the window may be thrown wide open, and the birds allowed access to the flight. During inclement weather, of course, the window nuist be kept closed. A single-storied house built in a garden A GREENHOUSE INDOOR AVIARY : BREEDINGCAGES ABOVE, FLIGHTS BELOW. shows a green shrub, of which there should be several standing about the room in large flower-]5ots. No. 6 shows receptacles for building iiiatciMals, lianging on different ])arts of the wall. These are wire racks, and take the ]ilace of the nets which were referred to in coimcction with the otlicr aviary. The birds pull the material between the wires of the racks, which answer their purpose well. No. 7 is a self-filling seed- liopper hvmg in a l)right ])osition on the wall. No. 8 are sundry nests hung in (lilferent parts ; they are all of the open kind ; but small wicker cages and box- jiattern nests can also be used. No. !) are perches ; but a good number of the shorter ones, three or four inches in length, which were described in the earlier portion of this chapter, should also be placed along the can be fitted up in a similar manner to either of the aviaries just described. If it is lighted from the roof Garden .^n ^j^j^^ ,,|. ,1,^. ]^^,^^^f. (...^ be Aviaries. l)i-()Ught into use. Such a house in winter time can be heated by hot- water ])i|)es if desired, just as easily as an indoor room. In this more sim])ly constructed aviary polygamous breeding is more encouraged than in the a\iary shown in our first illustration, for there is not the cover and seclusion for individual pairs of birds that is afforded amongst the shrubs and evergreens in tlic better-class aviary. Consequently, to avoid much fight- ing amongst the male birds during the breeding season, and while they are in breeding condition, it is advisable to allow two, or even three hens, to every cock. INDOOR AVIARIES 83 We have known of even a larger niunbcr than this to be allowed. With these extra wives the cocks are kept too busy to fight much. This has reference more especially to Canaries, as male British birds flying together in an aviary during the breeding season are not of svich a spiteful disposition. Such a room as this could be divided off, if of good size, by means of a fine g-inch mesh wire netting partition, thus making two aviaries. The wire should be fixed on a wooden frame and a door made either at one side or in the centre of the partition to connect the two aviaries. The wire partition will in no wise obstruct the light, whatever may be the arrange- ment of the windows. Canaries could then be caged in one side, and British or foreign birds in the other, or, if Canaries are not kept, British birds could occujiy one side and foreigners the other. We are strongly of the view that insectivorous and seed-eating birds should have separate aviaries, and from experience we are certain that they do best when so classified. Then again, if desired, such a room may be divided off down each side, into a number of smaller aviaries, of, say, three or four feet in length, the same in height, and about eighteen inches or two feet deep from back to front. Under this arrangement the aviaries could be made one above the other, and carried up to within eighteen inches of the ceiling, or the ceiling may be allowed to form the roof of the topmost one — the top of one aviary forming the bottom of another. The centre of the room could be re- served for a table on whicli to prepare the birds' food, and a chair, or other con- venience for the fancier's accommodation. Aviaries arranged in this manner round a well-lighted spare room are excellent for hybrid-breeders who wish to try a number of different crosses at the same time. Such an indoor aviary may be carried out to the utmost extent of elegance and elaboration. W^hat it may be made is suggested by the illustration on page 75. But even in such an ornithological para- dise, the essential matters for attention will be just the same, and no more, than those that have already been mentioned. Such we take to be the leading features of the aviary system ; which, it will be manifest, is rather a means of general interest and source of pleasure to the general observer, than a method of carrying out any specific system of breeding with the object of bringing about definite results. It has been our aim to present it in this its true light, and we feel assured that those Avho make it their study will discover in it many beauties we have failed to point out ; they will find it a world which in- sensibly becomes peopled with creations of which they once knew nothing, with which they can hold converse and enter into companionship. Their own world of observation will be considerably enlarged by even this small peep into the vast domain open to the inquirer who, at every step, recognises the evidences of a Wisdom " past finding out." UZARU CANARIES. OUTDOOR AVIAKV AND HJGHT. The property of Mr. Holmes, Carlisle. CHAPTER VIII THE OUTDOOR A\IARY The aviary method of keepiiifj birds, as we have already explained, is best ada])ted lor those who haxc no definite ])nr|>ose, other than the pleasure derivable I'roni fjencral obscrxation — a ]ileasure of the hij^hest order, th()U(,rh eonlined. in a eon- siderable degree, to the siin]ile lover of Nature who regards all her niaiiirestations with a delight into which no (piestion of how or why intrude. To such the out- door aviary opens uj) a new world of in- terest, peo|)led with forms whose outer adornment is of less moment than the l)cauties of their inner life. These equally charm the fancier, who nevei'theless is more exacting in his demands in other respects, llis admiration of the general economv of tlu^ aviarv is not lessened if to it he unites other aims, and seeks to clothe its tenants in higher forms of beauty. It may be, ai\d probably is the case, that any one ruling passion has a tendency to crowd o\it others: but there is no reason why one healthy feeling should absorb more than its due share of attention, and we fail to discover any reason why the interests of the true natiu-alist and the genuine lancier shcmld not be I'onibincd. We have said that each of the methods of breeding indicated has its ad\antages and disadvantages. We nuiy sum up the advantages of the a\i;\ry system briefly, bv saying that it in\(il\(s only a small amount of eai'c and attention: the birds are left pretty nnich to take care of them- selves, to ciioose their own mates, .and make 84 1 Clear Yellow YORKSHIRE CANARIES 2 Clear Buff 3 Ticked Yellow 4 Cinnamon-marked Yellow THE OUTDOOR AVIARY their little world inside the wires as nuicli as possible like that outside. This putting the reins of power into their own hands removes all the responsibility from the observer, who has nothing further to do than to keep the birds' abode clean, supply the neeessary sustenance for existence, and to watch the goings-on of the little republic. There will develop, among much that is beautiful, certain forms of govern- ment which the conservative fancier considers subversive of all order. Among these disadvantages is indis- criminate pairing, which renders it im- possible to breed any distinct Indiscrim= variety — if more than one be n J- „ kept — though this may not lireeaing. . be a disadvantage to those who, so long as they breed somctliiug and have the pleasure of seeing it reared, do not care what that something may be. It would perhaps be scarcely fair to charge the Canary with habitually pair- ing with more than one mate ; indeed, the idea is foreign to the natural habits and instincts of the Finch family in a wild state. Half the poetry that attaches to the mere name of nest seems to consist in the halo of quiet and purity which surrounds it. Still there are now and then evidences of a contrary' state of things even among wild birds, and no doubt the commotion which sometimes takes place in the ivy is nothing more than a noisy public meeting to take into consideration the desirability of turning out of the community some ill- conducted member. The occasional cap- ture of a hybrid, too, is evidence of an alliance having taken place between mem- bers of different families. These, however, are manifestly exceptions, and there are many keen observers who assert that such alliances have never taken place in the wild state ; that they have been accom- plished under the influence of man, and that wild hybrids so caught have either been liberated, or have escaped from an aviary ; with which assertion we agree. The wild bird in her beautiful little home demands all her mate's care and attention, and receives it. He sjiends his entire day in ministering to her wants, and is not more exclusively devoted to her in all his delicate attentions than is she to the precious treasures nestled so closely to her breast. But in the aviary things are different. Although preserving many natural instincts almost unimpaired, the Canary has had some of them modified, or even materiallj^ affected, by generations of domestication. Notwithstanding that he may, in the early spring, select some one particular bird, and that matters be arranged to the entire satisfaction of both, he yet no sooner sees his mate comfortably settled down on her nest than — though he does not forsake her — his attention is drawn away in other directions. This is all very pretty and all very well for those who only wish to study bird-life generally, and to keep the aviary well stocked ; but it is, for obvious reasons, not the fancier's way of going to work. We must, however, say, for the credit of the sex, that such an erratic disposition is not shared by the hens : as a rule they remain true to their first selection, till a lengthened separation and entire seclusion wean them from their original mate. We must not forget that in an aviary the birds are in a limited space, and on that account it is not advisable to Quarrelsome ^^^^,^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^j^.^jg fl Males. , , ■ .1 1 1 nig together diu'mgthe breed- ing season ; much quarrelling is otherwise likely to ensue, with possible injury to birds of a fierce disposition. This is, in a measure, guarded against when the aviary affords an abundance of secluded shelter with a plenti- ful amount of thick foliage. It is in this direction that an outdoor aviary can be made so much more advantageous than one arranged indoors. The wired or netted open space, or fly, of the aviary can be arranged in such a manner as to induce the growth of bushy shrubs and evergreens, which prove a paradise to the birds. They serve both as a means of shelter from the interference of other birds, and for the building of their nests. We have known as many as forty to fifty young Common Canaries to be reared in 86 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Communal Nests. one season in a thick privet hedge that ran along one side of tlie fiy of an outdoor aviary. In cases where twice, or even three times, as many liens as cocks are in the aviary — ■ a state of alTairs which is often advisable, where good shelter cannot be afforded — polygamy is chrectly encouraged among the cocks. The repeated calls for attention from the various hens is more than they can resist, for a time at any rate, and meanwhile the first choice of the season sits quietly incubating her eggs. Polygamy, of course, is rarer among those males whose duty it is partly to incubate the eggs. I am not prepared, indeed, to say that any such species are polygamous, for they are kept too busy during incubation time, taking their tiu'n at sitting on the eggs. x\nothcr outcome of the complete domestication of the Canary is seen in the fact that all nests become common property. The birds seem to want a place in which to lay, and nothing more, and select their favourite nest much in tlie same way as do domestic poultry. All are at one time or another alTccted by the desire to set up house for themselves, and go about it very energetically, evidently im|)resscd with the im])ortance of having, according to bii'd builchng-society maxims, a roof-tree (iT I heir own. This once done, and the instinct satislicd, nothing further seems to be desired. There is no idea of privacy, nor Ihc slightest regard for |>roperty rights. Two or three, or as many hens as can possibly find a rcsting-])iace, may be seen occu|)yiiig the same nest and c\en sitting on each others l)aeks, anywhere and any- how, so long as tlicy can only find some means of s(|ucc/,ing in. like hens in a poult rv- yard, taking possession of the same eggs, too anxious to cover IIumh to think of (|uari(lling. Tlie yonng even become eonunon pro|)erty, and we have freciucntiy seen two hens. ouv. on either side of a nest, assisting the cock bird to feed a family which could certainly be in no way related to one of them, and which sjic had taken no part in hatching These, of course, are exceptional cases. At times some extraordinary instance will be found in a wild l)ird at liberty, for we have more than once on our rainl)les seen an old lilackbird feeding a young Thrush which kejit fiuttcring after it and crying for food. We have also seen an old Thnish feeding a yovmg Blackbii'd which kept crying for food in the same manner. In neither case would the adult bird be the parent of the young one it was feeding, but it is evident that the jiitiful appeals of the yomig birds, who had apparently got astray from the nest, ajipealed to the parental instinct of the adults. There was a time when we had the im- pression that only Canaries and other birds ke})t imdcr domesticated condi- Unfertile ^j^^^^^ j^.^^j unfertile eggs and neglected their young. This delusion Avas largely due to our not having been observ-ant enough in our tra\cls in Nature's realm. For, as time went on. we found many wild birds' nests which con- tained not only imfertile eggs, but whole broods of \dung dead in llieir ik'sI, without a particle of food in their crops. Whether the parents had met with an untimely death by some marauder or other we do not know, but the fact remains that we have frequently found nests of dead young, and also deserted nests of eggs. The unfertile eggs were not always occasioned by non-sitting, as we have found them in nests with a \-oung brood being tenderly eared for by their |)arents. In some instaiu'cs Ihistering the mother from the nest will cause failure in breeding amongst birds in their wild state, as well as with birds in captivity. Then, of coin-sc, they ha\e the ill elTccts of unfavourable seasons to contend against, jnst as birds indoors h:i\-e. with this dilTert'nce, that the captive birds ha\e shelter and food provided, and arc thus relie\etl ol uuieh misery and diseomforl . The illiislral inn on page .ST is a pretty design for an outdoor a\iary of simple con- struction by -Mr. A. C. liorth. ll could, ol' course, be built on a large or small si'ale, and with or without sleeping quarters — THE OUTDOOR AVIARY 87 •we prefer the former. Nesting and sleep- ing accommodation can be arranged in the roof and over the porch of the doorway if none can be afforded adjoining the aviary. The structure should be boarded in on two, or even three sides, so leaving only the front open. It should A Simple Outdoor Aviary. MR. A. C. HORTHS OUTDOOR AVIARY. be SO planned that the open front escapes the east wind. The design shows two sides of the aviary boarded in, and for the sake of simplicity in their description ■we will call them the oifside and the back. In building such an aviary some yellow deal quartering 2J inches by 2^ inches would be required for the framework, or if it is intended to build it on a large scale it might be better to use 3-inch by 3-inch ; but the 2j-inch would be sufficient for a strong aviary of good size. Some battens, 3 inches by 1 inch, would also be re- quired for the frame- k//A^ s^^^^ work of the roof, and MATCH-BOARDING. „ f,,rt},pr Qiinnlv nf TONGUED AND GROOVED. ^ lUrtttCr SUpplJ Ot battens of the same size for the framework of the door. Some f-inch match-boarding, tongued and grooved as shown in the accompanying diagrams, completes the wood requirements. The quantity required would depend entirely upon the size of the aviary it is proposed to construct, and could easily be arrived at by measuring up before the building is commenced. Various sizes of nails or screws would also be wanted, but the latter are preferable, for if the aviary is built in sections, it can be easily taken to pieces for erection elsewhere if it is so desired. With the necessary quantity at hand of galvanised wire, or iinch mesh wire netting, building operations can at once be commenced. After the rough quartering has been planed smooth and square, the four corner uprights should be cut and then the top and bottom rails or cross-bars These Ar IV KU rw^ ^^^-yvA/YWu V\ V "A. y^ CORNER UPRIGHTS. MORTISED AND TENONED. are mortised and tenoned at both the top and the bottom, as shown in the diagrams on this page. Into this square frame the other U2:)rights should be housed in the manner shown. Care must be taken to get a good fit at this point. The cross- bars for the centre should next be pre- pared, planed, etc., and the ends tenoned into the uprights. The two joints in the centre are quite simple, as may be seen from the diagram. When the framework of the aviary is completed the roof-frame should next claim attention. The 3-inch by 1-inch battens are used on edge, with the sides sloping at an angle of about 45 degrees. Two opposite pieces should first be securely fixed by nailing, or screwing ss CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS A OF them on to the top of the corner uprights and at the ojien ends. The other pieces can then be fixed. Though this roof is not scientifically constructed it will be found ([uite suitable to the purpose of the aviary. The framework over the ])orch should next be put together with the g-inch match- boarding, of which also the roof is built. The latter is completed by uiRANGEMENT nailing some l}-inch round - ROOF BEAMS. '^ * or cornice lengths over the joints of the boards at each angle, and not forgetting some kind of ornamental knob or spire for the top. The roof can be made thoroughly water- tight if it is covered with sheet zinc before the rounds or cornices are nailed in their places, or the cornices could be covered with the sheet zinc as well. The double doors yet remain to be made, one for the entrance into the porch — which should be strong The Aviary .^j^^, ^^.^j, ,^ together— and Doors. '- " an inner one, which is fixed at the other end of the porch and admits directly into the aviary. This need not be of (luite such stout material as the outer door, as it is really only placed here to make the aviary doid)ly secure against the csca])e of birds. The outer door should, of course, always be closed before the inner one is opened, so that should a bird dart past as this inner door is opened it can get no larlhcr than the porch, where it can be easily secured or driven liack into the aviary. For convenience" sake it is better to make both doors the same size. The cross-bars should all be mortised and tenoned into the uprights, and if it is liesired to make an extra strong job a diagonal piece should run I'rdin tn|> to bottimi. hf)use(l into the cross-bars. There now remains only the galxaiiiscd wire or linc-mcsh wire netting to fix on to these fraiues, and the doors will be com- ])letc. The wood I'or the fillets can be sawn out ol' any odd pieces that are lel't o\er. The strength of the hinges to be used in the hanging of the doors ilej)ends entirely upon the weight of the latter. It is well, howe\er, to remember that it is always better to have them a little on the strong side than other- wise. They not only last longer, but the doors hang more true ; weak or slender hinges are a soiu'ce of trouble from almost the connneneemcnt, for they quickly allow the doors to drop out of their proper level. Of locks for securing the doors there are plenty, but the good ones are the cheapest in the end, for the cheap forms soon get out of order. A wire catch or hasp should be fixed on the inner side of both doors, so that they can be seciu'cly fastened from within the aviary, without any fear of their flying open. The flight portion of the aviary may be doubly wired as an extra precaution against cats. This is done Wiring and ,,^. ^^^i tj^^ i,^,^cr side of Painting. ■ " , the wooden frame as well as the outer ; this allows a space between the two, so that when the birds cling to the wirework — which they usually do — they are well out of reach of any marauding tabbies. Two or three coats of good paint on both wood- and wirework should be given as a protection against the ravages of bad weather, and a coat at intervals afterwarils, for the sake of keejiing the structure in good preservation and appearance, shouhl never be neglected. Such an aviary can be fitted u]), in a similar nunnier to that reconunended for the indoor aviary, with nests, perches, food vessels, fountain, etc. The green shrubs are nuich more casilv kc])t green in the open flights than in an indoor a\iary, and il' the I'arth forms the lloor a hedge of pi-i\cl may be planted on the inside o! the wirework either partK' or right round the llight. The birds will nuich enjoy this to fly into, and will c\cn build tluir nests in it. >Vliere the earth loi-nis the lluor it is advisable to run a border of concrete right round the out- side of the aviary, to a depth i>f at least (> inches — il' it is 1(» or 1"-' inches deep so much the better — to present the ingress of virnnn. If a covcred-in house in which the birds may roost is built to an aviary Fittings. THE OUTDOOR AVIARY 89 it is best to let such a house have eitlier a concrete floor or one of boards raised six or ejffht inches frnm the oround, as a preventive of damp. Below we give an illustration of a very usefid outdoor aviary different in shape, yet simple in construction. A Simple 'j-'j^g flight sides and roof are Outdoor , . , ii • Aviary cntu'ely open, with nice, cosy covered - in sleeping quarters attached. The wooden framework of the flight is covered with lengths of close t ti fyr \3 ■1 A SIMPLE OUTDOOR AVIARY. galvanised wire, or |-inch mesh wire netting may be used instead. The joints of the framework may either be mortised and tenoned into each other or fixed by strong angle-irons securely screwed over each joint. Our illustration shows the frame- work of the flight fixed with these angle- iron plates. The strength of the frame- work must be regulated according to the size of the aviary, but it is always well to have the woodwork suffieiently strong. This to some extent guards against much warping, especially if well-seasoned wood is used. Our illustration also shows the lower portion of the flight, built of brick to a height of about two feet. Match- boarding could be used instead of brick, though, of course, it is not so durable. Some aviculturists prefer a single door to their aviary, and for their convenience we show this flight built in that manner. The porch and double doors could, if de- sired, easily be adapted to such an aviary. Although the illustration shows this flight with an o]ien wire roof, there is nothing to prevent its being built with a covered roof if it is preferred. It is simply a matter of continuing the boarding of the sleeping quarters over the flight instead 12 of covering it with wire. It can be made weather-proof with a covering of good tarred felt, corrugated iron, or sheet zinc — one of the two latter for preference. The little extra expense which would be incurred at the outset would be more than saved in the end, to say nothing of the labour in attending to the roof at intervals when felt is used, or the boards simply tarred. The sleeping quarters, or house, as will be seen, is a wooden structure closed in all round, the roof being covered with corrugated iron or sheet zinc. There is an entrance into this house from the flight, which can either have a door to close when the weather is cold and damji, or be left without one. This apartment can be made very comfortable for the birds even with- out a door if it is well sheltered. If pre- ferred, a door can be made into the sleeping quarters from the outside, either at one of the sides or at the end : but a house which has the entrance to it from the flight is, as a rule, much more cosy. The interior fittings can be arranged to the builder's own taste. Our next illustration shows the form of outdoor aviary, known as a " !ean-to," of which a w^all or wooden fence forms the back. Thev A Lean=to Aviary. are not at all difficult to erect, and are put together and jointed in a similar manner to those with which we have just A LEAN-TO AVIARY. dealt. Where a good wall or fence can be utilised as a back a great saving can 90 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS be effected in material. Tlie hiyliest point of tlie roof should f)e kept sonic six or nine inclics l)e!ow tlic top of tlic wall. ]}y tliis means tlie work can be made more comj)icte, while the edge of the roof which joins the wall can be made more waterproof than if it were taken up to the level of the toj) of the wall. A little cement well mixed witii sharp sand placed along this line will secure this result. As an alternative the roof can be taken up a little above the wall, so that the back-edge can be covered with .1 stri|) of sheet zinc and thus made dam])-proof. The dooi's and other arrangements can be made on the same lines as those for other aviaries. It will be seen by the illustration that this aviary has a covered-in house for sleeping and breeding quarters, wliich is made nice and light ]i\' means of a sky- light in the roof. This arrangement would naturally encourage the birds to take up their nesting sites in this secluded s])()t during the breeding season. The wood- work of the roof can l)e covered with tarred felt, corrugated iron, or sheet zinc : of the two latter the zinc would make by far the neatest job. as it can l)c made to fit closely round I he glass skylight. It is. of course, not alisolulely necessary to have the glass skylight. A small window fitted in the side would answer the purpose so far as light is concerni-d. and would be easier fni- the amateur to construct, hut it would not ail'ortl so iiuicli light. 'I'lic doorwav into the sleejiing (luartcrs of this a\iai-\ opens into the flight, and this llight dilTers some- what from the other cxani|)lcs. The top is coNcrcd ui. .-ind one half of the front and end lia\c glass windows, with the lowi'r half closely boarded. These windows are made lo o|i(ii outwards, like (tasemcnt windows, with .-i closely 111 ting I'ranic of fine wircwnrk inside, so that in I he summer-time the glass windows can cither be renioNcd or lixcil widcK o|)cn night and day. In the winter llic\ can be kc|)l olosetl. Willi the prill eel inn I Inis a ITordcd many birds can he kept in this a\iar\- during the winter which it would not he advisable lo attempt lo retain in one of the more exposed flights. The top of this aviary has to be co\ered as shown -the zinc-, corrugated iron or felt fitting closely round the skylight, the end glasswork made all alike, and the door built just one half of the end. On ])age 91 is an illustration of a charm- ing aviary on a large scale in the grounds of that well-known ladv avicul- A Model Aviary. turist, Miss R. Alderseii. The flight has a glass roof, and runs olT flat at the front; to ]irevcnt the birds injui'ing their heads shoidd they fl_\' up against the roof, it has an inner lining of " strainering "" stretched lightly across an inch or two below the glass. This " strainering "" is a transparent material which jjractically obstructs no light, and does not injure the lairds when they lly against it. This large flight and covered- in shelter or house are divided ofT into sections -the flight b>' means of fine-mesh wire netting jiartitions. In these compart- ments groups of the dilTcrcnt birds can be kept together, and allowed ])lenty of space, both for shelter and llight. There is no need for us to go into details of this aviary as the illustration plainly shows its con- struction. The site selected for this aviary is. how- ever, worthy of a note, as it clearly I'cveals the careful thought that has been given to the welfare of the birds. The a\iary is surrounded by trees, and so arranged that while the trees do not ohslruct the light, tlie\- alTord jirotection and shade, and thus assist to keep the a\iary cool during the summer weather, and in the winter alTord protection against I he licrce winds. In such an a\iary little or no dilliculty would be experienced in gelling the slirul)s to grow inside the wirework of the llight. 'I'o all, Iheri'fore. who desire an all tln- \car roinid pleasure, .-ind lia\c the laeililies wliert'with to eari'\ it out. we sa\ set up an outdoor a\iai'y and kvv\> il well- but not over-stocked. 'I"he lime spent in look- ing alter the needs of the oeenpaiils is well rewarded by the lessons k'arut and pleasure jfaineil. THE OUTDOOR AVIARY qi We have illustrated several types of aviaries from the simplest to the most ornate form, and as large numbers of bird- keepers are town dwellers, conclude the series on our next page with a range of lean-to aviaries built against the stone wall of an Edinburgh suburban garden, which may furnish useful hints to fanciers whose dwellings are similarly situated. An outdoor aviary, for general purposes, is, we think, quite as useful as the indoor, and where pairs or groups of British birds for hybrid breeding are to be the chief occupants, it is certainly the more desir- able. As to whether the Canary can, under reasonable conditions, withstand extremes of temperature, there is not the slightest doubt. He is one of the most easily acclimatised birds we have, and there is no difficulty in housing him so that he shall care nothing for either winter or summer. We will not undertake to say what might or might not be accomplished in this way very far north, or in situations exposed to long-prevailing east winds ; but we repeat that, under reasonable conditions, or even under circumstances which might, until tried, be thought too adverse, the question of being able to establish an outdoor aviarv and keep Canaries in it throughout the year, need not cause the slightest apprehension as to its perfect practicability. Indeed, we are of opinion that it is the method of keeping any number together indiscriminately, and that birds once acclimatised are as proof against the attacks of the weather as our native wild birds. In thus expressing our- selves we, of course, refer to the Common Canary, and not to high-class exhibition stock. IKONT OF MISS ALDERSENS AVIARV. f^/'W'^.. i/ '/a* , -lif SUBURBAN GARDEN. WITH AVIARIES. {I'lwtogiaph iulplmi by Mr. A. Coihuitw, Ediiibutj^h.) CHAPTER IX TUF EGG AND DKVHLOPMKNT OF THE YOUNG BIRD Bkfohk entering upon the siihjci't of nest- arreslcd at that |iiiint, and may or may ing and luitchinji. it will be well to give not he risumed and eonipletid. some account of the structure of an egg, "The ovary of a hen during or near her and to do this sini))ly we ]n-opose to trace laying season ])re.scnts an appearance the egg throughout its development. nnich like that of a cluster ol' Iruit [simi- The late Mr. Lewis Wright, the ablest larly arranged to a lameh of grapes, and of modern writers on ])oultry, gave in his varying in size ; of course, in fowls the " Jiook of I'oultry "' a luimber is much greater than in the The Egg and un)s\ c\i>licil accounl of case of cage l)irds|. 'I'iicrc are, strictly, lis Produc= ^1^^ structure of an c"" two such organs in cvcrv bird: but one tion. and its dcvclo])mcnt into a i-cmains mcrcl\- rudimentary and unde- living chicis, from which, since tiic rcmaiks \elopt(l, the fertile one licing almost always arc c(iually applical)lc to cage l)irds, Ihc thai on the left of the spine, to which it following cxirai'ls arc taktn. is attached by means of the peritoneal " Kvcry animal, of whatsocNcr kind, is membrane. Hy !ln' o\ary the essential developed from the egg-form. or. as |)liysi- part of \\\r egg, which consists of the gt-rin, ologists (.■Npi'ess it. niinic (iiiiuKil ij' mil. and also Ihc yolk, is formed, each yolk I?ul Ihc marciil ovisac, comiccled by a narrow Ihc egg is retained throughout wilhin Ihc stem or |)ediclc willi llie o\ary. These body of the mother, which is its sullicienl rudimenlary eggs are of dilTcrenl sizes, prott'clion, and the de\ clopnu'iit is un- according to t he dilTireiil di'grec of devclop- inlcrru|)ted. In ovi|)arous animals, such mcnt, and during Ihc |ici'ioiala/.;v : W, Body of thi: albumen : C. Somewhat denser layer of albiunen, sm rounded by a fluid layer ; M, M '. outer and inner shell membrane, separated at A. air chamber : S., Shell. or it will probably be followed by the loss of the liird. " IjCt us now consider the eglicated orifanism than many people are aware of. There is much even in the shell, s [sec diagram |. to e.xeite our interest. " It is composed chiefly of prismatic particles [carbonate of lime, with a small quantity of phos]ihatc of lime and animal mucus, so arranucd as ti) allow of the shell Ixiiig porous|. l'"or its tiiifkiicss and texture its strenji'lh is ])hciiomcnal. " .\s hatching jjrocccds, howe\(r. tlu- carbonic acid and dioxide fdi'mcil hv tlii' breathing of the chick, dissohcd in Ihiitl, gradually dissolve a portion of the material. and thus the prismatic bodies are slowly softened and ilisintcgrated. The shell thus becomes far softer and more brittle as hatching aiiproaches ; ami so great is Ihf difference that if the eilgc of a liaclmf made across a fresh egg-shell, and another of one hatched or hatching, be examined under a microscdpc. it will be inslanlly seen th;d the two are in a (|iiitc dilTcreiit molecular condition. Were it not fur this beautiful jirovision of Xaturc, the bird could never break the shell. " The outer and inner shell membranes. \i and m', separating the air-chamber, a. need no further explanation. Proeeeding inwards, we come next to the white or albumen, w. This is composed of a denser and a more fluid kind, arranged in layers, which can lie peeled oil' in a hard-boiled [fowl's] egg, like the layers of an onion. A layer of the more fluid kind is always next the shell, and another thin one, F, next the yolk, but enveloped by another layer, d, of the dense kind. If an egg be broken into a basin, there will further be observed attached to two opposite sides of the yolk two slightly <)|)a(jue and rather twisted thick cords, c ii, of still denser albumen, termed the cluihr.d'. They are not attached to the shell, but to op]iosite sides of the dense layer of albiunen, d, which envelops the inner fluid layer and the yolk. They are so attached at opposite sides, rather below the centre ; thus they act as lialanciiig weights, keejung the side of the yolk which carries the germ always up])ermost. and very nearly in floating equilibrium. If the egg be turned round, therefore, the yolk itself does not turn with it, but retains its position with the germ on the u])]ier side. " It will be sct'ti how elaborately and bi'autifidly the yolk, bearing upon its upiK-r surface the tender germ, is protected within the egg. Itself rather lightci- at the upper part, it is fiirtlitr balaiifcd by the clidhrji. st) as to lloat germ uppermost in the albumi'ii. It is iisnalh' \ery slightly liolilir tiiaii the alhiiiiieii. but sc.irctly |((rcfi)tibly so: thus it lloats near the iil)|ifr sitle of the slull. but always separ- .•itfd from it b\' a layer of albumen of more or less thickness, ami tiscillating gently a\va\- from the shell on the least motion. Ill a few cases it jirobably lloats more slri)ii^l\- u]> anaiiisl the shell, and these are generally llu' eases in wliiih aiihcrencc takes ])lace. or the yolk is ruptured during liatcliiiig ; but an i\t|iiisil tly tlelicate lloat ing balance is the rule. Ne\ ertheless, it will be readily uiulcrstood why it is THE EGG AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG BIRD 95 The Yolk. inadvisable to leave an egg, and above all a hatching egg, lying on the same side for any length of time. " The shell being porous, and permitting of evaporation, such a course keeps the germ close to the portion of albumen which is slowly drying up, and may cause a tendency to adhesion." [The eggs should be turned by the breeder at least once a day imtil they are returned to the birds to incubate.] " Turning now to the yolk, this is con- tained within a very delicate vitelline membrane, v. It is composed of both white and yellow cells, and if an egg [fowl's] be boiled hard and cut across, it can be seen that there is a flask-shaped nucleus or centre of white yolk, w Y, rovmd which are several con- centric layers of yellow yolk, y y. Under the microscope additional thin layers of white yolk - cells can be distinguished amongst the yellow layers. On the top of the yolk rests the blastoderm [germ-skin], a small disk shown at b l. The difference between a fertilised and unfertilised egg is solely to be found in this small disk, and much of its detail can only be distinguished under the microscope ; but with a pocket lens it can be discerned that whilst in an unfertilised egg the little disk is whitish all over, except for small clear spots very irregularly distributed over its surface, in the fertilised egg an outer ring or margin is whitish, while in the centre is a smaller clear circle, in which are very small white spots. This central clear space is the germ from which the chick will be devel- oped. " It should be clearh' understood that, at the stage when thus examined, after the egg has been laid, development or ' hatching ' has already been carried on to a certain extent, due to the eighteen or twenty hours it has been subjected to the heat of the hen's body whilst traversing the oviduct. As it entered the oviduct the germinal disk consisted of only a single cell. During its passage this cell becomes traversed by successive furrows or divisions, dividing and subdividing it into many cells — the lirst stage in developing a real organism out of the single cell. This process goes on not only on the surface, but beneath, so that by the time the egg is laid the blastoderm consists of two sheets or layers of cells. At about this stage the egg should be laid, and with the cessation of warmth the process ceases, or nearly so, but not exactly at the same point in every case. Perhaps the most wonderful thing about an egg is the power it has of keeping the development, already commenced, suspended for a time when warmth is withdrawn, to be resumed and carried on whenever the necessary warmth is restored. " Several points which puzzle many people will now be understood. It may happen that an egg is retained Weakly j.^^. ^ ^^^^ ^j. ^^^,^ bevond the Embryos. • . " natural time ; m that case the development or hatching will be con- tinued, and the new-laid egg may contain a visible embryo. Again, since even the new-laid egg is already an organism, which has attained a certain stage of growth, it is subject to disease, or weakness, or accident, like other organisms. Thus an egg may be fertile, and the germ may begin to develop, but may i)erish at any stage from sheer lack of strength, precisely as a weakly baby may die at any age. Quite apart from accidents or injuries whilst hatching, there is no doubt that in many eggs the embryo is not strong enough in itself ever to come to maturity. Such deaths at various stages, within the shell, are in no essential respect different from deaths of weakly chicks at various early stages after leaving the shell ; the necessary vigour may fail the infant creature at any particular time, so also the embryo can be injured within the shell in various ways ; and while it might be fanciful to say it can be ' frightened,' there is much evidence to show that it may suffer from some kind of nervous shock, as in a severe thunder- storm." Such shocks, however, would be more likely to affect the eggs of birds which build their nests upon the ground, such as 06 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS ixmltry, of wliicli Mr. Wriolit I feats, than the coos of those wliich build in a bush, or which breed in captivity in caocs. In lact, we have very little faith in the idea liiat coos incubated by birds Ihat build some distance from the ground are affected by storms, and after years of close study of the subject wc have not found any authentic record of hurt result ino. other than that of the inirely imaoiiiarv kind, of which we have heard of many. " Win never tlic coo- js aoain subjected to a heat analooous to that of the hen's l)i>dy, the process of development is re- sumed, if the interval has not been too loiio. There can obviously be no dclinitc limits to such an interval." iMuch depends upon the strenoth of the germ: it is onl\- natural to ])resumc that a weakly germ would perish sooner than one which was strong and healthy. In cases of hens refusing to sit wc have kept eggs a week, lying on bran in the dark, turning them daily, and have had them sueccssfully hatched, and the young reared. We have, however, also been unsuccessful with fertile eggs kept a similar time, the weaker germ having doubtless perished. There might be other causes for the failure, but it is only reasonable to say there is a dilTercnce in the strength of the germ, just as there is a dilTereiice in the strength of birds. though we have again and again seen l)uny youngsters grow into line robust birds. ()b\iously it is well to get all eggs under the hens, .■md on their \\;iy to incu- bation as soon as ]ie)ssible after the full cluleli is l:iid. It is needless to describe in detail the development of the chick when steadv in<-nb,il ion has been com- Development i • .. i <■ .1. r-i. I. meneed. A lew hours en- of the ChicK. large Ihe central ])elluci(l s|)ot. which becomes o\al. with a furrow down the centre, and blood-vessels ap|)ear round it : Ihen begins to (levelo|) a double membrane ealk'd the (inniidii. which at a later |)eriod entirely encloses Ihe eiiibrx'o. along with \\h;il is c.-dled Ihe anmiolic lluid. 15y I he: second or I bird day the tiny embrvo enelosetl in the anmion can be clearly seen, as in the accompanying illus- tration, surrounded by a |)ateh upon the surface of the yolk which is covered bv CUICK ON SKCOND OR TIURO DAY (Miienifml). line blood-vessels. The eyes can also be seen with a magnifying glass, as dark spots, and even the jiulsation of the heart. At or soon after the thii'd (la\' another growth, called the ulhiiiltiis. begins to push out from the digestive canal of the embryo between the two coats of the amnion, anil FIFTH nA^ : Hi AIlaiKciis (Mal^nifu-A). at ;i later ])criod also encloses the embryo. J{\ the fifth or sixth day Ihe allantois can be eleai'K- seen as a bag or sac ])rotruding from the na\cl. indc])endenl of Ihe yolk- sac {sic illustration). I5y this time I'luli- mcnts nl the wings and legs can be clearly seen as buds oi- small clubs standing out from the surface of the body, which has grown a great deal, 'i'lie network of l)lood-\-essels has also extended, and the yolk-sac is larger and more delined. This and the devclo|)ing allantois. at about the se\ciitli (la\. ale more clearly shown in the next illiisl rat ion. "The allantois is. liowcNir. Ilallened and spreatl out in lealitx bttwien the THE EGG AiND DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG BIRD 97 outer and inner layers of the amnion, where it gradually extends till it entirely surrounds the growing chicken close to the outer shell and membrane of the egg- It is furnished with a beautiful network of blood-vessels, extended under the porous envelope of the egg, while at the um- bilicus they are in connection with the SEVENTH DAY: ALLANTOIS. nl. MORE DEVELOPED. Yolk-sac shown in connection with the navel. (Magnified.) young chick. The allantois, with its capillary blood-vessels, thus serves as a temporary lung by which the blood is oxygenated from the outer air, the chick not being able to use its true lungs till the very eve of hatching. The allantois is thus a structure of cardinal importance to the life of the growing chick." In a Canary's egg at the seventh or eighth da\' signs of downy-like feathers are faintly discernible, and a movement of the young bird is often perceptible if the egg is opened at about the ninth or tenth day. Just before hatching " the beak ruptures the membrane which divides off the air- chamber, and the bird for the first time breathes air through the lungs, after which the chick's blood gradu- ally ceases to flow into the veins of the allantois, which has completed its work, and is no more needed." Finally the yovnig bird, by the force of its rapid movements within the shell, 13 breaks from its prison. The first part of the thin brittle shell to chip is that toward the thick end of the egg, with which the tip of the beak comes in contact. The constant tapping causes the shell first to crack, then the fractured part rises slightly with the pressure of the beak, that portion directly over it dropping off, and the movements of the young bird gradually in- crease the crack round the dom for the head, wings and legs to move, and complete the young bird's escape. The arrangement of the young bird the day before hatching is shown in the accom- panying illustration, while the next diagram shows the bird forcing its way from its prison with the egg fractured half-way round. The other part of this illustration shows how the two portions of the shell are forced apart as the young bird escapes from it. NEARLY READY TO HATCH. egg, thus giving free- EGG FRACTURED BY YOUNG BIRD. POSITION OF SHELL AFTER ESCAPE OF BIRD. (.Magnifieil.) " During this process of development the embryo has at first been lying as a small object on the upper surface of the yolk ; later on, as it increases in size and definiteness of form, it is clearly apparent that the neck of the yolk-sac is in Nourishment of the Chick. 98 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS connection with the umbilicus or navel {■see illustration). The material needed for growth is therefore derived ])riniarily Ihroiioli the volk ; ])ut as the original volk- YOUNG BIRD TWO DAYS BEFORE EXCLUSION, SHOWING SHRUNKEN YOLK. (Magnifial.) matter is al)soihcd, it is rc|)laced by Iresh material from the all)umen, drawn throuuh tlie delicate membranes. The albumen comiirisint; miuii of the bulk of the cifo-, it is manilest must furnish much of tVic nourishment for the younji bird ; but it ])asses thr<)Uj»h the yolk-sac in this |)rocess. Shortly before hatchiiin'. the entire reinain- in Germans maintain that "chirpy"" is superior to other nesting materials, as it is softer and of a cooler nalni'e. Ihrds ai'e fond of it as a building material : but not more so than of the moss. hay. and doe hair, and we Ihink it sim])ly a matter of taste, and so long as it is clean either material will do ci|uall\' wi'll. lla\ing fnriushed tin- lodgings thus lai'. a ])air of bii'ds should be |iul into each cage or comp;irt ment . ( )nr Pairing instructions on this point the Birds. ■■ , nmst neccssaruy l)e general in Ihcir application: what kind of cock, and wh.it kind of hen. manifestly belonging to later chapters. There is not the slightest nceessitv for an\ previous ac(]uaintance, and as foi- putting the cock in one cage and the hen ni another and allowing Ihcm / i : ! M ,-v,-. 1 ■■-< -^^^^ EVENLY-MARKED YORKSHIRE CANARY. 104 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS to scrape acciuaintancc thrmiuh the wires — the thing, in a large establishment, woulil be praetically impossible. We have read somewhere that the cock should be placed face to the wall, opposite his hen, in a cage with a wooden back, having a circular hole ill it just large enough to allow of his ])utting his head through, when he will commence his love-making across the room, and nuist be conducted in the most gradual way to his hen, until slic is made acquainted with his entire personal ajipearance, from his head to his tail. AVc really have not patience to conuncnt on such nonsense ; it is simply the veriest twaddle. The probability is that when the birds are first put together they will quarrel, but it is not always so. It arises from the fact that the cock bird is always the first to make advances towards a more intimate acquaintance, and the hen, as is fit and proper, with becoming modesty repels them. If he be wise he will commence by admiring the nest, and will coax his hen with presents of dainty morsels and a display of polite gallantry ; but if he begins at once to be too familiar, and the first song he sings is " Oh ! name the day, the ha]i]iy day,"' she will thrash him, or try to do so. IK' in turn will dro]) his wings, dance from one end of the ))erch to the other, with head feathers elevated, then dash alter her round and round the cage as she tries to evade his ])ursuit. singing the while as he chases her till the\' can go no longer. The secpicl is usually the same old, old story. In a few days they settle matters to their uuitnal satis- faction, and then begin their family duties. It is not. Ii()we\'er, (il;c(ii/.s- so. Some hens take a settled aA'crsion to .-i p.-irl icuhir cock and will never \y.iw with him; but these viragoes are vrvy rare, and lliciugh the\' may succeed in knocking all the spirit out of one cock, and may ha\e to be introduced to another, they gcnci'alK' meet their match in the end. There are also badly behaved cocks that are just as spiteful with the hens. This occasionally results from a cock being |)aired to a certain hen by her contimied call to him from her cage, and may be tei'med "" ])airing by voice." The two birds may not have seen each other, but they know one another by voice, and should the hen introduced to the cock not happen to lie the hen to which he has responded he can tell in a moment. Such cases, however, furnish no reason why valuable time shoukl be wasted in pairing birds on the gradual introduction system alluded to. Still, we have known cocks that would literally scalp their hens, and the late ]Mr. IJlakston once had a Lizard hen that half-murdered her mate, and woukl have finished him if he had not interfered. She used to drive him under the egg-trough, on which she woidd sit like a cat watching a mouse, and say, as jilainly as she could say it, '■ If you put your head out. I"ll have you as sure as you are a Lizard " ; and she did "" have "" him frequently, by stooping from the perch and picking him up by the top oi the head and swinging him backwards and forwards underneath. But ninety-nine per cent, of Canaries ]iair as naturally as possible, and the breeder will not have long to wait for evideuee of their having properly ]>aircd. The first indication of this is the cock feeding his mate, for the Canary belongs to a class of birds which feed from the crop. We should have mentioned that, as soon as the birds are ]int together, they must be supplied with a mixture Food for ,,|. ,.[„ ^.,1 iiard-boiled egg Paired Birds. , , , and bread-crumbs, or egg and crushed biscuit, with just a little maw- seed mixed with it as a stinndaling diet. This sho\dd be given in small cpiant it ics of a teaspoonrul e\"ery other d.-iy I'or each pair of bii'ds. A mill can now be procured I'or a shilling or two I'or uiincing u)) the haril- boiled egg and bread or biscuit together expeditiously. ,-uid tin- |)re|)arat ion, after being stirred a I'l-w times wit h a I'ork. is ready I'oi- the birds. The cock will, in reply to the invitation of the hen. made by a rapid llut- tcriiig of the wings, accompanied by a low twillering, constantly feed her by dis- gorging the contents of his crop. II', in ■ wm( % afe / ^ Jj M^^^^^K^*^ ■\\ BORDER FANCY CANARIES Three-Pointed Buff Clear Yellow Yellow Green Evenly Cinnamon-Marked Yellow PAIRING AND SITTING 105 addition to the sol't food and the canary and rape-seed, already alkided to, a small teaspoonful of equal parts of niger, gold of pleasure, and maw-seed be given twice a week, and a little chickweed, watercress, young dandelion leaves or lettuce be fvuniished, the cock will be all the more assiduous in feeding his mate. Meanwhile the hen will begin to show signs of a desire to build. If she have only a felt or swansdown-lined nest. 1^®**; she will pull and tug at it the building. , , , ' , day through, constantly gettmg into it antl " scuffling '" with her feet and wings in her endeavours to adapt it for use. Nov/ is the time to supply nesting- stuff, but only very sparingly, because till she begins to build in real earnest she will only waste the material to an un- limited extent. So long as there is any hair or moss to be had from the rack by pulling it through between the wires, so long will she continue to pull at it. carry it to her nest, throw it out again, and scatter it about in the cage bottom. To allow this is to countenance sheer waste, for this stuff, when once soiled, will never be used for its intended purpose. It seems as though, for a time, her object were nothing but amusement. This activity, however, is beneficial to the hen while her eggs are developing, and a small piece of building material, as explained earlier, will answer the piu'pose as well as a bunch ; indeed, a single feather will occupy her constant attention, and this she will carry backwards and forwards to her nest all day long. Something of the kind she inii.sf have, or she will purloin a feather from the cock's tail or disligure him by plucking him whenever she can get a sly pull. Some hens are very ill-mannered in this respect. When it is seen, however, that the hen is really beginning to construct her nest, remove all soiled stuff and give a fresh supply, and the fancier will be rewarded in the course of a few hours by a Avondcrful display of skill. She takes a mouthful of moss, pulling it from the bunch a sprig at a time, hops away to her nest, pops it in, and then pops herself in on it, with a quiet 14 pantomimic expression that seems to say, " There is no deception, I assure you. I take this small piece of moss and drop it into my nest, so ; then in I drop, so ; three turns and a scuffle, and where is it now ? — the quickness of the foot deceives the eye. Now I take a small piece of hair, so, and I drop // in — there's no deception ; three more turns and another scuffle. Now take a peep ; you see I have woven a piece of tapestr\'. Richard ! a mouthful of egg, if you please, and don't forget a bit of maw-seed this time." And so the work goes on, the cock occasionally popping up to see how it is progressing and looking very wise over it, till at length the little nest — we cannot use a prettier word — is completed and lined out daintily with the snowy-white hair, encircled by a Iringe of curly moss, behind which the little hen settles herself down full of happy pride, her shining black eyes glistening with love while her mate bursts into song, answered in a chorus which makes the room echo by half-a-dozen friends, who are just as busy as themselves, and are also having a house - warming. Some hens continue building until they have laid their first egg. and in some instances even the second and third, but in the general way the nest is completed before the first egg is laid. There will not be much alteration in the position of affairs for a day or two, but by that time the hen will have become more sedate and matronlv. and Laying=time. -^^^-^^^-^^^^ ^,f ^he" little event which is shortly to come off will be manifest ; indeed, what may be ex- pected in the morning can generally be foretold with tolerable certainty the night before. The situation is not now entirely free from danger, and the first duty of a breeder on visiting his room in the morning is to notice whether all his hens which ought to have laid have done so, or if any are making heavy weather of it. Some phenomena, however, occasionally present themselves, startling in appearance, but which need not cause serious apprehension. It will sometimes happen that the day before a hen lavs she will be seen in the io6 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS morning in the most complete health, jiippecl in the bud. You cannot rest at going about just as usual, her feathers night for thinking about her, and go uj)- close and compact, wings tucked up, and stairs to see il' she is dead or alive. Some- showing nothing to indicate the jiresence of how sjie lias managed to scramble into her any disarrangement whatever ; but in the nest, which is to her a sick-l)etl in real afternoon she will be found apparently earnest. We will not enter into any dis- about to "go home." She seeks a corner of cussion as to the cause of all this fuss. I^ft^ fHuT' ^^^ ^^Sp yT ni^r YOUNG Bi.ACKI!IHI)>. iPliotog}al>h by J. li^illuinion.) the cage, jianting violently, and s(iuats on the ground wilh wings ontstretclicd, feathers all ruilletl, head thrown back, eyes closed, in a slate of the most entire prostration, the picture ol' ciimplete misery. A more pitiable objecl cannot well be con- ceived. She seems to have lost the use of all her bodily ])()W(rs, and if taken in the hand olfers no resistance ; indeed, she is too ill to think of it. AVhcn replaced in the cage she scufllcs awav to her corner, and appears to wish for nothing but te said to be in a natural sl.ile: indeed. shallow ti'ay dixided into eoiu- soiiic of h(l- atler proeeediims would almost R-ecord partnieiiK. like a sci'dsmau's suiijiort the theory that her nature has " box. Icltered in a {■orrcspond- been modified bv eireuuist auces to an ing wav, as shown in the .•icconi|iany- PAIRING AND SITTING 109 ing illustration. Each compartment is three-jjarts filled with bran, than which there is no better or more suitable material for the purjiose ; it is soft, and the eggs lie securely in the little impressions or dents made in the surface of the bran with the tip of the finger. A lid to the tray lessens the possibility oC injury to the eggs. As the eggs are laid we transfer them to the tray, placing them in the compartment bearing the corresponding letter or number to that on the front of the cage. Each morning the first thing we do is to turn all the eggs in the tray, then go round and take all those laid that morning from the nests, placing them alongside those already in the tray corresponding with the letter or ninnber on their respective cages. We keep a breeding record as well, in which we write a description of each jmir of birds, number of nests taken and of eggs laid, with the number hatched, and a description of the young. Some fanciers indicate the fact of a hen having laid by a chalk-mark on the front of the cage, and Aaa-aaaaa/ Az^^A:A:AA-A'Aim NUMBERED EGG TRAY. post up their record from these chalk-marks, in which they believe most devoutly. The book is for detailed items, but the chalk- marks show the whole state of aifairs at once in a thoroughly jiractical way which we will explain. We will suppose the fancier going into his room between eight and nine o'clock in the morning, by which time his hens will all have laid. If he have any method in him, he will begin at the be- ginning and go steadily through. The information given by the marks on a few cages will suffice to explain what we wish. Here is a cage without a mark. The hen was expected to lay this morning, and has done so ; we put the egg in its place in the tray and chalk the cage. Here is one with a single mark, or two marks, as the case may be ; that means we may look for more eggs, which we do. and add a mark to those already on the cage. We pass on to a third, the chalks, bear in mind, telling at a glance, without any reference to a book or comparison between it and the tray, just where we have to look, and what we may expect to find when we do look. In the next cage, which has two marks, we anticipate finding the third egg, but we do not. We know from the marks that it oiigfit to be there, and that it is not ; so we add a cross or a cipher, or some such distinguishing mark, which tells us the hen has missed a day, and if the third egg be not there to-morrow we shall not sit her on the two she has laid, but give one to each of two hens on tiie other side, whose marks indicate that they are likely to stop at three, as they have not laid on the fourth or fifth morning, and are sitting close to their nests. A hen that has laid but two eggs rarely sits out her time. Some do not attempt to sit at all. others sit close 5. "/V for two or three days, then Clutches 1 , , , , suddenly desert the two eggs. and commence to build again on the ti)]) of them. The cause is easily under- stood. The hen has only laid part of a clutch ; something unseen temporarily checked Natvu'e's progress ; the machinery, so to speak, has now righted itself, the other eggs are coming along, and the hen is busying herself for the happy event. The eifect of this is temporarily to destroy all tendency to brood the eggs previously laid. She may now lay another three or foiu", when she will settle down to brood them in right earnest in the normal way. But the two previous eggs, having been partially sat on, would be useless unless they were transferred to another hen as soon as deserted. It is, therefore, much better to transfer such eggs at once to another hen which has just started sitting on a small clutch. A very good plan is to mark the two eggs transferred with a small spot of ink so that it may be known by this mark whether the eggs have hatched IK) CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Time of Hatching. or not. AnotluT h'dihI ])laii, wlicrever possible, is to jnit tjieiii under a hen oJ' a different variety to that which laid them. There is then no difficulty in distinguishing the young birds from the foster-parenfs young when reared. This is amply sufficient to exjilain our system of marking, so far as regards the point of practice we are detailing. We remove the eggs, then, one by one, till there are three in the tray, and on the evening of the third day \vc replace them. The hen then goes on to her nest at night, lays her fourth egg in the morning, and at once commences to sit so closely that the date of hatching may lie reckoned from that fourth morning with certainty : they usually hatch on the thirteenth day counting from the evening when the hen was set. The reason why we rc])lace three eggs, and date from tlie fourth, is because, though live is a common munlx;r. and six not luiusual, four is an a\'erage nest. If a fifth egg he laid it nnist take its chance ; but the fancier soon gets to know the peculiarities of his hens in this respect, and acts accord- ingly. Before setthig the hen we generally make it a rule to clean out the cage, or at any rate to give it a rough scrape and su])))ly some fresh sawdust or sand, for it will be a fortnight before it can again be disturbed. l)eyond removing any excreta which may accunudatc during incubation. 'i'hc hen will have tiiiich more confidence if not disturbed dia'ing incu])ation. Sonic hens arc so ncr\-ous, although good mothci's. that the nioiiicnt an altciii])! is made t' bi-ood can manage for 1. Ticked Siskin-Canary. GROUP OF HYBRIDS. 2. Unevenly-marked Goldfinch-Canary. 3. Redpoll-Goldfinch. 4. Bullfinch-Canary. 112 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS tlicnisclves. Iiulced. this is not imfrc- (luently the case even when tlie liens are fed on |)lain seed diet while ineuliating the CLtn's. (ireen liiod. il' oi\-cn diu'ini;' ihis period. is apt to eanse inflannnatiim ol' the bowels and diarrhira. a condition which every breeder is always anxious to avoid. The advantajife of feeding sparingly and [tlaiidy Avhile the hen is sitting is thus evident. The hen will leave her nest occasionally to feed, but alter cracking a few gi'ains 1)1' seed, and taking a fly The CocK's ,.,,,,1^(1 the cage to stretch Duties. '^ her wings and legs, will soon hop back on to her eggs. Where the cock is left with her he attends to her needs, carrying food to her as she sits on her nest — a duty in which he never Tails. Indeed, during the whole jieriod of incu- bation, his life is one incessant romid of attentions to his mate. During line weather the luxiuy of a halh may also l)e indidged in, and though the hen may sometimes appear to remain olT her nest longer than prudence might suggest, we have never known any but good results attend a free use oT the bath. There is. as we have already suggested. a marked dilTerence in the temi:)cramcnt and disjxjsition (A' hens and their oi-lm(iit during the time the\- Restless Hens. ai'c sitting. Some, nothing seems todistni'l) ; they are like brood\' fowls, and it at .-my t i me an inspcci ion oT I he nest ma\' be necessary. tlu\ i-((|uirc to be lifted olT b\- j)utting 1 he liiigei- under I he bi'east . and cncii then will orteii do no moi-c than st.ind up or. a I the most , hop on I o I lie nearest pcreli. ami wail I lie IllNl moinilil to settle down again on I lie |)reeiolis eggs. ()lliers ;ippe;ir to be sulky, and it disi ni-bcd will not i-el ni'ii to the nest so long as they .'ire watched. 'J'liey will sit on the edge ot the nest, in the x'ery act ol' hopping into il. lint .-ts iMgid as ir sInlTed, and not a hair's breadth will they budge imlil the\' ai'c alone again. Others arc I'cst less and fidgety, cs])eeially it the cock has Ikcii remox'ed. .-ind are e\'erlast iiigly leasing the ni st wilhonl aii\ apparent reason, really seeming to spend as much time in looking out of the windows as in maternal duties. The remedy in this ease is to " draw down the blinds." by tack- ing a strip of brown [lajjcr in Front of the cage, just where the nest hangs, so that the lien cannot see out of her cage without leaving the nest: a couple of drawing ])ins will keep the pa])er in position, and it can easily be removed when not required. This will often keep restless hens quiet, and closer to their nest and eggs. ^lany breeders adopt this plan in every instance, especially when the arrangement of the cages is such that the birtls in some of the compartments can see those in others. We, however, only recommend that the cage should be covered where a hen is found to be restless, and is continually leaving her nest. Such, we think, are the ]n-incipal features to be noticed during incubation, which we will assume has gone on for Fertile and jj^.^ ^^. ^-^ ,,.,^.^_ .^^. ^j^^ Non=fertile ." • , , £ggg exjnration ol this period the eggs may be examined, to see how many are fertile, for it sometimes happens that it may be foiuid necessary, with a \ ii'w to sa\ing time or obtaining a linal nest late in the season, to combine two nests, due at the same date, into one. \\c do not, however, recommend this |)roeedui'e for the mere sake of getting an extra nest from a hen, h)r experience has long ago taught us that an o\crworked hen will as a rule do litlk' or nothing in t he next breeding season. I 'nlcss. therefore, another nest is desired for some special |iui'pose, we would recommend thai a hen shonhl be allowfd to sil through the lull |iei'iod of ineul)ation even on a nesi of unfertile eggs, as Ihis will ])i'e\eiit her ne\l eliileh ol' eggs coming along too ipiieklw It is a ('(Mumon thing when a hen is not allowed to sil I he I'ull ])criod of ineiibal ion I'oi' hei' ne\l ehiteh loin- imrer- t ile, too, due to her ha\ iiig been I'oi'eed to lay again too (|ui<'kly. A practised eye can detect at a glance Ihe I'erlile trom the nnl'erlile eggs, without taking lliein in the !iaiid ; !)iit if they be held lip to the light the former will be PAIRING AND SITTING round to be one-half opaque, or rapidly becoming so, the dividing line being drawn diagonally. A day later, and, in a strong light, the network of blood-vessels can be distinctly traced spreading over the inner surface of the shell ; and a day later still the fertile egg becomes entirely opaque, while the imimpregnatcd ones remain perfectly transparent. In a nest of four or five an unfertile egg should not be re- moved, as the young ones, when hatched, will cluster over it, and it serves as a support for them ; fragile as it is, they will not break it, though it be allowed to remain till they are full grown. But the fancier must not, even at this advanced stage, begin to practise that simjile elementary arithmet- ical process which experi- RisKs of the Final Stage. ence has shown frequently results in erroneous conclusions ; he must wait patiently till the morning of the thirteenth day, before which arrives he may have learnt a practical application of another wise saw : " Many a slip " We all know the rest and have often ex- perienced it. The proverb is stale but very true. A man, to become a successful Canary-breeder, must have the quality of patience strongly woven in his composition. The principal dangers to be apprehended in the later stages of incubation are the misfortime of the hen forsaking her eggs, or the young birds dying in the shell — " going back," as it is called. The former may arise from the sitting-fever subsiding, which may be occasioned by a sudden change in the weather, such as the advent of a second winter, or any marked fall in the temperature. Sitting hens do not like the long, cold nights, and this is when the value of some heating apparatus will be realised. Similar causes may have a fatal effect on the young ones in the shell, but most probably the decline in the natural heat of the hen's body has most to do with it. It is the steady decline, the gradual dying out of the fire at a time when the flame ought to be kej^t up, that docs the mischief. Young birds, when within a day or two 15 of hatching, can, however, survive several hours of exposure, and if the eggs be found to be quite cold they should still be persevered with. This would not, of course, apply in a case of gradual decline, but in one of accidental exposure, as, for instance, when a hen has deserted her eggs, or has been BARREN KGG. FERTILE EGG. inadvei'tently shut off from her nest. We have known many instances of hens deserting their eggs a day or two before they were due to hatch, in some of which the eggs were left for six and eight hours before another hen covild be found to take them, and yet every egg was successfully hatched. In cases where a second hen is not available, and it is necessary to draw on the services of a friendly breeder, the eggs nuist be carried in the nest, covered with wadding, a layer of doe hair, or other similar nuiterial. We draw attention to this matter so as to warn the breeder against being too hasty in breaking cjpen eggs which Delay in j|q j^q^ hatch out to time. The Canary sits thirteen days, and hatches almost to the hour with com- mendable punctuality. If eggs do not " chip " at the time expected, and yet are evidently fertile, they should on no account be interfered with for at least eight or twelve hours, and if early in the season even longer. The eggs of the first nests in the season are sometimes a day late in cliijjping, and occasionally as much as two or three days. This probably arises from the hen not having got the full incubation heat up when eonunencing to sit, or else through not sitting closely 114 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS during the first two or tlirce days. If it is finally decided to break the egg, it should first be slightly dented with the thumb- nail toward the thick end, and then jilaccd I'ur a few seconds in a eu]) of water, a little more than hikewariu. After this it should be returned to the nest. In most cases this will be suilicieut to enable the bird to escape from the shell if it is alive. Should it not hatch out in a couple of hours, and there is a certainty that it is alive, the egg should be taken in hand again. After dipping it in warm water as before, the eye-end of a sewing needle should be in- serted into the skin or membrane which adheres to the inside of the shell, and gently drawn half way roiuid, thus slitting the membrane, (ireat care must be taken to insert oidy the tip of the needle, and to kec}) it close u]) to the skin so as not to touch the bodj' of the young bird within. Having split the membrane the egg should be placed in the nest again, and the hen allowed to return to it. In all probability, and in less than an hour, the chick will be hatched. I have known this means to be entirely successful in many cases. Such an operation must, of course, be carried out most carefully ; it is usually foimd to be necessary in the middle of the breeding season if the weather is hot and dry, and the hen is not a free bather. We prefer that the eggs should hatch naturally, for the ability of the joiuig bird to break its shell denotes strength, and generally where they do not the reverse is the case. A young bird which cannot liberate itself on account of the membrane which lines the shell having become dry and tough usually chips the egg where the tip of the beak lies, but makes no further progress. It is this indication of life which justifies the render- ing of assistance before the young birtl becomes exhausted in its struggle for liberty. FIRST I.KSSONS IN HM(I)KKF- I'lNG. (Ftuvi a pltvlo^rnplt by Mr. J. i.. A'mii, Cti'imii/; ToUJll.) THE WILD CANARY AND ITS NEST. CHAPTER XI HATCHING AND REARING In anticipation of the thirteenth morning ushering in a successful hatch it should be seen that the egg-food pan or drawer is cleaned out overnight, and replenished with a little fresh food in which the yolk of a hard-boiled egg must predominate. The question is often asked, " Which shall I mix with the egg — biscuit or bread ? " Many breeders use Osborne, tea, thin lunch, or milk biscuits, whilst others use good, sweet bread - crumbs with equal success. But whichever is adopted should be adhered to ; there should be no chang- ing from one to the other unless matters are not progressing favourably. Some Canaries feed their young largely on seed, and give them but little or even no egg-food ; in such cases it is well to remove the seed for several hours each day, and so compel them to feed more freely on the egg-food, as it is rare that nestlings make such good progress when The Hatching fed on seed alone as they do on equal parts of seed and fresh egg-food. On the thirteenth day of incubation, when the breeder looks into the cage in the morning, he will probably see half a shell in the bottom and will hear a little chirp. In ordinary circumstances he will not think of disturbing the hen, but we will excuse him if, on this occasion, he takes a peep, though we would strongly recom- mend him instead to watch his opportunity when she is feeding, as hens as a rule come quickly off to any dainty bit of egg-food put fresh into the pan. The curious breeder can attend to the other birds and keep an eye on the cage for the chance of a glance. Then in the bottom of the nest he will see something which looks like a cluster of hairy caterpillars, and he is sure, as, in- stinctively, he gives a little chirp on his own account, to see the bunch open 115 ii6 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS itself out, and untwist tnnr lit Ik- lieads on lour idnjT necks out of a knot in tlie iniikUc. which will raise themselves up and open out I'our little months. If he then looks kirther he will probably sec that each little neek has a yellow spot of egg on its side, which shows that already, almost before the down on the youngsters is dry, the hen has given them their first meal — a good omen for the future. The breeder must not allow this to act as an incentive to interfere with the hen more than possible ; for, strangely enough, most hens w'ill feed their brood for the first three or four days: it is after that time when many begin to fail in this respect, and interference has not a little to do with this neglect. The breeder should now add a little German rape and heni)) to the canary- seed, and gi\e the egg-food in small quantities, Jir.sh. twice a day, or even three times if convenient to do so. From the time the young are three days old. the white of the egg may be used as well as the yolk in the comjiosition of the egg- food, and a little fresh grceii food should be su|>plicd daily: and if the mother is attentive the young will grow apace. All stale food should be taken away when fresh supplies are given, excepting the seed, which only I'dpiires the husks to be l)lown olT and the vessel rei)lenislicd each morning. Once a week the seed should be sifted so as to free it from an\ dust that may lia\c accunuilated. I'Vom the time the young birds arc a day old, or cxcn a! hatching, the breeder can indulge in a little specula- tion as to the colour of the young. If lie notes that tiic down on one \oiiiigslrr is dark il will (lc\(ln|) into a gr'cen or else a hca\il\' marked bird : or if the parents arc, sav. Crested Canaries, and he sees thai a nestling has a dark ci'owii. it will turn out, in all jjrobability. a daik crested bird. Of conrsc there are dark cappi-d Crest-breds as well. Among its other maternal duties the hen frees the nest of an\- excreta which Nest Cleaning. Colour Identity the young have passed, which at this period is practically undigested food. 'I'his the mother swallows, and. with other food, gi\es again to the young ; she continues to do this until the chicks are seven days old. After the seventh day it is only waste which passes through the young, and this the hen instinctively ignores. At this age the nestlings are able to expel their excreta over the edge of the nest, and the hen, after feeding them, usually stands on the nest edge until they have done this, and then tucks them in beneath her, and so makes them comfortal)le for a nap. The mother, e\en if a bad feeder, will usually keep the nest free from the droppings of the young, but should she not then the excreta must be removed from the nest each time the nestlings are fed, so as to prevent their vents from becoming covered b\- adhering excreta. No young bird will thrive, however well fed, unless it is kc|)t clean either l)y the mother or the breeder. The adherinee of excreta round the top of the nest is of no im- ])ortance, for all nests get into tliis con- dition before the young l)roods lea\c them; it is the cleanliness of the interior of tlu' nest that is essential. These are the actions of a good mother, but there is no guarantee that it will be continued. It is a \ery dis- The Feeding ..oTccable trulh, but it is Question. "^ ,,1,11 oid\ too t rue. II all should go on well, the young birds will grow under the eye almost hourly, and the nt-\t morning will liiid tliem iiearl\ double the size, ])lump and fat, and like little balls of down. J{ut it may be that the mother will positively refuse to feed them at all, or only al such long intervals and in such a half-and half sort of wav. that the experienced breeder can tell at the end i>f a (lav or two what are the futui'e pros])cets of the nest. If in place of full crops, plump breasts, and hca\y abdomens, he llnds every halure dwarfed, it is then time for him to slc)) in and assist by artitieial feeding, in the hojie that the want of at ten- tion on the part of tlu' mother which can HATCHING AND REARING 117 only result from unhealthy aetion of some kind or other beyond our ken — will pre- sently give place, under healthier con- ditions, to the exercise of the constant attention on which depends the well- being of the nest. Understand that our rule is, in dealing with our breeding hens, to leave well alone, and to content ourselves with the best they feel inclined to do, if that best be only a reasonable display of care sufficient to keep things moving. But for young birds to stand still is for them to retrograde, and we generally find ourselves every morning not Hand=Feeding .. ^^^- something in a Young Birds. ^ . '^ temporary way with a tea- pot," but with a hard-boiled egg in one hand and a little spatula of Avood in the other. And our mode of procedure is this : We cut a hard-boiled egg in halves, and having moistened a little of the yolk with our saliva in the palm of our clean hand — if a smoker use a tiny drop of warm water instead — -mixing it into a thick creamy substance, which is kept warm by the heat of the hand. We then visit the nest of the doubtful ones, and where we find any empty crops we give the yoimg birds a good feed of the paste, putting it gently into their mouths with the tip of the si^atula. They will swallow it as fast as it is given to them, but they should not be overfed. Just sufficient should be given to fill up the right side of the neck, which it will be foimd quickly rises up like a yellow bladder. They should be fed in this way about every half-hour. There is no difficulty in making young Canaries open their mouths ; it is almost the first thing they do in this world, and they never seem to forget the way ; the difficulty is to fill them fast enough. When the hens do not immediately com- mence their duties never interfere with the young birds till they are twenty four hours old, because the yolk absorbed into the stomach is sufficient to sustain them for that time, and we like to give the hen a fair chance of feeding for herself ; but after that time the very youngest birds can be fed in this way, and if attended to at intervals, can frequently be kept going till the hen takes the work in hand. It will be seen that the breeder who has the opportunity of visiting his birds frequently has a great advantage therein. The man of business is perhaps compelled to leave them from morning till evening, or, at the most, is able to snatch a few minutes in the middle of the day. But in most households there is some person who can be trusted to attend to these matters, and when once it is taken in hand, the interest felt in the little things, de- pendent on our attention for their lives, grows immensely, and no bird will be allowed to die without a struggle having been made to save it. ^Vhen the young are two or three days old just a little powdered biscuit should be added to the yolk of egg, but the creamy consistency should still be main- tained, and when they are four or five days old a little canary-seed, German rape, and hemp-seed should be added. These seeds should be first prepared by passing a rolling-pin over them to crack the husks, and these can then be separated from the kernels by gently blowing them aside. What remains should be ground into a fine meal with a pestle and mortar, and then egg-food should be added in the proportion of about one-fourth seed to egg. The whole should be mixed into a thick paste. The spatula should be dipped into water occasionally, so that the food will leave it freely when put into the bird's mouth. A little more of the powdered biscuit and seed in the meal form should be added to the egg as the birds get older. The mixture must be given in a moist state, as long as it is necessary to hand-feed the young brood. They will be able to do for themselves when four weeks old, though some hand-reared birds will allow them- selves to be fed as long as their owner likes and will only look after themselves when they are fairly starved to it. In any case hand-feeding must not cease suddenly ; it should be dropped by degrees, by feeding at longer intervals until the birds are ii8 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS weaned fi-oiii it, and feed themselves freely. We have referred to this possible feedini,' diflieiilty arising thus early, because it re(|uircs to be met at the Cocks and the Young. outset, and is one of the iirst disappointments the fancier may have to encounter. When all is plain sailing, the business of the bird- room will run on wheels, the birds will take the reins in their own hands, and astonish even the most sanguine breeder by the way in which they will work out the problem we are endeavouring to show him how to solve. There are so many phases in Canary life, as seen in the nursery, that it is almost impossible to arrange the various pictures in a very methodical mannci', and our |)lnn will be to present them as we think it probable they may pass before the breeder's observation in some cage or other in his room. So far as wc have gone we have only dealt with the nest in its very earliest stage, ]iointing out the dangers which beset it, and indi- cating the best methods of tiding over them. The fancier will have noticed by this time that the cock where he has been allowed to lx> with the hen can usually be depended upon as a feeder. This is generally the case : the exceptions in our own expiricncc have l)cen whci'c tlic cocks jippearcd to be too ner\()us to carry out their instinct of attcniion; though their di'mcanonr and moxcmcnts told us ])lainly Ihcy wanted to do so. There are. of cour.sc, other instances where cock birds will suddcnl\ fall sick, and in con- sequence fail in this duty ; but with these exceptions they are most dihgent in their attention. ,\|)|)ar(nl ly I he cock knows as well as pos- sible when things arc not going on ])roperly, and when he flics up to the nest with his crop I'lill ol' I'ood, he will stand cm the edge and say to his mate as plainly as a Canary can sav it. " Von know you are not doing vour dutv: tliose young ones under yon are starving, and yun know it. No. it's not a bit of use your fluttering in that way ; I don't intend to give you another moullifui. If you don't mean to feed them just turn out, and I will do it, but don't sit there in that imnatural way. starving the family, or there will be a coroner's in([uest shortly." And then he looks round and round the nest so wistfully, the very ])icture of afTection and loving attention, twittering and doing all he can to induce some youngster to jiop its head out. Presently one pops up from behind, and in a moment the cock has him, and stuffs him as quickly as possible, knowing the value of every moment. And this he will do all day as patiently as possible, though every visit to the nest generally ends in his ultimately giving the hen a great portion of the meal intended for the young ones. Perhaps he does so in the hoj^c that she will disgorge some of it ; but that hope is too often disa])pointed. In eases where hens have neglected their share of the duty to an inordinate extent, wc have dealt with Refractory ^j^^j^j succcssfullv bv taking Hens. • • , "^ the cock away for six or seven days, and .so compelled the hen to leave the nest for food. The young thus get fresh air — which assists to revive them — and their necks are outstretched for food the moment the hen hops on to the edge of the nest ; t)y this she is induced to give them food, and gradually she be- comes an attentive mother. When the yoimg are seven days old the cock bird may be returned, for by that time the hen has become active, and the >oung have grown bigger : they will not allow her to sit so close on the nest. As a consequence the two will attend conjointly to the wants of the brood without further trouble. Should the hen again show signs of lagging in her duties, the cock must at once be remoNcd. and the hen left to do the work by herself. Wc will nut make Ihe picture more dismal than there is occasion for. but suppose that the hen is a model S*""^" mother, and that from the first Food. she settles down to her work in that earnest way the breeder likes to see. The egg-food trough in that cage will HATCHING AND REARING 119 require filling two or three times a day, adopted and continued unchanged. The for Jresh-and-pesh is the rule, and fresh egg-food must not be mixed with bread dainties will often induce a hen to feed on one day and biscuit another, nor should when nothing else will. A supply of green even the kind of biscuit be changed, food is most necessary, such as a small When the youngsters leave the nest bunch of chickweed, spray of watercress, and are getting about the cage, the egg- or leaf of young lettuce ; but whichever food may be prepared in the proportion is commenced with must be continued of bulk for bulk, decreasing the quantity until that brood or broods are reared, of egg somewhat as the birds get older. Fresh at least once a day is imperatively the rule here, for there is nothing so fatal to a young brood, or even to old birds, as stale green stuff. Some breeders give green food in unlimited quantities. We have seen handfuls placed in a gallipot in the cage for the bird to feed from, and while such a method may be suc- cessful, it is always fraught with great risk of contamination, and we do not recommend the practice. We believe in giving green food in moderation, and a spray of watercress or a small bunch of chickweed or a young lettuce leaf or two placed between the wires of the cage We have tried all the methods. Our are quite sufficient at a time, and will best results have been obtained from THE WAY TO HOLD A SMALL BIRD. To hold a Canary, or other small bird, securely, and at the same time not injure it, the hand should control the whole of the bird's body up to the shoulders, with the wings lying close in their proper position. A suHicient grip should be taken of the bird to hold it firmly, so that it can neither slip backwards nor forwards, but on no account should any pressure be put on the bird's body. Whilst the hand encircles the bird let the pressure be in the tips of the fingers, which should rest on the thick part of the palm towards the wrist. This forms a stay and support to the fingers, and prevents possible injury to the bird by too great pressure should it struggle to escape. soon be eaten. As regards the composition of the egg- food, there are almost as many recipes as there are breeding-rooms. The staple commodity is hard-boiled egg, with the addition of bread- Egg= Food. either home-made bread — loaves four or five days old — crumbled up fine, or Osborne or thin lunch biscuit powdered fine, and mixed with the egg, while the late Mr. Blakston said he obtained the best results by feeding largely on egg and crumbs, dry, or soaked and squeezed dry ; crushed hemp-seed. The fact is that each milk-biscuit, water-biscuit, sweet-biscuit, method is good, but every breeder naturally, stale sponge-cake, or other kind of farina- and wisely too, recommends the particular ceous food, mixing two parts of hard-boiled mixture he has found produces the best yolk of egg to one part of whichever you results. use. After the third day mix two parts So much, however, depends on the birds hard-boiled egg yolk and white combined, themselves that it is unfair to condemn with the biscuit or bread ; but it must be one food or praise another unduly, when noted that one combination should be it is quite probable the experience of 120 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Feeding Experiences. some other breeder is at direet variance with our own as regards the elTect of using some particular diet. W'liat succeeds in one bird-room is certain failure in another, and wliat one swears by another jiroclaims to lie poison. The same remarks hold good with respect to green food. One gives chickweed and nothing else, avoids groundsel above all things, and can tell you stories by the yard of how it killed a lot of young birds. Anotlier will walk miles to find a few plants of groundsel, and will pass acres of chickweed as worthless. One eschews lettuce and gives dandelion, and each gives a satisfactory reason why. A reason, even if a poor one, entitles any statement to respect. In the rearing of young Caiiaries dogmatic assertion should never be listened to. We ourselves reeom- niend hemp-seed — in limited quantities, of course as having been a good servant to us, while another fancier will say it is the forbidden fruit, the unclean thing, the abomination of abominations, and he would not have a grain in his room ; his diet is egg and , it matters not what ; we may have tried the mixture, and our birds would not lonk at it. Our advice is to use any of the mixtures we have men- tioned, but not all at the same time, and hold fast to tli:il which gives you the best results. The way should be felt when trving a fresh food : all the stock shoidd not be plunged madly on to it : it should be tried on on<' or two birds first, and the result, whether sat isl'actory or otherwise, carefully noted. To the egg-food can be added a jiineli of maw-seed (|)o])|)y). or a little (Jcrnian rape in its I'aw state. If the Preparation i^,.,^ j^ Inudilesome and is of Seed. lint ;it lending to her brood as she should, scald the rape seed well, or boil it for [i\'c minutes. I lien strain it olT. ;is dr\' as pnssiblc, and gi\'c to the bii'ds when cold. .Some hens are |)assionaiely fond of ra])e-sced given in this wa\' when feeding the young: it is good i'or them and they will often Iced on this and egg- food when they will iced on nothing else. But whatever is used, let it be fresh and sweet, and when arisoii between the number of eggs haiclic(l and the Canary bills of mortality will show. Let us sup|)ose that everything has gone on swimmiiigU under the usual method of feeding, and that we " Sweating." , i . i i nave l)cen Noted a eroall:i>' Mutilations by Cocks. with, or soint'thiiiLj to eat. Tor he will frequently bite olf the extrem- ities— the toes, tijis of the winj>s. and the little beak. Some faneiers maintain that these mutilations taissii)ility of their getting their toes fixed in the small ventilation holes in the nest pan. and thereby getting the nails or claws torn oil or otherwise injured. .V little building material can also be put in Insect Pests. HATCHING AND REARING 127 and moulded into shape with the fingers, and tlien settled do^^n iirmly by rolling a hot boiled fowl's egg round in it for a few seconds. It is also a good plan when changing the nest at this stage, esjiecially if there are four or five young, to use a nest a size larger than the one taken away, as it gives the \oimg brood more room to stretch and grow in comfort. If for this cause a wooden nest-box should have to be replaced by an imitation of a natural nest, the best ])lan is to shajie a nest with moss inside the box. then hue it with a little hair, and finish it olT by working the cup or hollow in the centre of the nest by pressure with a hot hard-boiled egg as described. Mark that the hen will not destroy such a ne.st. If she were wishing to build, she would soon put it to rights ; but when her object is to lay, or, having laid, to sit, or, having hatched, to feed, she accepts each jjosition in the full exercise of the reigning instinc- tive facidty of the hoin\ It is not a time for play now, but rather for duty, and instinct regarding that duty is stronger than mischief. Having furnished a clean nest, the young ones must not again be interfered with, but be kept absolutely quiet, for if they are once fright- ened from the nest it is very difficult to make them take to it again. There is, of covirse, no danger of this occurring now, but a week hence such a thing might easily happen. A breeder is always very glad when his j'oung ones are strong enough to leave the nest, and is glad to see them go, but he is always desirous to keep them there as long as possible, snug and comfortable, and well cared for. Extreme care is necessary at the last when the birds are just over a fortnight old, when a startled sort of rest- lessness pervades the nest. So long as they squat and keep their heads well down, there is not much to fear ; but as soon as one youngster, more venturesome than the rest, lifts up his head and turns himself round, you may look out for a jump. \Mien one goes they had better all go, for Leaving the Nest. they will still stick to each other a little longer, and, acting in concert, may even determine to return to the nest at night. But a single yoimg one, if he persists in refusing to return to the bosom of his family, fares i-ather ill the first day or two of his liberty, and it is best to take every precaution to prevent premature flight, which ought not to take place till the birds are nearly three weeks old, by which time they will be almost as large as their parents. We are exceedingly loth to hint at the possibility of any more misfortunes, but by the time the young ones Hens and j^^^^.^ reached this age it is Second ° Laying. more than probable the hen will begin to show indications of wishing to sit again — an event which can scarcely be looked on in the light of a misfortune, but which requires nice manage- ment. Sometimes she will lay in her old nest, depositing her eggs among the young birds, who will not injure them, although there may be as man\' as twenty-four or thirty sharp little claws in the nest. In any circumstances it is advisable to supply her with a second nest-pan of the small No. 1 size, which may be suspended on the side of the cage, opposite the partition, if it be a double cage, or if there be room at the back it can be placed there, bear- ing in mind that as the perches are all movable, they can be removed at will to suit the new arrangement, or additional ones brought into use. It may be that the building fever may not be very strong, and the hen may be content to take such accommodation as is offered, but a small portion of new building material should invariably be furnished in the rack for her use, as its jDresence may be the means of giving her emj)loyment at a time when she is apt to illustrate the truth of the aphorism that " somebody " makes it his business to find mischief for idle hands to do. By giving her a new nest and fresh moss and other material — for it is better to give her a mixture so that she can find that which she fancies most — ■ she will not be temj^ted to pluck the young birds. 128 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS If each pair of birds has a double cage ■ — that is, one with a partition in the centre — a wire jiartition can be inserted and the young birds kept in the one compartment and the cock bird and hen with her clean nest in the other. The old birds will then attend to the wants of the youngsters and feed them through the wires of the partition, while the hen will also go on building her new nest. Such an arrangement answers equally as well NURSKKV CAGE IN POSmON, WHEN IN USE as having a nursery cage. 'Wlicu the young can do for themselves they can be removed to another cage, and the wire partition removed. If single breeding cages are used, then this is the time to use a " nursery " cage, into whi(!h the voung brood Jag^e.^"'"^"'' can be placed, and the whole hooked on end-ways to the open door of tlie breeding cage, as shown in the illustration herewith. The old birds will iced the young through ttic wires, which must be sulHcicntK' far apart to allow of tlic young birds getting their beaks well through so that the parents can give them food. l""ive-eighths of an inch is ample sjiace to allow between each wire along the end of the nursery, as if a wider space is allowed young birds are apt to get their heads through the wires, and there is then danger of their heads being plucked. The cock which has just been introduced to the hen, if he has not helped to rear the young, may feel spiteful toward them, and will scalp them if oi)portuiiity arises, even though the mother is con- tinuing to feed them. It is where one cock is working with two hens that scalp- ing is likely to occur, as he must be returned to the hens, as a rule, a few days before the young are able quite to do for them- selves ; but the space we recommend to be allowed between each wire will keep the }oung ones safe from attack, and at the same time allow ample space for them to be fed. The reason for not having a jicrch across the end of Plucking by ^j^g nursery Hens. •' cage for the young to sit or perch on is to prevent them getting too near the wires, and so giving the hen an ojiportunity of plucking out a few of their feathers, which she is very liable to do. By standing on the bottom of the nursery cage to be fed, the young birds offer no such opportunity to the hen. Breeders will thus at once recognise the necessity of keeping a sharp look-out for small feathers in the new nest when once the young birds have left their nest, and before they have been transferred from the mother's breeding cage to the nursery; for this disposition to pluck becomes, apart from the |)ain and incomenicnce to the young birds, a positixc calamity in the case of birds in which it is imperative that the original wing and tail feathers should remain intact. It will be seen, when we come to treat of varieties, that there are at least two in whicli this is one of the show conditions, and it is not pleasant to find one's prospects in this direction clouded so early. ISIoreover, now that wc have unflighted classes given at Yellow Piebald Scotch Fancy Canary Clear yellow Belgian Canary Clear Buff Scotch Fancy Canary HATCHING AND REARING 129 most shows, it is of tiic utmost importance that the ycung flight featiicrs ot most varieties should be kept intact and as perfect as possible. It is likely that one of the best young birds from the season's work might have half or more of his 3'Oimg flights plucked out, and thus spoil his chance of competing in these unflightcd classes owing to the new flight feathers coming longer than the original ones, and so making the wing feathers appear uneven in length. This disposition to pluck is. perhaps, one of the most vexing incidents of the breeding-room. We spoke of it as com- mencing at a comparatively matured age ; but it is sometimes begun when the birds are very young, and not sufficiently fledged to be left all night without the protect- ing covering of the mother's wing, and it is then verj^ distressing and painful to witness. In such cases, if the birds be, say, ten or twelve days old, the best jilan is to take a shallow square or slightly oblong wooden nest-box, and shape out in it a nice warm nest with moss and hair. The young- brood shovdd be placed in this and trans- ferred to a nursery cage. The nest should be put close up against the end of the nursery cage through which the old bird or birds have to feed the young, and the cage hung in the usual wav in front of the open door of the breeding cage. As the old birds stand to feed them, the youngsters will rush up out of the nest and push their beaks through between the wires. When the old ones have fed them a few times in this way, the youngsters can be covered over with a piece of flannel, three or four ply thick, or a piece of swansdown, made just large enough to cover the nest, but not quite to the edge ; the yoimg birds will nestle beneath this, and with the heat from each other's body will be kept warm and comfortable. Every time the parent birds come down to feed them, and they are hungry, they will stretch their long necks out to the wires to be fed, and when satisfied will quickly draw back again beneath the Remedy for Plucking, cover. The cover, however, must not be placed over the yomig imtil the old birds have fed them a few times in their new nest, or they would not come near it with the cover on. There will be no ditliculty in keeping the nest clean, as the young birds at this age will pass their ch'oppings over the edge. This is the only effectual remedj^ we know of where hens take to plucking the yoimg before they leave the nest, and if not adofjted, all the hen will do, so long as the young brood is with her, is feed them and then sit on the edge of the nest and pluck every quill or feather out of their young bodies mitil they are as bare as the back of one's hand. When hens acquire this propensity, not only do they pluck every feather, but the new quills also, just as they shoot from the skin ; and if the 3-oungsters sm-vive such a trying ordeal they generally grow up miserable-looking objects. More often, however, they are eventually found one cold morning all dead, with the hen sitting- over them, or flying about the cage frantic for another nest-pan in which to start to build and lay again. Though we have known a hen pluck one brood and never touch a feather again, as a ride they are feather-pluckers and eaters of the worst character, and continue their nefarious game. Happily, such desperadoes are few, and where one does turn up, the method we have described is the only efficient remedy. Whether plucking takes place or not, it is always advisable to remove the young birds when the hen has laid Removal of j,ojiin, either into a nursery First Brood. " • , ;,. cage or to a partitioned-olr comjiartment of a double breeding cage. For although, as we have said, the young ones will not break the eggs when climbing over them, they make the clean nest in a deplorable mess with their droppings. Sometimes the eggs will be found covered with excreta and sticking together, and in the endeavour to clean them one or two generally get broken. Moreover, if the hen has commenced to 1^0 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Useful Cocks. sit again, it is anything hut pleasant to her to have four great youngsters, perliaps bigger than herselT. sitting in the nest witii lier, or even on top of her, as they will do. Some mothers will ])ut up with it. but such cases usually end in the clutch of eggs being " addled," if they are not broken when being cleaned. The plan recommended as a remedy for plucking should also be adopted with forsaken nestlings for Mhicli no iVjster - mother can be found, \\here the cock bird has been assisting to rear the brood. He will keep at it like a Trojan, to all ap|)carances liking the job. AVorth his weight in gold is a. good cock bird of this descri])tion, and if very fond of his bairns he will attend to them through the wires of the nursery and at the same time drive the hen — which has been left in the cage with him — oil to nest again, giving her a good " hiding " now and then for deserting her young and not helping him to rear them. Such cases are most interesting to watch, though it is much better not to be troubled with them. Such a good-natiu'cd cock bird may also be turni-d into a " (liyiit " with the young birds, ami he will keep his eye on them, and will always " ken his ain bairns." He will, however, not only look after his own, but any that ma\ not be quite aljle to look alter themselves in the flight, even though he may have never seen them before. It is very amusing to see the performance when the cock has been away for a while. ;ind the >onng arc Inuigry. 'I'hcy pounce upon him in a body, ^uul drive him into a corner, or })erha])s he retreats thither on strategic grounds ; and <'nsconccd I here. sup- ])ortc clamorous applicants, giving each his lair share, aiul never, in any circumstances, losing his temper. The mischievous practice of ])lucking is not confined to the hen, for we have known a few cock birds guilty of the practice, and they ha\e usiudly, though not always, learnt thewrctched habit from Cocks as ^ ^ J J Pluckers. the same jjrecaution must be taken, with this difference : if plucking is going on, and it is thought that the hen is not the culprit and she is a good feeder, remove the cock bird, and let the hen rear the brood by herself until they leave the nest, then place them in the nursery, and return the cock to the hen. In many such cases he will again I'csnmc his duties and assist to feed the young imtil they are able to look after themselves. Again, this mischievous habit of pluck- ing is not {)cculiar to the ])arents. but is frequently indulged in by Young Birds ^.j^^ ^^^^^j', ,jj,.j^ among and Plucking. , " , , , themselves when turned into the llight cage in groups. With them it takes, if possible, an even worse form, inasnuich as they do not content them- selves with ])lucking the small feathers, for which they have no use, but make the strouL;' (|uills of the wings and tail the object of their attack. Anyone whose acquaintance with feathers has been of even the most su])erlieial character will have noticed that when the stronger quills are growing they arc full of licjuid. and if accidentally drawn, the blood lollows in considerable quantity, \\hen the (]uili becomes matured, this ceases to be the case. It is when the young birds are first turned into the Might, and before the wings and tail and stronger feathers of the wing-coverts arc gro>vn their full length, thai llic |)crseciitiou is c.-irricd on. The mode of action is bcaufifully simple. A bird may be ol)servctl (piictly seatetl at the end of a ixfch. close to tlu- bai'k of the cage; he is a bird of a I'cliring dis- j)osition and mi'dilatiNc turn of mind, is very young, and the |)ro|>rietor of about one inch of tail. Some of his companions are older, and \crscd in the ways of a wicked world by at least fourteen days more experience. One of tluin sidles u|) to him in an insimiating sort of way, betokening mischief, and looks him over in HATCHING AND REARING an impertinent manner. He is a l)ird of delicate tastes, has a sweet tooth, and knows what is nice ; and will, if he goes on at his present rate, probably be soon a candidate for the sick ward. The way in which he pnts his head down and peers under and over little Verdant Green's tail is the embodiment of cool im])iidcnce ; and before one can see how the thing is done, out comes a juicy feather, which he turns over in his mouth like a choice cigar, evidently with a keen relish, and having finished it, marks his man down in a remote corner and repeats the operation. The appearance of the latest arrival's tail naturally attracts a considerable amount of attention, and the force of bad example is quickly apparent. There were but twelve feathers in the inch of tail to begin with, so as there are now two missing from one side, some friend commences on the other side to restore the balance ; and as birds do not usually do things by halves, they soon finish him up entirely, stripping him bare, literally not leaving him a feather to fly with — a most j^itiable spectacle, bleed- ing profusely from every wound. This is not in the slightest degree over-drawn, and it does not take long either to bring about the catastrophe- WTien a bird begins to be so maltreated, it must be removed at once, for its feathers will never be per- mitted to grow. It will live in a state of chronic nakedness, absolutely more bare than \\hen it issued from its shell. The trouble, too, will not stop here, for once the habit is acquired by one or two, the whole group in the „?" ^,.° flight become depraved, and. Plucking. " ' . unless checked, every bird in the flight will be practically stripped of feathers. Such a condition of afl'airs, if allowed to go on, has often a disastrous ending, for many of the birds die owing to their nude condition. Even when they do not succumb to such treatment, many malformed feathers grow in the tail and wings ; a tail feather grows wrong side up or turned half side-ways, through the cell from which the feather grows having been injured by repeated plucking. This misplaced tail feather throws all the others out of their natural fold, and the bird is rendered totally unfit for the show bench. The same deformity will occur at times in a wing, and therefore an equally sharp eye must be kept on young birds in flights, and any attempt at ])lucking nip]ied in the bud, by removing, not the bird that may have lost a feather or two, but the bird that plucked those feathers out. The scam]) must be isolated, for when once he has had a taste of the blood in the feather he will continue the habit, and his removal to a cage by himself will not only effectually stop the plucking, but jjrevent others acquiring the habit, which, in young birds, one sex is just as guilty of as the other. Possibly another may take up the rimning as soon as one culprit has been removed, so a sharp look-out shoidd be kept. This vice is a common one mitil the moult is over, and a bunch of shepherd's purse or seeding chickweed — with practically no leaves on it, but just full of seed — or a ninnber of plantain seed stalks fixed between the wires of the cage in various parts for them to strip, will often prevent plucking amongst young birds. Another remedy is to tie a number of short lengths of twine or tape to the wires of the cage. Young birds must have something to play with for the first few months of their lives, and they will spend hours pulling and tugging at such things as we have mentioned instead of their companions' feathers. This digression on plucking has thrown us off our track a little, but remem- The Second Brood. bering that oiu* hen going to nest for her second " round " was the occasion of it, brings us to our starting-point again. As at the close of autunm the seasons appear to overlap each other, and the gardener in the pursuit of his calling seems to wish to do two things at the same time, and occupy the same piece of groimd with two crops, so we seem to want to do two things at the same time in our cage. We want the hen to be 1^2 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS attending to one brood and laying tlie I'oundation lor a second : and we want the cock also to he in two places at once • — that is. with the nest oT youngsters as well as with the hen. The only way to effect a coni])roniise is by ruiniing liini in with his hen for a short time, night and morning. For once a hen has gone to nest, and had a clutch of eggs and a young brood, she will continue to lay at regular intervals, so si^on as the broods can do for themselves or nearly so, if a nest is allowed her. This is the case whether the cock be with her onlv at intervals or permanently. i\Iany hens, in fact, would continue to lay at regular intervals right through the senson, when once they have started, without seeing the cock, but of course the eggs would tlien be unfertile. If the cock is run into the hen's cage night and morning as advised, her eggs will be fertile ; half an CocKs and j^,,,,,. j.,,^,,^ ^j,,,^. ^^.j,, ^,^^_ Young Birds. or even less, and then he can spend tiic rest of the day with his young family in another cage, attending to their wants until they can ])ick up food foi' thcmscl\"cs. Where a hen goes to nest a second time before the young can thus fend for themselves, some cocks, unless so shut olT witli the youngsters, though the very best of feeders while the lien assists to Iced, sto]) doing so when ilic hen docs, and frolic nbout willi her. building the nest insfi:id of attending to the hungry bniod. J{y this method both cages can he kepi going successfully, and the hen can gisc all her attention to her new nest without ha\ing the care of the young brood. This, of course, refci's to where a cock is running with one hen only, and renianis with her while she is rearing (he young. When she has laid the third egg of her new clnlch lie can be I'cnioved altogether, and jiul in constant charge of the young birds, which, by the lime the hen is irad\' lo hatch hci' new brood, will be (piite able to do without him altogel hi-l'. and he can be allowed to return to the hen. This is, perhaps, the best place for a few hints on the common and sometimes necessary plan of running One CocK — , , \ ±. s. \ fii „ „ one cock to two hens, lo 1 wo Mens. do this some breeders use a three-compartment breeding cage, of which the end compartments are IS or 20 inches long, the centre one 11 inches: height, the usual 1.5 or 10 inches, and depth from front to back 10 or 11 inches. The two wood partitions which separate the comjiartments are movable, and ha\e two smaller slides or ])artitious cut in them at the front, just above the level of the perches, which can be closed with a small wooden slide or have a small wire partition inserted as occasion necessitates. These cages are otherwise put together as was described in the chapter on cage- making. The object of having these two small partitions cut in the large ones, and fitted with small wire as well as wooden partitions, is, that when running a cock with two hens the cock at the commencement of the season can be put in the centre com- ])artment, with a hen in each of the end ct)ni|)artmcnts. l?y this means the cock can see both hens thai he is intended to I'un with through the wires on cither side of him. and so get familiar with both at the same time, before being ))laccd with cither. Aftc'r a week or so of this separation he is lei Ihroiigh to the most forward hen ol' the two. The small wire partition is remoxcd that separates the other hen. and the wooden one inserted in its ]ilaee. so that hen No. 2 is shut olT entirely from the sight of the cock. 'I'hiis his whole attention is devoted to the hen willi which he is running until she has gone to iiest. \Mien \(i. 1 hen has laid, and com- menced to sit. the cock is then run into the centre comparlmenl for a day, and the sinall wii-c j)artition inserted between him and lieu \o. '2. so that he may again l)ecome familiar with her. lie is. of coui'sc, now shut olT entirely from hen \o. 1, and on the following tlay is let through to his new kne. HATCHING AND REARING 133 It is maintained !>}' many fanciers that this arrangement prevents much quarrelHng between the cock and the two hens. This is doubtless the case where the cock's nature is to chng to one hen, for birds' temperaments differ, but where such Httle When No. 2 hen has laid her com])Iemcrit of eggs, and commenced to sit, the cock is then run back into the centre compart- ment by himself, and the small wooden partitions kept closed on either side. Our illustration of this specially constructed THREE-COMPARTMENT BREEDING CAGE. differences take place they are as a rule cage shows its excellent arrangement for not of long duration if both of the birds the work it is intended for. The comjmrt- are in good breeding condition. Many ments at either end of this cage are, of cocks will allow themselves to be trans- course, fitted up with nests and other ferred from one hen to another without breeding requisites in use in ordinary showing the slightest resentment. It is breeding cages. THREE-CO.NU'ARIMENT BREEDING CAGE WITH PARTITIONS REMOVED. MAKING A USEFUL FLIGHT CAGE where a cock is inclined to be spite- All that has been previously written ful that the three-compartment cage will now apply to the future management, will be found very useful for obviating The cock may either be allowed to take friction. part in feeding, or not, as circumstances 1,34 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS demand ; il' the hen feeds badly, run in the wire slide, and repeat the arrange- ments already deseribed. Arrangement -,-,,^, ^.^^j. ^^.-{^ ,,,, equally for a Double Brood. ready lor any other emer- geney, and ean be run in, fii'st to one and tlieii to the othci'. to assist in feeding, and will eyentually take charge of one or both nests in the eentre compartment, from which they will in due time be traiislVrrcd to a larger flight, and the business begun de novo. With the jiartitions removed one of these three-eomjiartment cages makes an excellent flight, as shown in our next illustration. This method of working may have sug- gested itself if the reader has carefully read our previous instructions ; but we give it in detail, because it is a useful ])lan when there is but one cock of any jiartieular variety, and it is desired to make the most of him. and most cocks will readily fall in with such duties. Of course, there are occasionally birds that will do more mischief than good by maltreating the young. When any show such a spiteful disposition thej' must be debarred access to the young birds. We have mentioned the mating of one cock to two hens oidy, but he may be paired with thi'ce or even more under similar methods ; but it is advisable not to over-work a hird, and whcne\er a cock is called u])on to lun with moi'c than two liens, lie should not t:ike .-iiiy p;irt in rearing the young. From the time tliiit the young Canai'y leaves the nest, it makes rapid strides towai'ds indc|)en(lcnce. It Nursery ^^^^^^^ ^^|. ,,t.(.essitv spend reeding. ' some days in a mu'sery cage l)efore l)cing turned into tlie (light to shift for itself, as it has to pass through a sort ol' inlermcdiate stage, and imdergo what is c(|niyalcnt to n weaning jirocess. To carry this out the utility of s])arc cages. in which groups u\' young birds, equalh' advanced, can be ])l:iced. will be ohyious. Hitherto their food has consisted almost entirely of the egg-mixture, with just a very little crushed hemp-seed sprinkled over the top of some canary-seed, and a pinch of Germaii rajic, which nuist still be continued, though the (|uantity of egg must be gradually decreased, the object to be attained being to get the birds on hard seed as speedily as jiossible. As soon as they are on the jicrch they will begin to pick at the soft food, though at first they will not be able to attend en- tirely to their own wants, hence the value of the mu'scries attached to the breed- ing cages. It is not, however, desir- able to keep them in leading-strings a day longer than necessary, but at the same time they must not be allowed to starve. Young birds with but few exceptions can feed themselves well at the age of four weeks, and man}' even a day or two before this, jirovided egg-food and the little crushed seed just mentioned be su]i]ilied them in shallow vessels in the nursery cage from the time they are placed in it, though it may be some few days before they can really do entirely for themselves. Never forget to give fresh water daily, hanging the glass on the outside of the nursery cage in front of the water hole. The youngsters will even in the early days make a very rcsj)eetable attemjit at ]>ieking up for themselves ; The Hunger ,^^,^ .,,.^^.,, .^ ^^|,j|^, ^._^,^^^^ ^j^^ Cry. ... noisy chu'ping and begging. If not attendeil to they soim I'eel the ill effects of neglect, and rutlle up their feathers in a way indical i\i' of nnu'h dis- eond'ort. Just in projiort ion as they have still the craving to he fed will they evince but small desire to assist theinsclycs; ;nid when once they feel the ])inch and begin to elamom-, they will refuse to help themselves. Ilmiger at this stage of their lives uvV/ not drive Ihntt to search for Jood_ but to beg for it : and the demand must be satislied. IJy degrees, and rnpid degrees, they clamour less and help themselves more, and every hour then mnkes the matter casiei' : but np to the last, no young bird must be allowed to cry for food without the cock l)eiug at onee ])er- niitted to jfive it a meal. Wlicn its hunger HATCHING AND REARING i^ JD is satisfied, it is much more likely to visit the egg-i'ood than before ; and the philosoijhy of the whole thing consists simply in the bird being ultimately able of itself to keep its appetite in check, and hence it cries no more. But remember that so long as it does cry, it must have that cry attended to in the way Nature intended it should be, the cry being indicative of a still existing necessity. The whole process does not last long, and the visits of the faithful cock will soon be few and far between. It will be seen that we have all along been supposing a brood to have been re- moved from the breeding A Variable Q^aQ ^t a comparativelv Rule. 1 • <• early age, m consequence oi apprehended ill-treatment ; but this is not the invariable rule, by any means. The hen as frequently as not goes to nest quietly, and the cock has then nothing to do but to continue his attentions to the young ones, either in the nursery or in another cage, so that the hen may sit in peace, and also for the safety of her eggs, and by the time the cock has educated the previous brood to provide for them- selves the hen will be on the eve of hatching the next. This is the way to make fine birds ; they never want for a moment, and ne\cr seem to feel the isolation which attends their being put on the other side of the front door, while poor old paterfamilias tells them as he drops the portcullis : " You see, there is a second family coming on. If you require anything, call to me and I will supply you ; but j-ou must do your best to shift for yourselves en- tirely as soon as possible." Canary life has its parallels. Canary-seed is, of course, the staff of life, but a variety of other seeds can be used in moderation with Preparation ]-,p„pfit The cofTee-mill of Seed. will come into use now ; it can be set to grind fine, or merely to crush, doing, in fact, little else than crack the husk — a feat the young bird cannot accom- plish for itself for the first week or so, even though it is feeding freely on the egg- food. Some fanciers crush all the seed — • canary, rape, and hemp alike ; but we have never adopted such a method, as if the canary and rape are crushed they usually go to a meal, and in this condition it simply lies in the seed-hopper, a,nd the young birds only pick over the top of it. Indeed, they do not like the hemp-seed even crushed into a meal, but prefer it with the husk just cracked, so that they can nibble out the kernel. Our plan is to give the canary-seed with a pinch of German rape uncrushed, and just crack the husk of a little hemp- seed as described. It should be crushed fresh each day, as, if a quantity of it is done at a time, it is liable to become rank, and so set up infiammation of the bowels in the birds. We sprinkle a little crushed hemp-seed fresh daily over the top of the canary and rape — though some fanciers we know give it in a separate vessel. We have, however, found our method excellent for inducing youngsters to learn to crack whole seeds, as, after they have devoured all the crushed hemp in the hopper, they go freely on to the canary and rape, and from almost the first day peg away at it until they manage to crack it. In the event of a small coffee-mill or other seed crusher not being among a breeder's possessions, the husk of the hemp can be cracked by sjireading some seed on a table, and passing a stout, round glass bottle or the good hou:iewife's rolling-pin, over it, using a little pressure. A few split groats may also be added to the seed at this early period ; in fact, they will do no harm if continued in modera- tion. One lesson is sufficient for the youngsters to learn at a time, so their egg-food and seed should be placed in a prominent place, and the water vessel, though himg on the outside, should be placed in a good light and where the birds can get to it without difficulty. After a couple of weeks' careful treatment in this way in a cage of the size of a single breeding 136 CAiNARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS cage — iinlil. indeed, the young hii-ds get fairly well n, the breeder i'e(|nii'es nothing more than a sharj) pair of small scissors to enal)le him, with the exercise of a little ingemiity, to contrive a set of notches re])resenting numbers corres])ond- ing with the miml)er of the cages, and to indicate also the fact of the bird having belonged to the first, second, third, oi- fourth nest, thus gi\ing its age to a week. The notched wing becomes, in fact, the ])ri\ate index to the st(K-k-book. Another method is to stam]i the inner web of the wing feathers with a number by means of a small rubber stamp in which the numbers can be regulated as required. Some such method is necessary in a room in which breeding means something more than putting up so many ]),-iirs of birtls every year without any regard to their parentage, and with no more delinite end in view than pro- ducing as many young ones as possible. Such is not what a laneier means by breeding. Tie will have been endeavouring to build with material of which he knows something, and in that endeaxdur has not been groping in the dark and trusting to elianee. He has been keeping lieFore him one object, and all his work tends in that direction. He has planned to produce certain results, now and in the future, and these results must be chronicled in some way to guide him in his work. Here ."ii'e several l)irds wliieli, to anyone else ])ut himself, sim|)ly mean Canaries. They are \cry nnieh alike, so much so that he can scarcely tell one lYoni the other: but to him each re{)resents some link in ;i chain he is forging, some stone dressed and eai\-ed into shajic, and destined to till a particular niche in the little cdilice he has designed : and each should be duly mai'ked anil mindxrc-d, so that, when reui;li tiic crucible, and are intended to be conil)ined with other elements, also dnly labelled and marked with sniidry liicr()i;ly|»liics iiidi- catinij their character, whence sprnn<^', and what capable ol' cITcctinff. There must be no conl'iisidii and no mistakes — nothing' left to memory ; every bird's j)edigree and ajj'e should be registered on the bird itself. The reason we prefer the ring is because it is handy for reference at all ages of the l)ird, whereas with both the notching and marking of the wing feathers, since these feathers are shed by the birds, the mai'ks are lost after the first season. It is then dillieult to recognise special birds. |)articularly those with clear |)lumage. Sonic fanciers use enormous flight cages, 7 or 8 feet long, ti or more feet high, and (if like \\idth. into which tlicy turn thii'ty or forty youngsters. These ma \' scrxc fur cdunnon Canaries to frolic abmit in (tlidugh we are not c(in\incc(l th;it tlic\' ai'c best even fur llicsc). but wc lung ago decided that smaller lliglit cages with fewer inmates are pid'crablc for high-class slock. J{y smallci' lliglils. wc mean cages 4 or .5 feet long. 1(> or IS inches high, and 10 or n inches wide. If ten or twelve youngsters arc put in such (lights they will do inlieli lieller. The linbil of |)liicking is also not so pre\alen1 ;nnongst small groups as when lar'ger Tunubcrs ai'c kc|)t together. They can get plenty of exercise to (lexclop their fr:ime. wilhonl it being exhaust i\i-. ;uh1 .i h.-ickw :ird bird. morco\cr. stands a nnieli belter cli.'ince of gainint'' strenglli and gener;d condition where nund)ers ar-e limited. In llie first eight weeks of young birds" lives these two fuel ors arc esseni \:\ 1. Wc arc not alone in otu' views on the advantages of the smaller llights. Mr'. I!. I.. Crisp, of Chelsea. I he well-known bleeder .md exhibitor of ^dI•kshires, and Ml. .1. 'I'yson, of Chelsea, I lie noted Crest fancier, not only share our opinions on Over= crowding this ])oint, but have backed them up by having their very large flights made smaller. jMr. C. L. Qiiinton, of (Jrcat V:uinoutli. one of our oldest breeders of CiTinamons, Norwich, and Crests, also adopts such llights for the young, and also for moulting his bii-ds in. The rcatler nuist reinend)er that when we refer to large flights we do not refer to aviaries proper. Over-crowding, too, nnist l)c avoided, in either large or medium size flights, and ample ])ereh accommodation provided. Perches, however, should not be too close to- gether, as if one bird can reach the tail of anotlu'r standing on an opposite perch, the tcmjitation will often induce it to pluck the tail fi'athers out. It is the want of ample ])erch I'oom that fi'e(|iunt ly leads to ()uarrclling and mischief. JJiids like their own particular corners and i)lacis to sit and roost in. and conmience cai'ly in life the business t>t elbowing their ncigh- boui's who get in their way. When there is space at command, another kind of con- struction is oltcn arranged called by many fanciers a " flight."' but which in I'cality is an a\ia!'\. A portion of the bird-room is parlilioncil olT and enclosed with w ii'c netting. .Such a place rc(|uires no descrip- tion, as it nnist be left entirely to circum- stances: but ;i little ingenuity, a lew stri|)s of wood, and .-i few ynrds of Hiie gaUanised nelling. nii\<'d up jinlicioiisly, ought to do a great dc.-il. ( )l' course, in such a con- struction (lie door iiiiisl lie made kirge cnouLlli to ;illo\\ :\ person lo |iass in to caleli birds. clc;in out :ind pcrrorni other duties: but young birds ought iii-obabh' be I'onnd iiidiealions ol' wasting, ;ind more or h ss of inllaniniation about the abdomen, arising from the presence of unwholesome and un- digested l'o(;(l, causing generjil denuigc- incnt of the system. This may h;i.\'e been induced, in the first ))lace, by the biid eating stale or sour (yg-mixtur-c, or from I)artaking too freely of such delicacies as may ha\'c been introduced into the llight from time to lime. .Xnd it means " iji-oing home ■" speedily, if some jirompt remedial nu'asnrcs are not ap|)licd. Young birds are more susce]itiblc to these attacks from the age of five or six weeks until they haxc got nicely away with the moult than tluv are at an\' othei- pciiod, and we ha\c found from long cx))erience that much of the mortalit\' (hu-ing the ))eriod men- tioned can be wanhd oil by a little regulation in feeding. If egg-food be given e\-ei-v other day instead of daily, and bread soaked in scalding milk- allowing the bread to lie in the milk in a solid ])icce UTitil cold, and so absorb as much of the milk as it will — is given on alternate or every third day, and the egg-food on the intermediate days, with the seed, of cour.se, daily in addition, much can be done to ward oil' the malady, 'j'lic bri'ad and milk has a ri'laxing but nol purgative tendency on the young bii'ds bowels, and, consopicnt ly. is soolliing to the lender iuleinal parts, anil at the same tiuic is nourishing. The laic Mr. W. A. Blakston spoke of the great nurtality among young t)irds at the age we mention, bul rccouuiieuded as a i'eme(l\ purgatiNcs and cod-liver oil, the cllieicney of a bread and milk diet to combat tlu' malady not being then known. W'l' were among the lirst . if not actually Ihc lirst. to .•i(l\-ocate. through the colmnns of 77/c Fiathcrcd World and its olTshoot ('(iniiri/ iniil Cage-Bird Lijc, this method o\ feeding, experience having taught us its great benefits ; thousands of HATCHING AND REARING 141 Further Treatment. j'oung birds have been saved where it has been adopted. If any young birds in the flight or aviary go wrong the}^ should at onee be removed to a cage by themselves, and ])iit on bread and milk entirely IV)r three or four days ; no otiicr food or seed should be given, but a suliicient supply of the bread should, of course, be allowed for the dail}- consumption. It should be made fresh each morning. In very severe cases we have found one drop of syrup of buckthorn, given direct into the beak, and five drojis of tincture of gentian, added to two ounces of drinking water fresh daily, in addition to the bread and milk diet, assist in a wonderful way to bring the patient back to good health. The bird can then be gradually put on to the usual diet again. If the weather is cold and chilly, the removal of such birds to a warm room has a most beneficial effect. As a general precautionary measure we may say that, in our opinion, the prin- cipal ailments of young birds arise from derangement of the digestive organs and inflammation, and that is our reason for emphasising the need of careful attention to tlieir dieting. A LOOK ROUND. An Interesting Fhotograph of a Hami-rcarCLi Tlirush by Mr. J. Bti/^hty, 0/ Clapham. BIKD-KOO.M OF MK. T. IKONS. NOK THAM I'TON. The lower cages are eminently suitable tur flight cages lor moulting. CHAPTER XII THE CANARY'S PLUMAGE AND MOULTING Signs of Moulting. iiioiilt inii. If we say of a, Canary that the cock is more sprightly and vivacious than the hen, we nuisl have a. correct idea of the native sprigiit hness or vi\'acity of each before we can recognise one oi' other by this (|uality. 'riun, again. \ ivacious- ncss (iilTei's to a m.irkcd decree in varie- ties. Crests, to wit. do not dispias' the sprightly movements of the more lightK" feathered \ai-ietics, hut then the sex of this variety is easily recognised by thi' experienced breeder hy l^lie marked dilTcr- enee in the texture of the feat her in each. l''or this I'cason we feel Ihal the hcst description we could gi\(' would necessarily be obscure to the general reader in I he absence of living specimens to illustr;ilc il. ;md the breeder himscir will at lirsl. pcrha|)s, fail to discover some of the more sid)lle distinctions. If the brcedci' be a close ol)scr\(r. liowe\cr. experience will make even these Ml lie dilTci-cnccs easil\- discernible to him. There will not be found niiirh (lilTcrcnee in regard to the colour of the nest feathers of the young birds of either sex in the flight, though the cocks generally show better in this res|)eet. and especially the Wllows, where the l)righter shade of colour is more discernible than among Colour |^i,f. liuHs. The use of these Distinctions , , , , in Sex. t"'^* terms almost lands us in another digression, which, however, we will avoid !)>■ a sim])le general statement — viz. that with the exception of one or two varieties of Canaries in which the colour is certainly not what even a novice would call yellow or Caiiai'y colour, oi' anything like it, every bird in the lliL;lit. whether clear in colour OI- \ariegated with green or a shade of green, will l)e found to be in its body- coloui' wliat we will, for the sake of sim- ])lieity. call either yellow or white: not exactly. j)erha|)s. but sullieiently so to meet our statement. IMie yellower coloured birds are what are technically known as " Vcllc)ws."' and the whitei' ones as " BuiTs." Hut this whitish buif colour is faintly shaded or tinged with a lemon shade of yellow over the surface, especially on the shoulders, cheeks, and forehead, the general body colour being of a whitish buff. Whereas those calK'd " \'ellows '" have a distinctly richer shade of yt-llow all over the body, though in their nest leathers the yellow shade is by far the richest on the butts of the wings and head, hut at the same time the general l)od\ is free from the whitish bull' shade found on the Hull's, 'i'he Might and tail feathers of both colours are a bullish shade: it is the short body feathers that j'oi'm the guide lo the colour of the bird, though the outer fringe of the web of the wing feathers is, as a rule, a shade richer in the 'SCIIows than in the IJnlTs. The inex|)erieTiced person usually calls these dillerent shades of colour " I'ieh yellows "' and '" |>ale yellows " : the brci'der's term is "yellow"" ;nid '"bull." .\nd wc say. in resuming the thread of oiM' de- scription, that though there is a dilTerence in the colour of the sexes e\en in their nest feathers, it is not so easily seen in the l?ulTs or whity liei' iiop and ])osition he is powei'less to escape, solt '■ cheep " ; or, lailiny that, by Ikt There is no way ol' dclei-niiniiiu' Ihe trne head and eye. age of a Canary. exce])t oT young birds ol' Possilily nnieh ol' this may seem to the the cui-rcnt season's brec-d- Lininitiated to point to distinctions without Age Dis= inn. ThcN are distinguished a diiTerence; but, as we *inctions in ],v their n.iUrcolound wino Adult *^^ Wing ' Differences ^^">^^''i <^^ ^'^^ outset, some Feathers. leathers, the greater ])ortion ol' the distinctions arc subtle. ol' which they do not moult and such as only cxjierience and accurate in the lirst season, 'riiese wing Teat hers, obser\'ation can determine. They exist, c;dlcd " secondaries," "" ])rimaiies. " and however, and to the educated eye are '" spnrious (|uills." are indicated in the palpable enough, and in mastering them diagram ol' the body ol' a small biid on lies the dilTei-cnce between judge and no page 148. The palei' colour of the ^^ in;; judge. In young birds these distinctions I'eathers referred to is more pronounced develop more prominently alter the moult : alter the young bird has had its autumn but in the case of adult birds a mistake moult, though an observant eye may even need scarcely ever ))e made. es]:)eeially in then be deceived in natural-coloured birds, the spring, or when the birds are in con- So pronounced, however, is the dilTcrenee (Htion, as an examination of the \ent l)etween a \oung and old colour-red bird will quickly decide the (|Ui-stioii. That of — imless the voungster has had its tliglit Ihe hen is small, and in the same feathers plucked out- that the nicresi .straight line with the body, while that no\ice need have no dillicully in detecting of tlie male bird is more |)roniinently which is which, once the diiTeiince lias been developed, and as a rule has ,i teuiUiiey |)ointed out to him. Alter their infantile to curve inwai-d. especially when a bird moult these young birds are called by is in full breeding condition. fanciers '■indiiglited "" bii-ds until tlic next In this connection there is an art in year's moult, when they shed the wing catching and holding a bird when an\' feathei's as well as the slioit body leallKi's, examination is i'e(|uircd. and eomi- under t he eategoi'y of adull birds. a Canarv 'I'liere shoidd be no hurry though they ha\'e then done lluii- lirst oi- Muster, but a sharj), season's breeding. dccisi\-e poimce, and when you lia\i- him 'I'he mark of age follows with this: after be sur.' you kecj) him. Hut do not grip the lirst year the scales on the legs become 1o injuie him : i)ettcr let him go and havi.- larger and coarser, and a another tr\- tli:iii do this. 'I'o examine ^^ \car-old specimen of an\ either l)ack or breast, lay the bird in the \ariety whic'h does not carry palm of the hand, wilh the thund) across signs of it s age in il s |)linnage can generally Ihe neck; it e.amiot escape, and il' Ihe be told in this \\a\. though some bii'ds ])i'essure of the thumb is on Ihe foi'clingcr would ])u/./.le t he best judges, ^'ear-old birds allowing jusi snUicienl space for Ihe bird's with their second moult are looked upon neck, but so that il cannot slip its head .as being at llieii- \ei'y best, for while tlie\- through, the bc'dy can be gi\(ai perFeel inoidl out as priniK as Ihose that are a freedom, kiting the palm of Ihe h.and '.eason xonnger, I hey (the o\-er-year birds) beai' its weight. ai'e nioi'i- furnished in plumage. h;i\ iiiL'' If two biiils be held ill this ii'.anner il al l.aiiied t heir second Might feat hers and lai! is the besi , .■iiid, indeed, the only wa\. feathers with their richer lint of colour, to ari'ixe ;il a correct eslmi.ale ol' Ihe which iii\(s a Hiiish not possessed b\ the relative colours. To hold a bird seeiireK i)ir(l which has oiiK had its inl'aniile moult. THE CANARY'S PLUMAGE AND MOULTING 147 A Cruel Practice. The reason, by tlic \\ay. why "" iin (liylited "' classes were introduced into exhibitions, was to do away with tlie barbarous practice of drawing the flight and tail leathers of young birds. This was done for tiie ))urpose of obtaining the richer tint in these featliers in the first season, instead of waiting for its advent in the natural way witii tiie second moult, and to make it possible to compete in the first year on a level footing with older birds. Happily this cruel practice is now looked u])()n with horror by most breeders, and we are certain it will never be revived by anyone possessing a spark of humane feeling. The pain caused to the birds, no matter how skilled the operator, was beyond description, while many of the poor things had to hobble about the bottom of the cage until the flight feathers grew sufticiently long to enable them to use their wings again. Turning again to oiu- leg-guides to age, it is not easy to define clearly in what the difference actually con- Leg . . r»:ff„-^„^^» sists, but we think a iudge Uiiierences, « ^ coidd pick out the two or three matured specimens in a group of twenty, and feel pretty sure he had hit the right nail on the licad in every instance. As a rule, the skin of the leg and toes of a yoimg bird is unich finer in tcxtui'c, and has a more tender, fleshy aj)pear- ancc tlian tliat of a year-old or older bird, wliieh has a more horn-like sur- face, that almost verges on a scaley roughness, especially on the top of the toes. The toe-nails of a young bird are also much finer and brighter flesh-coloured than those of an old bird, while the blood vein down the centre (called the " quick '") comes farther down the nail of a yoimg bird than in the case of an old one. There are exceptions, however, and some old l)ir(ls carry their age with such juvenile smartness and finish tliat they puzzle the best of judges. On the other hand, some j'oungsters very quickly develop these marks of age. In judging age, therefore, it hclioves us to move with caution, and above all, to take the bird's health into con- sideration, as this at times very matcriallv alters the appearance of the legs in regard to increased roughness. We now come to the main subject- matter of this chapter — viz. moulting. We have preferred to explore Moulting. I, , some of the small by-paths as we have come to them, knowing that when followed to their termination we should have to turn back, and there was no chance of our losing ourselves or coming out upon the main stream lower down, and leaving some portion of it behind unexamined. We think the questions we have just dis- cussed would be most likely to arise in the mind of the fancier at this stage of his experience, and have, therefore, en- deavoiu-ed to dispose of them in further- ance of our )ilan, rather than leave a number of miscellaneous items for after-discussion. The phenomenon of moulting is a won- derful provision of Nature, common to all animals whose outer covering consists of hair, feathers, or other analogous forms. The bare mention of this fact seems to open out at once a wide field for thought, u.jion which, however, we must not ventin-e to trespass one inch. We use the word in its generally accepted significance, as re- ferring to the annual shedding of the feathers of birds, which, besides beino- of use as an outer covering, are destined for other jnirposes. for the accomplishment of which the>- reqiure to be kept in a state of con- stant repair and efficienc}'. As a livery, only one suit is allowed in the year, and this suit is apt to get much injured by wear and tear, as well as in the broils and vicissitudes through which it has to pass. Some parts of it will bear patching and repairing ; but as it gets old and worn-out there appears to be a limit even to this, and the wearer has often to go in rags and tatters, with portions of his body none too well covered. One condition on which the new livery or coat of feathers is granted is that the old one shall be entirely cast away ; and in the exercise of nuich kindness and wisdom it is supplied 148 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Various Feathers. just at the time when it is most required, substance is, especially in the upper or We naturally inquire: What is this more coloured and frjossy ))ai-t of the covering formed or. what are its constituent feathers, coniljined with oils and metallic elements, and what its com- substances in very minute ])ro])ortions ; ^!?^°.l' '°" iionent parts ? Mudie, in his but in the down and light-coloured feathers of Feathers. ' ' " " British Birds," says that it is nearly pure." " the feathers of birds, the coverintjs of In giving definitions of the component tlie feathcrlcss i)arts. and even the beak parts, IMudie refers to the " car-covcrts, which consist of certain .solt feathers covering the external organ of h e a r i n g. T h e s c a ji II I a r s, o r feathers which cover the shoulders and shoidder-bones, and the places where the Inimcri, or first bones of the wing, answering to the bones of the human arm ab(ne the elbow, are ar- ticulated. They unite with- out nuich distinction with the common feathers of the back, and along with those of the wings and the sides. The scapular feathers serve only as a clothing to the jiarts they cover, l)ut they form a thick and comparatively downy co\cr- ing, which, while it admits of easy motion, preserves the im|)()rtant joints which it coAcrs from the changes of the weather. The hasiard icing consists of a greater or smaller number of feathers, bearing some re- semblance to the quills of the true wing. They grow from a little l)oiu' wiiich is the third joint of the lesser zi-ing-covfrl.s are the the plumage of the wings, all birds take the form and lirm feathers. There are generally several rows of them : and tliere are the iinilrr-covcrls which answer to them, and line Hie undci' or inner side o! the wings : but these are more slender and downy in their consistence, and, ORNirnOIOGICAL KtGIONS OF THE liODY OF A SMALL BIRD 1. Upper mandihle. 2. Lower mandible. 3. Nnstrils. 4. Ridge, ur culmen. 5. Commissure, or cutting edfjcs of the mandibles. 6. Apex or point of the beak. 7. 1 lie chin. 8. Upper throat 9. Keel, or gonys. 10. ' (^)loured hands usually 11. I called Hridles and Stripes. 12. The forehead. \?i. rhe gape, or riclns. 14. Space round the eye. 15. I fiwer throat. 16. Superciliary region. 17. Clown, suMiniit, or vertex. IS. Hind head, or verts. 26. Lower back or terguni. 27. The shoulder. 28. Body, or lower breast. 2'). The bellv. .W. The vent. .^1. The tail feathers ?2. The under lail-coverls. .T^. Spurir)us quills. 34. Sec^i. The laisus. or kg. •10. fht h.,nt tms. 41. Ihc hinder toe. or hallux. 42. Upper tail-coverts. to The first jiart ()1 whieh in of d( liiiile and claws. ;iic all, chemically speaking, united formed ol' nearly the same materials ; wing, and nemly the same with the hair and cuticle ol all animals, and tven witli the epidermis whiili (•o\-ers li\ ing shells. This material is coagulated albumen, or nearly the same substance as white of egg when consolidated by heat, in which state it better resists the action of water than almost any other flexible substance. Tlus THE GAiNARY'S PLUMAGE AND MOULTING 149 generally spcakino-. have less colour. The greater iving-cmmis, which lie under the lesser ones, and are still larger and stronger, stretch a considerable way over the quills or flying feathers, and are sujiports to these for a greater part of their length than the lesser coverts. They are also nnicli stronger in ]5ro}iortion to the coverts which answer to them on the under sides of the wings. The primaries, or principal quills, which form the termination of the wings are the strongest feathers in the bird. They rise from the hand, or that position of the wings which is below the wrist- joint, and which, though it sometimes contains three ilistinct bones in its length, is frequently called the first bone of the wing. These feathers are niniibered in order ; the outer one, or that which is foremost in the ex- panded, or lowest in the closetl wing, is the first. The xeeoudaries, or second quills of the wing, arise from that part of the wing which is commonly called the second bone, and which answers to the forearm in man. They come from it towards the wrist-joint, and admit of a folding of the wing between them and the primaries, when the wing is closed. \A'hcn the wing is open they sometimes appear a combination of the same cui've with the ]M'imaries, ' as is the case in the wing of the C'anarj',' and at other times they form a distinct curve of their own. And the lertiaries, or third qiulls of the wing, arising chiefly from the same bones as the secondaries, but nearer to the elbow- joint. " From the manner in which the several coverts support each other, and the quills, the wing is a finer combination of lightness, strength, elasticity, and stiffness than could be produced by any other means. These coverts suj^iJort and admit of motion upon each other, not unlike that which takes place in a coach-spring." Continuing the description of the re- maining portion of the feathers, we have the " Rump-jeathers and upper lail-coverfs, the first being a continuation of the covering of the back, and the second the support of the tail-feafiiers on the upper side, being strong in proportion as the tail- feathers are adapted for action in fl>ing ; the vent-jeathers and under tail-coverts, which cover the hinder part of the bird ; and lastly the tail-jeathers. which require no reference beyond saying how well NatiuT has ordered everything for use, in that the tail and longest wing feathers have by far the strongest stems to enable them to carry out the work intended for them, the wings for flight, and the tail as a rudder, " The other feathers arc to be considered rather as the clothing of the bird than as active instruments in its flight. These ordinary feathers are imbricated — that is, placed one over the edges of two — as slates are in covering a roof. The lines in which the several rows of feathers are j^laced form very ciu'ious curves, and their shafts diverge or converge so naturally, and \vith such perfect agreement, to the surface they cover, that no line of separation can be traced," AVe have given these definitions and interesting descriptions in full, and Mould strongly advise the fancier who has not already done so to familiarise himself with them, and, by comi)aring them with the features presented by his own specimens, verify their accuracy ; feeling satisfied that the little scrap of knowledge thus gained will prove of service by and b\', and enable him to follow closely descriptions in which the use of recognised nomenclature may be adopted. Our book is essentially homely, and we have no intention of taking a very scientific view of any question, but it is as well to call things by their right names, and to know what is meant when we use them. We have already briefly pointed out in our remarks at the commencement of this chapter that no sjiecial treatment is necessary in general moulting. It is a jirovision of Nature ; ai'.d though instances will occur in every breeding-room in which the functions are impeded, and the opera- tion retarded and sometimes altogether checked, yet these cases arc not frc(|uent Treatment in Moulting. i5f> CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS eiK)Ugli to jiisliiy US ill clnirjK-li rising the moult as being sucli a critical iicriod in a bird's liistory as to cause any serious apprclionsioii as to the I'csult. We have ah-eady alhided to tlie fact that " the fh'st moult is the iiuikiiii"' or other- wise oi' a young bird."' and thei-e is no doubt truth in the statement, as a bnd or impeded first moult is detrimental te. the bird's final stage ol' maturity. So that a good tree moult is dcsiral)le. and th.is is greatly assisted by gootl health, wh.ich is largely assured ')y sanitary sui'roundings, roouiy cages, and judicious I'ccding. 'i"he dietary at this period should lie canary-seed as a staple food, with a little (ierman rape added two or Moulting ,.^j.pp ^ji^^pg .^ ^^,^.pl^ ,^ jj^^.|p iJ'et. linseed, and oecasionaily just a j)iHch of niger-sced. These two latter seeds assist in giving a satin-like polish to the new fealhcrs, which all add to the finish and apju-aranee of the bird. A little cgg- I'ood should also lie given two or three times a, week right througli the moult. mixing with it a litlie maw-seed. It may be given daily if in such small ([iian- tities that it is eaten iij) in. say. the space ol half an iioiir- with beiicliei;d results. In regard to diet it should always be boi'ue in mind th;d oiii' birds .ire in a limited space, and we must regulate our food su|)ply accordingly : slimiilating foods can be gi\cn nmch more lihcially where birds have large a,\ iarics foi- lliglil, as Ihe exercise counteracts the ili-cnVcts which, would hillow such libcialily in llu- restricted area of a cage or ordinary lllght. Where birds arc not ))eing colour-fed, a little green food is also beuefioial daily in small quantities, such as j'oung lettuce or seeding chickwced. 'I'his latter they are very fond of. and dc\reaks the camers back, we do not think that the number of deaths in ))rcviously healthy subjects is greater than those which, can be directly traced to other causes. Person- ally, we never ex]ierienced the least dilli- cult\' in carrying our l)irds througli this period ; though, of course, we keep a sharp eye on them, and carry out om- regu- lations to the letter ; and we are of opinion tliat the idea of death is about the last which enters the mind of the cxj)erieuced breeder when he finds it time to take ids vouug stock in hand. Hcyond doubt there must be a strain on the system t(j produce the plumage, but it is all perfectly in obedi- ence to settled laws, and Nature docs not call on the bird for the effort without furnishing the munitions of war hi abundant supj)ly. and doing her best to maintain the healthy conditions necessary for the suceess- hil carrying out of the work. This i)rocess is sometimes spoken of as the moulting " sickness." but we tliink the term mis- ;ipplied : for the disposition to incubate and pcrfoi-m oilier duties is just as much a sickness, inasmuch as the i)ird retpiircs to be in an abnormal slate of body at the time. IJy sickness, we usually under- THE CANARY'S PLUMAGE AND MOULTING 151 stand a derangement of certain func- tions ; but we do not consider the ])he- noinenon results from any such cause ; it is a most perfect and healthy recog- nition of certain laws in the bird's economy. are two himdred and forty-eight cage-com- partments, separated by sliding partitions. Each compartment is the same size, and each front slips and unslips by a very simple arrangement of small brass buttons. The doors are all framed, and swing on We furnish on this page an illustration of beads, so as to afford no hiding-place for the interior of a great Norwich firm's moult- parasites between the door-frames and ing-room — a most complete the cross-bars, and each fastens with a A Moulting house for the purpose for neat brass button. The seed-hoppers are which it is intended. The all made of one pattern, and fit any set of " room " is a detached house in the garden, holes. The water-vessels are of glass on the outskirts of Norwich, and is a wooden and the egg-drawers of one ])attern — to erection about f^^s^^^C^^^ 12 feet high, standing 011 six substantial posts. about 2 feet (1 inches from the groimd, with a view to guarding against damp. It is weather- boarded on the outside with Ij- inch stuff, and the space be- tween that and the f -inch boards with which the inside is lined is filled with sawdust, which acts as a non- conductor. It is warmed by hot- water pipes, and the perforated covering seen at the bottom is contrived ]iusli through a hole made for them in so as to admit fresh air from outside as the middle of the bottom front rail, well as the heated air from tlie pipes. The building is thoroughly cleaned out The entrance — which is approached by at the commencement of tlie moulting two or three steps — consists of double season in the following manner : — The doors, the rule being to close the outer birds having been remo\ed into another one before opening that immediatelj^ leading room, each front is imslipped, and every into the room, in case any birds shoidd compartment is well scraped — top, sides, have escaped from their cages. It is back, and bottom — and as nnich white- lighted from the roof, and is well ventilated wash as possible removed. The fronts are by means of six patent contrivances, the then placed inside, each in its own place, foul air being carried of? by a 4-incb pipe and every ajierture being closed, the through the roof, which is tiled. There place is well " stoved " by burning a A NORWICH MOULTING ROOM. 1^2 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS quantity of sulphur — a process that is twice repeated. This destroys any pests that may have taken up their abode in the cages or on tlie wooden walls of the house. All wooden structures should undergo this process once a year if possible, for it is cciiain death to insect life and germs of all kinds. The cages are next washed with diluted carbolic acid from top to bottom, and afterwards limewashed twice. All glasses, egg-drawers, and seed hoppers are laid in soda and water, together with the fronts, and well washed ; when dry the wires of the front are coated with japan black. The hoppers and outside woodwork are then repainted black and varnished, and all other accessories washed scrupulously clean. The fronts are fastened in their places, and all is ready for the .stock to be moulted. When the room ])ietin'ed is in full ojiera- tion, it contains as many as 1,200 birds. Twenty cages are cleaned out and sanded each day, so that the entire room is gone through once in a fortnight ; cleanliness is one of the leading princijjlcs in the govern- ment of this interesting establishment. It is not, however, necessar\' for the ordinary breeder to have a rcom specially ari'anged to moult his birds in, for the breed- ing room answers equally well, the double breeding cages being converted into flight cages by the removal of the partitions. A NOTED CRK.STHR1;D HEN. Fium it phitvt^vuph kindly ^.upplicil by Mr. R. KhuJci. Broken Capped Silver Lizard Clear Capped (Jold Lizard Jonque London Fancy MIM^nLZ YOUNG COMMON CANARIES IN A FLIGHT. CHAPTER XIII MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD ifeprltt \Vk ])ropose now to consider the qnestion of nioiiltinir from a jjoint of view whieli clothes it Avith a profounder interest than that felt by the fancier when regarding it as a simjjje, natnral phenomenon conmion to bird Hfe. He divides the whole Canary family into three principal groups, com- prising the colonr section ; those having distinctive jjlumage ; and the birds of shape and position. With the first of these, as well as some of the others, moult- ing has everything to do ; and the sjjccific treatment and special dieting practised while the operation is going on, with a view to imlucing the development of colour, has ever occupied the closest attention of those breeders who have made the colour section their specialty ; and such are by far the larger number of the body com- prising the great world of the Fancy. The prolilem of what is colour, how produced, and how affected, is one which breeders have long tried to The Colour work out, each in his own Problem. way, according to his own theory, with varying success. That some Canaries have the native i)roperty of 20 ■ I developing it to a greater extent than others, is patent. We know why st^me violets are blue, and why some are not blue : why grass is green, and how it is that llowers are painted with parti-coloured tints. And there must be a reason why some birds are decked with all the colours of the rahibow ; some law which governs the change in the hues of the summer and winter plumage of certain of our native birds, as well as the more strongly marked changes in those coming to us from tr()[)ical climes. What colour really is, wliat are its chemical constituents, can all be clearly defined ; but how, when fed from the same fountain, we find it existing in so many separate hues in one and the same member, a single feather to wit, is a seem- ingly incompreliensible mystery. This, however, is not a treatise on the mysteries of creation, Ijut on the more practical matter of moulting ~f'"'^ . Canaries. A thoughtful con- rheories. " sideration of the fact that in the earliest stage of their growth the feathers of the Canary, as of all other birds, are )iot feathers, but simply little 53 134 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS tubes in whicli the blood circulates, and wliicli eventually develop into what we call feathers, the wch of wliich is nothing more than an expansicin and niinute raniilication of the material of whieh the whole is coni])osed. led to the su])p()siti(in that tiie colouring matter must be maiui- faetured in, and deposited by, the blood ; and various tiieories were pro]ioimded and methods devised for brinsfing about tliis residt. The fact that certain food is known to have the direct effect of colouring the fat. and e\eii the bones of animals, seemed to su])])ort tlie theory ; and the notion of feeding tlie feather IVoin its birth, and wiiile in embryo before its birth, took a strong hold on the minds of breeders, though the idea^ was but very iniperfectl\- develo])ed. and. we should imagine, in many cases worked out in a very clumsy Nvay, and without any clear perception of the principle involved. Anything '■ yellow ■■ that the bird would eat was supplied to it : no matter what it was, or whether it was a substance the bird could digest and assimilate : so long as it was yellow, that was sullieient; and we ha\'e heard of the most extraordinarv compoimds li,-i\iug hecii .idmiuisti'rcd in the shape of pills, powders, draughts, anything and r\( rytliing, an\- way and every way, no matter what or how, if coloiu' might only be boi'u of it. Fi'om among this diversity of modes of feeding and widely \aried practice, liow- (■\cr, one truth was extracted. feedi^y. '""' '' '"■'■'I""' II" secret t h;it cei-taiii food -.lould alTcet colour \u a, sensible degree. \\;\v\\ breeder, witli the most conunendabie sellislmess. kept his particular nosti'um a profound secret. I)ut the existence of the f;icl was demon- s', rated oN'cr- and o\er again by fnnciers buying high-coloured specimens, .-uid utterl\' failing to moult them with ;in\tliing like the same results. C'ci'tain towns with their schools of breeders apparently li:id the game in lluii- own hands, and the secret, such as it was. was jcalousl\- oniipilcil for years. The dilTcrencc between the colour of a bird moulted on ordinary diet and one fed on ^.r/ra-ordinary diet in its very earliest days was not so marked as now or as it was thirty or thirty-five years ago, simjily because tlie agents em|)Ioyed were not so powerful in their action as those now in use ; but it was suflicient to give the feeder an advantage over the breeder — an advantage he has ever held when both have started in the race on the same terms as regards the (piality of the birds. From what we have said it will be gathered lliat the verb '"to moult" is both neuter and acti\'e, and that we use it in the latter sense as signifying the indiieet doing of something on the part of the bieciler, rather than expressing an action entirely conlined to the bird. It includes in it the idea of feeding by rule ; and we are quite })repared to be met at the outset with the question : '• Is feeding, tlien, the whole scei'ct of colour in the colour section of the Canary family?"' \Vc arc very much inclined to answer that (picstion by another, and ask : ■• \\'hy not ? "" And wi' might ask one or two more (|uestions, such as : What /.vtlu' natural lour of the Van: t th colour oi rnc i anary : is not tlic assump- tion of the fact that the colour in which it usually appears is its natural or proper colour I'athci' an arbitrary assumption? If \arioiis (h'script ions of \ cgc-t alilc food, all of which it nnglit tiiiil in a stall' of natui'c. and wliicli it cats with .-ix idity. alTcct its colour in ;is iuan\' degrees, who shall say that any nwv shade of colour is /lir colour, and tli;it .ill other sharevious arguments will be seen presently. Our original proposition we put into the form of the question : '■ Is feeding the secret of colour ? '" We now answer : " ^es." And we have anticipated some of the olijections which migiit aiisc by asking the questions above jjropounded — ques- tions which we think require no reply. It is altogether foreign to the subject to stay now to inquire hozv the colour is affected ; indeed, no philosophical reason has yet been assigned, though no doubt it will ultimately be shown to result from the deposition of colouring matter m the cellular tissue through the action of the blood. It is perfectly immaterial whether it be brought about in this wa\ . or whether it be due to the de\'elopnient of colour native to the bird, though latent, by calling into vigorous exercise existing functions. So long as the agent employed is no more than the active principle of a natxu-al diet, the jjroccss is strictly natural from beginning to end. and is not to be con- denmed as unnatui'al simply because it is the development of a phenomenon which has been liidden from ovu" view by force of circumstances for centvu'ies. It has been openly proclaimed by some that there is no difference between colour- feeding and an outward apjilication of dye to tiie feather ; that the one is simply an outwai'd application and the other [)asscd thrf)ugh the system of the bird with a view to j)roducing the same effect. If that were the case then tlie practice of colour-feeding woidd be fraurlidcnt, which in no circmustances can it be ])roved to be. It is a well-known and established fact beyond disjiute that iron is an ex- cellent tonic both to luan and beast, and it has also been proved beyond dispute to have an enriching effect on the colovu- of a bird's plumage, and we believe also on the coats of animals, in districts where iron- ore abounds. Would anyone even suggest that l)irds or other live stock taken from such districts were fraudulently improved in their colour ? How then is a distinction to be made ? Is it not just as legitimate to give a captive bird iron, or other tonic, when it is jiroved that such tonic im])roves the bird's colour and ]3luniagc when at liberty ? Then still further proof of the effects of these tonics is to be observed in the Canary's egg. The yolk of an egg from a bird given an iron tonic in its drinking water or food is nuich richer in colour than the yolk of an egg from a bird not so treated. This can easily be proved by jiractical experiment. The yolk is still further enriched— almost to blood-red — if colour food be given as well as the iron. This we have proved beyond doubt, having examined the yolks o\' many eggs from birds we have kept under the conditions cited. 156 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Interesting results obtained by direet seientilie experiments were eonniuniieated by J)r. Sauermann to the Vienna Ornitlm- logieal Association {Die Sclnvalhe. A])ril 30 and May 15. 18!K)). He asecrtained definitely in regard to cayenne that the j)il)erine. or hot ingredient of hot ]K'1)ikis. had no part in the result : that the coloin- coiu])onent given ])ure liad also very little effect, and that it was most ettieaeious when given in chemical combination with albmiien or lat. Tlie dilliculty becomes greater still when wc consider the general law governing coloiu- in animals : for there is S^"'""*" such a law traceable. If we Laws. heal a coloured oxide we are expanding it, and also, as a scientist would say, " adding cneigy " to it : and even in this sini[)le case, the usual result is to change its colour towards a tint nearer what a jihysicist terms " the red end of the spectrum."" If a globule of e(>j>]icr borate, which is l)lue. be heated, it turns green. If yellow oxide of mercury be heated it gradually turns orange, red brown, and finally almost black. Now, very curiously, it seems as if a general rule can be traced by which animal colom-s also, starting from the highest degree oi vitality or energy, tend, as we diminish this, to change in the converse order of black (the highest), brown, red. orange. gi'ccn. bine, white. This law exjilains most changes, just as an infant gains strength, and ayain declines in energy with old age or from pi'ivation. Children's hair generally changes from xciy light or yellow to red or brown or black : while with .age conies grey and white. Thus it seems that richer coloiu' may ])robably })e the clTcct of cillicr more \itality or greater heat of the blood. Ivistcrn breeds of fowls lay brown eggs, and the early native Cochins were darker, more ciimamon. than the colour atlained by the birds in our colder clinic. Canaries were green our warm rooms and more si imul,-it ing fund have doubtless assisted to make them }-cllow. 'J'lic nest leal hers — that is, (he first feathers uhicli apixar on the body arc much paler in colour than the second feathers, which come after the lirst moult. even if the birds arc not colour-fed : but if colour-fed on still nioi-e stininliiting food. many become orange I'cd. Tliis sliows at once that it is not a (piestion of stain, but the action of the food ujion the blond, and subsequent feather of the bird. Instead of a "food."" it would be more correct to call it a tonic mixed with food, for the capsicum is nothing What is 1 4. j-i 1 • 1 1 CoIour=food ? ""*'^. "O"" '^**^ *" *'>^' '^'«1- ""'^ requires to be mixed with other nourishing food in some form or other. It has also been said that the colour-food or tonic must be given each time the l)ir(l moidts. otherwise the rich shade of colour is not reproduced. This is (piitc true, and it is only reasonable to expect that we nnist again give the coloiu'-food whenever the bird changes its coat. If wc would have the new coat the same rich colour, we must have the blood in the same eonilition as when that rich coloiu- was fii'st pro- duced. Herein lies the secret of success. For imj^arting a gloss to the feathers linseed has few equals. There was a time when this was a guarded secret amongst the experienced breeders. Would anyone be insane enough to say it is fraudulent to give this seed to a bird with the object of obtaining gloss on the feathers ? Where is the difference between giving this for one special end. and heating tonics for another '! We said that the use of somethinii, to ]iro(lucc colour became a connnon ])ractice with all breeders ; ])erhaps we had better say nearly all : and among the many " somethings "" weri' included marigold flowers, strong solution of salTron. cochineal, port wine. Ijcetroot, dragon's blood, tur- meric, annatto. mustard-seed, and otiici- comestibles, the pi'incipal feature of wliicli, it is evident, was the possession of colour. J?ut the entire exhibition world was destined to be re\r oold ill the hot- Uiscovery. '^ ' ^ toiii : and tli(iiiL;ii. to anyone not in the great Fancy, it may seem absurd to draw any eom})ariscni between the two e\ents, we do not know which ol' the discoverers I'elt the greater delight, I'or each had found yold. To whom belongs the lionour ol' the discoNiry to which we rel'er we are not in a |)osilioii to say. It lias been said it was Hist I'ouud out by an old lady giving her singing canai'y, which was not well, some cayenne |)e))|)cr with its food, to see if it would do the bird .luy good, and the birtl, being in tlie moult. began to show tlie eifects of the eayemie in its plumage. A fancier noticing this asked the old lady what she had Ijeen giving her bird. Having ascertained this, he experimented further. This statement, however, must be taken for what it is worth : there may be truth in it. but we do not know the actual soui'cc from which it originated. No one has to fiur knowledge set up a definite claim to the honour of the discovery, but the fact of its having i)ecii made came out in this way. Towards the close of the moulting season of ISTl. rumours were rife in the ."Midland districts that in the neigh- bourhood of .Sntton-in-Ash- licld some ext rai)rdinar\- birds had been bred — candoiii' compels lis to state that for a long time the suj^erior (|ualitN' of these bii'ds was asserted to belong to the breed or strain which il was alleged I he diseo\'erer of the grand secret had in his possession. Had it been openly staled llial a new " IV'cd "' ha,d been discovered, it is very |irobable that that fact would h.avc been aeeipted more willingly than the assertion that the breeder h;id hit on a snperioi- combination of blood, which story was altogelhci' discredited; the new birds were reeei\((l with lhegra\'esl suspicion on some hands, and axowed unbeliel' as to their geiininencss on till' |)art of others. Some of the l)est !)reeders of The First Effects. the day examined them: and though all known tests failed to show that the colour was due tci au\' oiitwai'il ap|ilicati()n, yet one mystei'ioiis fact stared them in the face — the birds were of /leo culoiirs .' An explanation of the fact that the colour was owing to the feed, and not to the strain, would still lia\-e cleared up this (lillieiiHy. which is now understood ami will Ix? explained presently : but this \aluable strain (?) would then have lost its market value. As the colour section. howi.'\-er. had always ruled in the market aceoriling to the dc|)th and purity of the colour of its representatives, and sueli colour had always conniianded its price as represent- uig breed or strain — a fiction f»f which the many outside the feeding cii'cle we ha\'e before mentioned had been tlie \'ictiins for years — we can scai'cely be surprised at the diseoverei- of a new Iced endca\'oui'iiig to make his marki-t in the same way. This may all seem very naughty, and convey the idea of a lax code of morality, but it is nc\-ertlu'less true. We ourselves, and a large circle of friends, had been fireeding colour liirds for years — and this at a time, bear in mind, when Canary shows were not rejiorted. and when the Canary had no literature of its own — and wt' hatl never heard of feeding as inlluencing colour. \Ve well remember the knock-down lilow we received when a fancier in a high position, whose status in life and ollieial |)osition — for he was a magistrate forliadc thi' idea, of anything but the exercise of any but the most honourable eoiidiiet. told us to give u|) trxing to breed colour-birds, as the secret lay in the feeding and not in the breeding. In the present existing state of things, when the doings in the Canary world ai'c chronicled weekb with as niiich accuracy as the rise and fall of tin- money market, it would be next to impossible for intelligent men to grope in the dark as we did : but we are giving a true account of Caiiai'N' society as we roiiiid il in llie "s(>\enl ies, when some, who ought to ha\e known better, persistently followed out the (juest ionable policy of preaeiiing hrcrd. MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD 159 while all the time taking infinite pains to conceal the necessary adjvnict — jeed. The line of policy, therefore, adopted by the discoverer of the new thin<>', the miraculous feed, was only A Curious .jj^ extension of the svstcni Situation. 1 • 1 1 " i 1 oi morality m which he had been educated. By ignoring the existence of tlie true agent, however, it will be seen that he laid himself open to the suspicion of foul play, which was .strengthened by the then remarkable feature of his birds being, as we have already said, of two colours — not two shades of one and the same colour, mark you. but, as asserted, two distinct colours — viz. yellow, and a shade of yellow it is true, but with a distinctly green tint, which it was at once affirmed was the consequence of unskilful cUjeing. And really it looked funny. Fanciers who knew that the best show-birds were the exceptional specimens selected from large numbers, and who were content to produce one or two in a season, would not have it at any price that a dozen could come out of one breeding-room, and from the same pair of birds in one year, much less five or six stars out of one nest, as was alleged of these extraordinary specimens. But the existence of the two colours on the same bird was the pill no one could swallow, and it was all adjudged a fraud. Every breeder, however, now knows that this appearance arose simply from the presence of feathers which had grown before the birds had been put on the colour- producing diet, which, even in the very best specimens, appeared absolutely green beside the rich, ruddy orange now so common. But our friend in Suttou-in- Ashfield kept his own counsel, and was content to sit and grin and bear the sneers of a virtuous world, strong in his own integrity. We have said this occurred in 1871 ; but we have reason to believe that birds fed in this way had been ex- hibited one or two years in succession at one of our largest shows, and had been disqualified on the ground of l>eing arti- ficially coloured by means of outward applications, and that the original dis- coverer pocketed the opprobrium and bided his time. Tiie late Mr. W. A. Blakston related that his first introduction to these birds was at Cheltenham, where he ^^'''y . was iudging the same vear. txpenences. j o o "At that time," he wrote, "their fame had not reached us, but one or two of them were sent to Cheltenham, and one, we well remem- ber, a heavily Variegated Buif bird, beat a large class. We were attracted by its extraordinarily rich colour, which fairl>' took away our breath ; Jjut an examination sliowed us sure indications of its genuineness, and we gave our award unhesitatingly." Mr. Blakston further related that at a show which was held shortly afterwards he was solicited to exhibit. The usual clause in the rules, that "all specimens shall l)e bona fide the property of the exhibitor," was purix)sely expunged, and a silver cup held out as an induceiuent for large entries ; and six of the then notorious Sutton-in-Ashfield birds appeared in the catalogue in Mr. Blakston's name. Some of his best friends — and one in particular, whose name will appear presently, a gentle- man who subsequently became the cham- pion of the new school, and who, with him, fought its battle and won — severely censured him for having anything to do with these dangerous birds. The judges, however, were satisfied with them, and they were duly gazetted winners. Then came the dinuuement. The committee, in the fullness of their zeal, tested (?) the birds in a way jierfectly unjustifiable, literally scrubbing off the web of the feathers in one bird's tail, leaving it with twelve almost naked quills ; and shortly after charged Mr. Blakston formally with having exliibited painted birds, at the same time producing, as evidence, a hand- kerchief which was alleged to be stained with the colouring matter from this muti- lated tail. It is not necessary to refer to the amusing incidents of the protest, but the following copy of a certificate Mr. Blakston obtained from an analytical i6o CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS CHILLI (AMERICAN RED PEPPER). Ciipsunm Aniiuuni J.fuf^um iHol}. clicniist' to wliosf cxainiiiatioii lie sub- mitted tlic birds will spcai< lor itscll' : "22(i, Ilitih Slrccl, .Similrrlaiid. "'riicrc is lull I he li'ust I race of a piiiiiu'nl or forrifiii colouriiiL; inatU'r ol' any kinil on any ot the feathers I loot; from liie liiids nuniliered respectively 1, 2, and .'*>. ".loiiN .1. Nicholson, F.C.S." Tliis portion ol' our subject lias bad ratber a |)ers<>iial ebaraeter, but we liave detailed it as an bistoriea.l lact. and as funiisbin^ the first |)ublislied account of the first clieniical test to wbicli tliese birds were |)ublicly submitted, and thiir satis- factory passajfc throii<,di the ordeal. We next find these same birds ligurino at tiic Crystal Palace Show, in I-'ebruaiy, IST'i. by which time our Mr. Bemrose's ,,,,,1 jhitcd Irieiid had Exhibits. , ., , . , orown a new tail, winch everyone said had been painted loi- the occasion ; and thouoh he was ])assed over as a sus))ic:ioiis character, some of his companions Avent through their ex- amination and obtained the diploma of \'.H.C"., which is ]XTha])S a rather sijfnificant comment on the knowledjTe of tliat day. The year 1872 passed away, and the memory of these ill- fated birds died with it, till Feb- ruary, 1S7;3, again brought round the Crystal Palace Show, when, to the astonishment of everybody, the late Mr. Edward Bemrose, of Derliy, one of the keenest fanciers of the day, and a man on whom no one could lay the finger of sus]nci(>n, but who was the very Iriend of Mr. I51akston's to whom we have referred, brought out two specimens of the same school, which he asserted, on his word of honour as a gentleman, he had motilted himself in his own house, and which owed their extra- ordinary colour to nothing but the peculiar diet on which they fiad been fed. Despite Mr. Benu"ose"s dignified asseverations, however, he left the Palace Show under the inqiutation NATAL PEPPER. Capsicum Annuurn Atuminnlum (tiutj. MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD i6i of l)cing ill lenguc with tiie naughty men of Sutton- in- Ashfielcl ; but not before he had dehvered himself of a promise, which he fulfilled almost to the letter, that next season he wotild bring out, not two, but a string of birds which he would send to every show in England, and with which he woidd take every prize, from Whitby in September, round to the Palace Show again in 1874, and that when he had thus vindicated his character he ■^vould give the secret to the world. And he kept that promise. Next season he was invincible, and the exhibitors in the Colour section of the Canary Colour=feed j.^^^^ij^, j^^^, ^„^^|^j. j^j^ ^^^^ Vindicated. , • ' , i • i n Some accepted then- deieat like men, and others writhed and wa-iggletl like worms. In some directions confi- dence began to grow^, while the now historical birds fearlessly travelled the coimtry. In others the opposition was bitter, and every means that blind jirejudice or petty interest could devise was called into operation in the endeavoiu' to injure the reputation of the exhibitors of these birds. But the climax w'as reached at the great Norwich Show, held in St. Andrew's Hall in October, 1873, on which occasion several of the Norwich breeders protested in a body against the genuineness of a consign- ment of these birds, which, " under our own judging," said Mr. Elakston, " had taken almost every prize within their reach. From among a large number, seven were selected for analysis, of the residt of which we append a copy." It was his lot to be connected with similar birds on their first examination by a qualified analyst, and he was oilicially concerned in them in his capacity of judge on this the last ordeal they were ever to undergo, and which established their reputation on a basis nothing could ever afterwards shake : " County Analyst's Oflice, " Eastern Counties' Laboratory, "Norwich, October 17th, 1873. "Certificate of Analysis. "Of Seven Canaries. "Fiom the Bird Show in St. Andrew's Hail, Norwich. 21 Marie. 70 12 28 10 51 88 13 7 2 3 4 6 1 "I hercl)y certify tliat, in the presence of the Chairman of Coniniittee and other representative persons, 1 have examined tliesc Ijirds witli a view to ascertain tlie presence of arlilieial colouring matter upon their plumage. "ISIy opinion is tliat no artificial colour has been used. "(Signed) Francis Sutton." Shortly after this the secret began to ooze out, and the first use made of it by some who liad been loudest in their demm- ciation of the new school of birds was to sell it, which was not discovered until one, smarter than his fellow's, boasted of having netted £50 by the sale of a gift. " This coming to our knowledge," said 3Ir. Blakston, " we jiut IMr. Bemrose in possession of the fact, and The Great q,^ December 11, 1873, he published, in the Journal of Horticulture, the grand secret of the extra- ordinary colour of the birds which had so completeh' demoralised the whole Canary world ; and when he stated that the agent employed was nothing more than Cayenne Pepper, we must say in justice to the Fancy that half of them did not believe him. But in searching after hidden things how fre- quently does it haijpen that we place our hands near them, or even on them, and yet are not aware of it ; and it was almost too much for fallen humanity to be asked to be- lieve that in the cruet which stands next to the mustard, which some of them had been using every day, lay the solution of the whole mystery. The wonder is that it had never been discovered before, for cayenne pepper had long been prescribed as a comforting sjiice ; and it is probable that its administra- tion in excess first led to a knowledge of its remarkable properties. There is also not the slightest doubt that it had long been used in very small quantities simply as a condiment, and that it then produced effects which were not attributed to it, but to some other vehicle in use at the same time. Years ago w'e were recommended to use a patent pungent condiment as being an excellent agent in conditioning certain birds, and though we have not analysed it, we l62 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS think there is every reason to Ixliexc that it contains the pe])p( r in a hiryc |)n)])ortion. and that the effect uttril)ute(l to it as a whole was, in the main, traceable to the presence of cayeinie in its composition." Such is the history attcndiiio- tiu' intro- duction of capsicum as a colour- feed iuy ayent into the bird-room. Early Colour. ^y^.|| ,,,,,.^ ^,|^. ,,,,,,„^ ,,,,.|^^., fed Birds. remember his father send- in' them in healthy working oi'der : and by su|)])lying food from which colonr can be secrc'ted, we ascertain which birds have and which have not the ca])aeity of doing that, the manifestation of which constitntes their distinctive cha- racter in a fancier's eye. The ca])sicnm, instead of being tlie enriching agent which has to liide all defects, the cloak to c((\er a nndtitude of sins, really becomes the most reliable guide we have, indicating the character of tlie birds submitted to its test, and showing pretty- clearly the direc- tion in which we shonld look in selecting breeding stock likely to cari'y out to a practical issue the tlieory of like ])i-oducing like in regard to eolour. We take our representative bird, then, to illnsti'atc the business of monlting, and wc note, first, that wc j)ut it Colour= j,,^ .. ,.^.p,, ,, ,,,,,,^ ^..„,,^. .,^ ^1,^, food. • age ol seven or eight weeks. because it is ncci'ssary I hat I he colimr ])roccss slioiild l)c comnicnccd while the fealhcrs ;ire \'cl in cniliryo. And what is " feed ■" '{ Wc base no dmihl Ihal half .m do/.cii breeders would give as many dif- ferent recipes, but the acli\c agent in all of lluni in I lie early days of colour I'ccd- iiig would ha\c been cavemic pepper, now known b\ laiicicrs under the name ill-eiTects that it is still (|ucstionable whether it entailed an\ eniclty on them but there certainly wei-c hard- ships inllietcd by some of the other ingre- dients tried, which, alter all. ga\c little or no I'eMllt . 'I'lie colour-food can i)c mixed with the ordinary clio])i)ed egu' and biscuit or i>rcad- cruinbs. or with any ol' the How to give ^,,|| |'„„| ,.,,nipositi.)ns of Colour=food. I I 1 1 , I 1 1 wliieh liirds are loud. It ma\' also he adniinisl ered by niixing it with ■"cake." made ol' eggs. Hour, and sng.-ir. or an\' similar spongecake I'oiinda- tion. '{"lie |)(|iper slionld be gi\c-n in the propoilioii of one ol' pejiper to t wo of cake, with a small |)ortion of "■ luit Nalal pepper " added, just siillieient to give it a nice warm ll.i\(iur. 'I''lie eaiisicnin. or cold led MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD 165 pepper, is supplied by vendors of colour- feeds imder various names, such as " Pure Tasteless Red Pepper," " Royal Red Pep- per," "Sweet Tasteless Red Pepper,"' etc., but the)' are all one and the same thing. Some breeders use the cold red pepper alone with the egg food ; but we have always obtained better I'csults by adding a little " hot Natal " in the proportion advised, and we know hundreds of other breeders of long experience who are of like opinion. This small fillip of hot pepper apjiarently assists to maintain heat in the body, and thus encourages a quick moult We are well aware that there are other foods in use as adjuncts to the ordinary ca])sicum, for the Fancy still has its little secrets, which may or may not be of value ; but, thanks to the Fancy Press, lectures before societies, and the many handbooks published, knowledge of essentials is now widely diffused. The thoughtful breeder can still investigate tlie rela- tion between cause and eifect for him- self, and great discoveries have been made by chance ; but earnest research tells in the long run and is a source of pleasure as well. The present system of feeding may as yet be only in its infancy ; but the rule is that the brightest and rich- Dangers of est -coloured pepper usuallv Colour=food. jii-oduccs the best results. Rut it must be a genuinely rich-coloured pepper and not a faked one. In the old days, through ignorance, the birds were forced to eat as nuich colour-food as possible ; their seed was removed, and they were only allowed a very little at intervals, and some, indeed, got practic- ally none. This practice was a mistake, and any bad effects from colour feeding then were probably rather owing to the removal of the birds' seed than to the pepper. Even now there are obstinate birds from whom it is necessary to remove the seed for a short time each day until they have had a feed or two of colour-food and become accustomed to it, after wliich they will take it quite freely even when seed is present. Such cases will rarely occur if the colour is added to the egg- food in small quantities at first, gradually bringing it u]) to the full strength. To compel birds to consume the colour-food in excess is, we think, unnatural and waste- ful. It hinders the healthy action of the various organs without any gain in colour of plumage, for the surplus passes through TASTELESS PEPPER. Capsicum Antiuutii Givssrim (Cold), the bird's system, and the colour-food is blamed for causing the disorder, whilst in reality it is the foolish system of adminis- tration which is at faidt. It does not follow that because the bird is fond of the capsicum, and eats it greedily, that it can live on it, any more than we ourselves could live and thrive ujion mus- tard, horseradish, and pickles, without a reasonable share of beef. We have seen very poor residts obtained from over- feeding, and we have seen most satisfac- tory ones from the use of barely a tithe of the colour-food wasted in the other case. A judicious use of colour-food is becoming more common every day, and we are happy to say that the process is now carried on in a more rational way and with less harmful effects than ever before. To iDegia with, we recommend one hard- i66 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Ijoiled cpg. ch()p])C(l fine or passed throu^li the egg-mill or sieve, with its equal bulk of a good ])lain biseuit or How to Mix breaderuinb. mixed with Colour=food. fill 11 a tcaspoontui ol colour-lood. Of eourse, if more than one egg is required to serve the number of birds to be fed the bread or biscuit and colour-food nuist he incrc'ascd in like jirojiortion. The colour nuist be well mixed with the egg- food tmtil it ))resents a. red tint through- out, and each bird should be allowed a small teaspoonful of the mixture pei' d.iy. or this quantity per head where a grou}) of birds are flying together. The strength of the colour should be gradiudly increased by adding more to the egg-food imtil it presents a rich dcc]vred tint throughout. To gain this depth of ct)lonr it usually takes about two heaped teaspoonfuls of the colour-food to one egg, and its cciuiva- Icnt bulk 111' liisciiit or bread. Some eggs, ol (•(iiiise, are a little larger than others, and it may be necessary to add a little more colour-food licfore the necessary rich- red lint can be obtained. In mixing Ihc food, the two tablespoonfuls of colour shoidd be blended well with the egg-food, as llic iiHirc it is worked into it the dccpci- the tint becomes, and it is easy to add aepper) and one ]iound of Hot Natal should be jirocurcd and placed in a large bowl or pan ; a pound and a half of soft brown sugar (not Dcmerara) should 1)C added, and the wlioli' well si iiixil together through and through until they arc evenly blended : then fourteen ounces of the finest salad or olive oil should be added and well mixed until it is e\enly distri- buted. One mcdiiun-sizcd wineglassful of good brandy should then be stirred in tlioroughly : this keeps the I'ood sweet and good. The mixture shoidd be stored in a large covered earthenware Ncssel in a cool. dr\ place. It is then ready I'or use. and all that has to lie done is to aild the rccpni'cd quant it \ to the egg-food d.iily. This is a inueh belter |)lau than adding the oil and sugar each day as required, as the component parts lieeome far more t ho|-oiighl\' blended, and the ll;i\'OUr of the sugar in tiii'u impregnates the ]H'pper and makes it \cry palat.-ible to the hirds, besides giving most satisfactory icsults as regards colour and the good eoiiditiou of the birds. 'I'he peppers supplied for eolour-fc-ediug ha\(' a certain auiouul of natur.al ml. but some of the s;imples we Oily Peppers. ha\c h;iil subuutted to us froui time to tiuic ha\'e coulaiued iiioi'e than their own natural oil. so that should a pcp|)er be found to lie ^■ery oily, it will not be necessarx to add the full two ounces MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD 167 Seed Food. of oil that we advised to each pound of pepper ; one ounce per pound will be sulli- cient. There is no mistake about the birds being fond of a good well-prepared colour- food, but whilst on this diet they should be given seed as well ; that is, canary as a stajile seed — of which the birds shoiUd alwaj's have a supply — together with a little linseed, and occasionally a sprinkling of German rape. A few ripe seed stalks of plantain may also be allowed, which should be fixed between the wires of the cage two or three times a week as long as they are procurable. The birds are particularly fond of them, and they are beneficial during this period if fresh - gathered in their ripe, succulent state. The breeder should see that his bii-ds have a sup2:)ly of linseed during the moult. It nuiv be given as a seed Importance ^^.j^j^ ^j^^ ^.^.^ j^ eanarv-seed of Linseed. . " ,- , already mentioned, or a little of it may be groimd up in a coffee-mill and mixed with the egg and colour-food two or three times a week. Some birds will not eat linseed when given as a seed ; but they should have a little in one form or the other, as it is of great assistance in giving lustre to the new feather. If given in the meal form, only as much as is required shoidd be ground each time, so that it is fresh and sweet. A teaspoonful to one egg is sufficient at a time. To each two ounces of drinking water should be added a piece of sulphate of iron the size of a small split pea DrinRmg every other day right through the moult, or four grains of the sulphate of iron can be dissolved in a quart of water in a jug, and, after the drink- ing vessels have been well washed, they can be filled from this supjjly. Clear water should be given on alternate days. If it is preferred, a very little saccharated car- bonate of iron may be mixed with the egg- food instead, in the proportion of one grain to one egg and its bulk of biscuit or bread. The bath may be allowed once a week on bright sunny days, but care should be The Bath. taken to keep the cages shaded from the bright rays of the sun. The experience of a season will do more towards teaching a fancier the actual routine of this part of his business than a volume of instruction. We have ex- plained what we believe to be the prin- ciples involved, and it is for the fancier to regulate his feeding to suit his birds, but ever bearing in mind never to overdo it. Many other things are used to facilitate the moult, as well as to assist the deposi- tion of colour by acting as precipitants ; but we refrain from mentioning them, as from experience we know that they are not beneficial to the birds' health, in spite of their great assistance as colour agents. At the time when sand was in general use for covering the bottom of cages the birds were always deprived Sand and ^j. j^ during tlie moulting Sa\vdust. "^ ^ season, the cage bottoms being covered with chaff, oat husk, or similar clean material so as not to soil the new leathers. This was a great mistake, for gritty sand is necessary to birds as an aid to the proper digestion of their food. Good, clean, rough-cut pine sawdust is now in general use for the bottoms of cages at all seasons of the year, and the sand is supplied separately in an earthen- ware vessel or some such receptacle. Pine saw-dust is one of the best coverings we can have for the cages at all times, and the sand should for preference be clean, gritty sea sand. We note, in the next jilace, that by a provision of Nature the Canary does not shed its eighteen flight- Taf/"* ^""^ feathers, nor the twelve Feathers. tail-quills, till it is a year old — that is, till its second moult ; and it must be evident, therefore, that our moulting feed can have no effect on these feathers, since they are already quite matured. They are, at any time, the whitest feathers in the bird, having only a faint tinge of colour on the outer edge of the web, occasionally barely per- ceptible, and when the smaller body- feathers have all been renewed under the i68 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS most favourable circumstances, these ori- ginal " nest-feathers " wiil appear a yellow- ish-green in comparison with the golden glory of the new ones. This diiTerciice in colour was not so niarkctl in the olden time before colour-feeding came into vogue, ness, rendered necessary by tiie circum- stances in wiiich they arc placed. We have not the slio'litcst intention ol' Tailing and Flighting entering on this (jucstiou, though our idea of what is in- cluded ill the nfitiun of subjection is very THE GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. A brilliant bit of Nature's coloration. i)iit c\(ii then l)rc{'dcrs. in Ihcir cndcavoui' broad. Il coniprciunils, lio\\(\-ei'. nol Ihc lo make liic iiiosl of the bird, were accus- \-cstigc of an idea of al)nsc of ])o\ver for scHish tomcd to pull out Ihc (lights and tails of ends, and \vc fail to liud any justification in Ihcir young birds before placing llicin in our own iiiind lor ccrhiiu opcral ions which, their nioulliiit;' caL;'cs, in oi'dei' thai I he\' doubllcss originating in abuse, nol use, of power ^villlolll au\' ncrcssari/ end in \ic\v. have conu'. in Ihc course of lime, to i)c regarded l)y scnsil)ilities bliiiiled b>' l'r<(]iicnt <'ontact with <]iicsti()nablc ]>rac- I ices as things nol woiili a Ihought. It is iusi this \-cry want of Ihought that keeps them alive. might be pill oil ail cipiality with adult birds and lia\(' the op|)(>rtuiiity of develop- ing a deci>er coioui'. There are many o])era,iioiis pcrlormcil on animals under subjection lo man which, to the superficial observer. sa\()ur of cruelty, but \vhich are really acts of kind- MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD 169 those parts of the animal whicli are regarded as being more immediately the organs of sensation ; but they very speedily transmit impressions to the parts that do feel." A good deal seems to dei^end, then, on the feathers being " perfeet and firm in their ecjnnection," and the i, , experience of every breeder will point to the fact that very frequently they are not so. The entire nest-tail, for instance, is no sooner fully matured in some birds than it requires some care to prevent its being knocked We quite recognise the wisdom which, by momentary or, at the most, short- lived pain, can secvu-e permanent im- munity from trouble ; but we nuist have an end worthy of the means — not a mere whim or fancy, or subservience to a pre- vailing fashion, but an imperative neces- sity. We must therefore frankly admit that, although keen fanciers, rigid and exacting in our demands, we cannot con- scientiously say we see any necessity to disarrange the provisions of Natiu'c to such an extent as to pull out these thirty-six feathers in a bird's wing to satisfy our eye in the matter of imiformity of colour, or, as in the case of a Yorkshire, to gain a little length. We candidly admit that in days gone by we have " tailed and flighted " many birds without a thought ; but sitting down qiuetly, as we do now, to look at every feature of our subject from as intelligent and philosophi- cal a point as we can, we feel that we should not be true to ourselves if we placed it on record that tailing and out by the bird fluttering about m its flighting, as understood by the Fancy, cage, and the occurrence of the tail coming WING OF A BIRD PARTIALLY STRIPPED OF FEATHERS TO SHOW THE INSERTION OF THE QUILLS. is a means justified by the end sought. It is with a settled conviction that we pen this, so much so that we scarcely like to advance anj'thing in palliation of the prac- tice lest we should find ourselves fencing out in the hand when a bird is caught is so frequent as to cause no surprise. This seems to suggest anything but the idea of " firm connection " ; and whether it be that from confinement and non-exposure with a subject on which our mind is fully to the effects of a free atmosphere the made up. But there is just one feature in tail-feathers become jirematiu'cly matured, the case to which we feel bound to refer, or that the ground in which they are The same authority we quoted in giving planted is less tenacious than the more the definitions of the various feathers says : muscular covering of the framework of the " The feathers of birds, while they remain wing in which the flights are placed, there perfect and firm in their connection, are is no getting away from the fact that the really parts of a living animal, and as such tail is so easily dislodged that, in the case of they must be regarded as organs of feeling, the London Fancy and Lizard varieties— in They do not, probably, in themselves feel which the presence of the nest-tail is an in- pain, but they are in intimate connection dispensable show condition — prudence sug- with parts which do. The epidermis in gests not only that they should not be no animal appears to feel pain, even in handled, but that, if possible, si:)ecially 22 1 70 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS c'Diitrivfd fiiges should ]>c runiished to reduce the possibility ol' accideut to the tail to a niininunn. \\v do not nuan to say that the tail is always in this loose state, but when we find it so we believe weeause the bird not the least ]iain. but do it a ]>osi- tive serviec, by pulling it all out. We say '■ i)ullinir "■ it out. but we niioht have said " blowiuLC "" it out : I'or in sneh ease a pulT will scatter it. and it recpiires more care to keep it in than trouble to pull it out. Even tail feathers, " firmly fixed," as wc woidd term it, come out with the exercise of but little force. This, however, does not apply to the wiuiis. in which wc find the quill-feathers more secm'cly fixed, as they e ing ],{jve a much heavier share of reathers. work to perform than the appliance risijfed aft, and there is no deny- ing that it docs take a ft'ood jerk to pull them out. The winti', moreover, has to be very carefully held to avoid the disloca- tion of the joints of the ■\vinti;. It is pos- sible also even to break some ])ortion of the bcin\' substance when fli' llioht I'cathci-s have had such things ha]i- pcn. \\v cannni tell what is the amount of pain inllictcd, but surely there must })e some possibly less in some cases than others. I'm- e\-en flight leathers are a])t to come out in a most provoking wav when they arc not wanted lo. as the experience of ,an hour's washing of dirty birds will eon- tn'm. \'ct if we lake a score of \dung birds twii nionHis old. wc do not think lli(i-c would be a loose wing feather found in the lot. The pain of extraction mav be much. Ol- il may Itc as im|)crceptiblc as thai occasioned by ])ulling out a hair, ami the statements of those who talk of (|ui\cring llcsh and broken bones arc met by dispassioued couni ci'-slalemenK I hat I he opc'ratiou is pci'l'celly sale, and the |>ain. if any, instantaneous. We agree that llie pain may be inslantaneons. but a,l the same time, if w(' ai'c to judge by the coiuluel of the bii'd tlui-ing the o])ci-ation, it must be acute, 'I'lie bird calls out as each lealher is ])nllcd from the wing — we are speakings, of coni'se. of the extraction of firmly fixed feathers — just as human beings call oul and flinch at a shar|> shoot of i)ain. Our illustration of a wing (page 169). showing how the flight feathers arc imbedded in the gristle-like substance which coats the bones, nuist confirm this o])inion. ^Ve cannot think, then, considering the eul to be accomplished, that the o])cration can be justified on the gi'onnd _f ^ of necessitv, more csiieeialh' Fractice . ■ . ' Justifiable ? ^^ there is a doubt in the case as to the amount of jiain inflicted and the extent ol' its dm-ation. Even if we give the defenders of the ]iracticc the benefit of this doul)t. the hel|)less condition of tlie birds after the operation is snflk'icnt to condemn it. bi some instances the perches have to be lowered so as to enable the l)ird to get on to them until the new -wing feathers have grown a fair length again. If the giving of classes for imflighted birds at shows has done nothing more than to discovn-age this cruel ])raetiee and render it unnecessary, a lasting benefit has been conferred on the Fancy. In the case of broken or frayed feathers. howcN'er. wc think the l)ii(l is as nnich benefited l)\ I heir I'emoval as BroKen inconvenienced bv I he opera- Feathers. , ,1 1 ' • tion. and all that is neccs- sar\' is to hold thai pni'lion of the wing from wliic'h Ihe injiu'ed I'ealher sjirings firnd\' between the finger and thumb, .and then the smarter the twitch the less will be the pain. A few of the small i>od\- feathers can be pulled oni in Ihe same maniK'r. and llic\ .art' re.illx' so sm.all in the quill llial Ihe pi'obable pain is not Wdrth a momcMils eonsidei'at ion. Il would be hard lines lo have to keep a good show bird at home throughout Ihe show season because it has a couple ol' broken flight feathers : but only in such circumstances should e\'cu a single wing feath( r be ('.raw n. The first ])lace on which the new feathers will be obsci'vcd is on the breast, where a rapid growth takes place. Ihe I'eathci's on MOULTING ON COLOUR-FOOD 171 the kmiiitudinal strips on cither side quiekly expanding and covering the whole, giving the breeder a fair oppor- Early Colour ^^^^^-^^^ ^^ -^^^j ^^ ^^ ^j^^ Evidence. „ ' future character of his bird. \Vith regard to depth of colour, very ludikely looking specimens in the flight cage may, perhaps, bid fair to become gems ; a sharp look-out shoidd therefore be kept on the groups in the flights, as well as on those moulting in conples. Any snch promising birds shoidd be removed at once into single cages, or placed in couples. It is this early promise, indeed, which eventually determines vv'hich birds are to remain to be moulted in company and which are to receive special attention, for, as we have already said, the nest feathers are not a sure criterion of futiu-e merit. The back next begins to throw out its new covering ; but the breeder will notice that there is a vast differ- ^'*.^^"*^ses of pj^pg jj^ ^j^g j.j^^g ^^ ^^,j^jp^ Quick Moult. . M. the work progresses ni dif- ferent birds. Some seem to go into it with a will, and there is a simultaneous casting of the whole plumage ; others are very lazy over it, and, in some cases, the moidt is lingering and protracted in a most tedious manner. Our experience has always been that a rapid moult is better in every way, and we believe this opinion is shared by the entire Fancy, not more for the sake of the bird than for the character of the results, which are always more satisfactory. We cannot help the " Why ? " coming in on the presentation of any natural phenomenon, and we think the " Because " which answers it in this case is, that the same amount of vital force which enables the bird to tlirow off its old feathers enables it to produce its new ones with correspond- ing vigour. Or, inverting the reason, we would say that it is the speedy production of the new growth that displaces the old ; and where we find healthy action at work in one direction, it is only natural to infer it is going on in others. Vigorous growth is therefore accompanied by vigorous feather-action of every kind. A lack of ability to produce new featlier will, in the same way, be attended by corresponding inability to carry on the other part of the work, and a slow moult, therefore, gener- ally means deficient colour. We may extend this yet a step farther, and say that in cases in which birds are late in going into moult, or show siuiis of not being able to moult at all, it is no cruelty to do our best to set the machine in motion, in the hojje that when once set going it may gather impetus and finish a work it had not the power to begin. The bird has to moult or die. In the olden days a common remedy was to pull out the tail feathers of such birds and then turn them into Accelerating , j fjj j^^ ^^^^^ ^ the Moult. ■ , , • much better plan is to give them saffron tea to drink. This is made by placing a few shreds of hay saffron in half a teacup of boiling water and let- ting it stand until cold. The bird's drinker should be filled with the liquor, which should be prepared fresh daily. The cage must be placed in a dark corner of a warm room, with its front half covered over, and to the small allowance of egg-food should be added on every third or fourth day a slight sprinkling of flowers of sulphur, until the bird gets well away with the moult. Very little sulphur must be added, or the bird will not eat the food. Wien once the overdue moult is thus started the bird usually goes right through without any further interru])tions, though, of course, its vigour must be maintained by light, nutritious feeding. Desperate diseases require desperate remedies, and if we had a bird which, after going so far, seemed to have no power to go farther, leaving the head with the feathers uncast, we should add the flowers of sulphur more frequently to the egg- food — just the slightest dust daily for five or six days. At the end of that time we should only give it every third day, or even at longer intervals. In obstinate cases there may be added to the water in an ordinary sized drinker half a teaspoonful of liquid cochineal, fresh daily. The bird should be kept very warm, ^vith the front CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS of its cage three parts covered with brown jiaper. Some fanciers wlioso lengthy experience entitles tlicni to respect do not hesitate to finger-])iuck the parts in Finger Plucking. such eases, but ^vc should only advocate this practice wlien all other renicchcs liad failed. In most cases a week or two of the treatment we have advised will assist Nature to huish her temporarily suspended work. The importance of maintaining the moult- ing action will be obvious. Heat is a powerful means to this end, and its ai)phcation Influence of Heat at Moults ing Time. '^ absolutely necessary when birds are late in completing their moult, and are overtaken by an early, cold, damp autunm. A hot- water coil, or any other generator of heat at disposal, shoidd be set going so as to keep the temperatvire up to 65 or 70 degrees imtii the moult is completed. When all the birds have finished getting their new coats the temperature can gi-adu- ally be lowered to normal. This will in no way make the lairds delicate ; but, on the contrary, tend to ])rescrve them in good health by assisting Nature to perform lu'i' functions just at a moment when colds and chills are more than usually fatal in their elTects, as I lie bird is in a state which I'cnders it very sensitive. As a |)rcc;iu- tiouMi'v measure it is well to covir 1 he front (if the cage with :\ sul)slautial sci-ccn. and |)art ieularly at ui^lils. wIk'ii it must lie i-cmcnibercd the hii'd 1ms to slcc|) with a sliorl :ill(i\vanct' of clothes, until the new fcatluTs ha\'e gio.vn their lull Icuglli. ()l)\'iously this will not he required where birds .-ire 'oeiiig eoloui'-IV-d. ;is tiie\ will all'endy lia\c been sheeted down. .\ co\ering also serA'cs to kce|) the n<'w- ])lumagc from being soiled by dust or smoke, w liieli w ill lind Influence of Light on Colour. ils wav into rooms in towns. despite e\iT\ elfort to exclude it. W'luil mkiv he the chemical elTect of light ui)on the eoloiu' we c;inuot explain, but it has been pro\-ed be\(iu(l doubt thai the direct ra\s of the abl sun do aiTeet colour induced by vegetable feeding to a greater or less degree, imtil the colour is fixed by the maturing of the feather. It is well, therefore, to shade against the harmful elTcets of fjrighl light. It is said that to darken the cages is detrimental to the bird's health. This is in a measure correct, but there is no neeil tt> do this ; it is sufficient if they be shaded from the full glare of daylight. Again, the material should not be heavy, so that it makes the cages close and stuffy : it shoidd hang an inch or two from the front of the cage, antl thus allow ample \'entila,- tion. Another way is to shade the window of the room so as to prevent the direct rays or bright light of the sun falling on the birds; but we have always founil the cage covering to be the better method. Nothing can exceed the spotless beauty of a bird when fresh moulted, before any- thing can have affected the bloom on its feathers; and for this, if for no other reason, we reconmiend covering u|> to- gether with perfect quiet — so that the bird ma.}' litei'ally have' notliiiiL; to do but to moult. The whole process of moult iiig occupies about a I'oiiplc of iiioiiths. of which period, ire<|iieiit ly, a considerable por- 7J^''J'"'^„°^ li"" i^ oeeui)ied bv the re- the Moult. ' clothing of the head and neck. So long as a. single |)en leather is \isiblc protruding through the o'hci's. so long is the moult going on. :ind so long must the colour-food be coiit iiiiied. l'l\'eu when the bird a|)pears "line." if it be caught and "" blown." it will he siin tliat there are slill an astonishing nimiber of young fc;it liei-s en\i-loped in t heir lit t le sheat lis u()t vet expanded. This format ion can be most ck'arK' seen on the head of a (rested Canary, and we have known cxiiiliitors on the eve of a. show open one i>y one with a sli:ir|> |icn-kiiife the ■-kiu-like sheatlis wliieli eiicnse the feathers, and blow them out so .IS to ]iroduce a respectable crest. Anyone atleiiipl iiiti such a I'eat needs to be very careful nol to iI:iiii;il;c I he l'c;ilher. and it is bettir not to try it unless (piite una\oid- able. r^ * 41 Hv v\ ^ rt r V < '"4k i ii «/."/./ ^?^' -:^a^^.: 5^' -^ ^^^-^ •>v-^7-,r( /■I- 'r ■ Y WHAT THE MOULT DOES FOR A POPULAR BRITISH BIRD A Greypate Youngster and an Adult Goldfinch. 1/4 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS As the niDiilt ;L|)|)r()aclifs (•i)inj>lrt ii>ii tlu- birds hcniu to re<;'aiu tlicir spriyhtliiiess. and tlicir appetite — whieii in some will iiave hci-n ratiier last idious --retnriiiiiL;' tluy will de- mand a sniipiy ol' substantial I'ood. Tlic more dainty regimen must now be gradually discontinued till the bird is once more on its hard seed ; and what colour-food it still has should be given in the form of cake, or. if mixed with soft food, only at longer intervals. A day should at lirst be missed. then a little later two days, and so on. This enables the system to get gradually accustomed to the hard seed and plainer diet again. The metamorj)hosis the bird has uncU-r- gonc will be seen to be truly wonderful. Wherever there exists a tin\- After the pi„.,-,ient cell there will the subtle Moult. ' " action of tiie blood have con- veyed its complement of colouring matter, while the theory that the leg-scales and other featherless parts arc composed of the s;imc material as the feather, and are physiologically but cell developments, will receive vcrilieation from the evidences they will present of Ix-ing also receptacles of the })igment matter which, I'oi' the last two months, has been playing such an important )iart in the moult, and desclop- ing in their case to a rich Uesh colour. Little remains to be said under the head of general management ; but the gems of the season shoidd now be transferred to separate cages, because, as they continue to freshen and come into song, they will turn jealous and pugnacious, and if left together may mutilate each other and thus spoil their chance of success in the show I'ooni. Of course, where they do agree, leave well alone, for there cannot he sepa- rate accommodation for every bird, and alter the best have been drafti'd olT into separate compaitments or cages, the re- mainder can go into winter quarters — the cocks, half a dozen or more, in roomy ilights or in the double breeding compart- ments, and the hens in numbers to suit the cage room at conunand. Casual ipiar- relsome birds should be isolated, or they will cause contimial strife amongst the fellow occui)ants of their llight. WASIUNG A CANARY (5K p- "l^- Mr. James Johnston. Kilmarnock, with Apparatus. I>r>infi and Show C&go. CHAPTER XIV EXHIBITING AND WASHING Owing, in some dcoree, to the remarks of a few exhibitors and to the advice of certain writers and lecturers desirous of giving an impression of their special ability to impart supposed secrets, it is thought liy many that two or three weeks of more or less occult " conditioning " is the main secret of successfiU exhibition. In many cases special treatment for "condition" is useful ; but it cannot be said too plainly that it all amounts to nothing in compari- son with that success in rearing and moulting ah-eady described. Many birds require no further treatment, and such as do not are those which, as a rule, make the best exhibition birds. First-rate show condition means simply perfect health, cleanliness, and just that amount of flesh which gives a finish to a bird's shape and does not approach an over-fat condition, which mars the symmetry of any variety. Uninjured plumage is of the utmost importance, and for this reason a bird must be steady in its cage to show off well, and also ncit to damage or dis- arrange its plumage. It is also essential that birds be shown in the recognised show-cage of its variety. Of those for Canaries we give illustrations in this cha];ter. and shall deal with those for hybrids and British birds later. The illustration on this page depicts a Norwich show-cage, a shape that also answers admirably for Greens and Cinna- mons (Norwich type). No cage displays these birds to greater perfection. The cages differ slightly in their inside colour, those for the Norwich and Cinnamons being hedge-sparrow egg blue and that for the Greens being a light bluey-green, quite Norwich Show=cages. flat in tone — that is, without gloss. The outside of all and the wires are coated with black enamel or wood Japan-black. In size, roughly speaking, a Norwich show- cage measures 12 inches long, 11 inches high, and 5 inches deep from front to back, outside measurement, though some makers may vary them ^ inch. Double cages of this description are also made for show- ing pairs of birds in ; they are just twice the length, with a wire partition in the A NORWICH SHOW-CAGE. centre, one bird being placed in each com- partment. The Lizard and London Fancy are sho^\ n in a cage of similar type, but a size smaller, about 11 inches long, 10 inches high, and 5 inches deep. The top of the cage is slanting, like that of the inner lining of the Norwich cage, and has no outer roof like the latter. The inside of the Lizard cages is azure blue for " golds " and moss-green for " silvers." Azure blue answers well for the inside of London Fancv show-cages, Cages for Lizard and London Fancy. 175 176 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS the outside of ;ill bcinu' black, as lor the Noi'wich. On this page we give the recognised show-cage I'or Crests and Crestbreds. It will be oljservcd that it is (iT the same shape as the Norwich show-cage, but larger, on acco\int of the size of the bird. Its dimensions Crest Cages. SHOW-CAGE FOR CRESTS AND CRESTBREOS. are 13 inches long. Ill inches high. an\ a lull view of the expanse ol' crest, and also show olT to greater ;i.dviintagc the large heads ol' Crestbreds. 'I'lie wnlci- Inilc in this cage is necessarily much largi'r. so that no damage or disarraiigcnieiit of tin' crest leathers may occur when the birds drink. Some laucicrs show Crests and Crest- breds in a siuiilar cage, but with the front portion of the cage top ina.de of wire to a depth of '2 inches tiack insti'ad of wood, tlie top of tile wire front being bent o\-ei' thus: C- a,iid let into the narrower wood on t ()]>. These cages do not protect t he birds from water t)r soiled seed ilro|)])ed fi'om cages above so well as the all-wood top. and they can be seen e(|ua,ll\ well ui the recognised cage which we illustrate. I ledge-sparrow egg blue answers well h)r the colour of the inside, the outside and wires lieiug black. Uoul)le cages are also made, in which to show i)airs of this variety. They are just twice the length of the single ones, with a wire partition in the centre, a water hole in each com]!artment. and a door at each end. as in tlie Xorwicli cage. Such a cage is essential in jiair classes for this N'aricty. as the wire ])artition ])revents any ])ossibility of a bird's crest being dan. aged by the other, as a uiouthfid or two of feathers taken out will ruin a crest for show ])urposes for at least six weeks, until the feathers have grown again. Birds of position have an entirely dif- ferent iiattern of show-cage, the entire to]) jxn-tion being all wire. \\ ith Cages for ^ wooden bottom and b-auie- work round. On this page is tlie latest ])attt'ru of a Helgian show-cage, largely used by exhi- liitors of the IJclg'au Canary and adopted l^y the I'mted Kingdom Belg'an Canary Assoc'ation as their standard show-cage. It is nu;ch neater and lighter tlian the old clumsy dome-sliaped cage in use many years since, and sliows the l)irds oil" ctpiallv well. Tliis cage measures '.) inches Birds of Position. HI ICUAN SUOWCAGE. long. .">.', inches wide, and l'_>i- inches hiyh. which height includes the woocien legs. 2 inches in lengtli. on which the cage stands. EXHIBITING AND WASHING 177 A similarly shaped cage answers well for Dutch Frills, uut a size larger, say 10 inches long. ()i inches wide, and 13 inches high (including the 2-inch wooden legs). high outside measurements. For many years these cages had four wooden legs 4 inches long, which made the total height IS inches. It was maintained by many of the old breeders that the legged cage gave the bird a more c;)nimanding appearance and showed it off to greater perfection. Be that as it m.ay, these legs were a source of expense to exhibitors who sent birds by rail to shows, owing to the large cases required to pack them in, and to relieve this unnecessary expense the Lancashire and Lizard Fanciers' Asso- ciation decided some few years ago to do away wath the legs and to adopt the cage illustrated. We believe the Lancashire Canary Association also adopted the same cage, though there are still some few exhibitors who keep to the old form. These cages, too, are coloured black, both inside and out, though when those with legs were in general use the wood frame round the bottom and the legs were YORKSHIRE SHOW-CAGE. the actual height of the body of the cage being 11 inches. The Belgian cage is painted or enamelled black, or covered with a coating of wood Japan-black, both inside and out, wires as well. Either enamel or Ja]>an-black is better than paint, and when dry and hard is very durable and gives a nice finish. The f^ame colour answers equally well for the Dutch Frill show-cage. Above we give an illustration of the generally recognised show-cage for York- shire Canaries, and a more suitable cage to enable this bird to display its standard properties it would be impossible to find. The measurements are taken from a cage now before us, 9 inches long, 6J inches wide, and 14 inches high to the highest point of the dome, the dome rising from 11 inches at the sides. On this page, too, is a Lancashire show- cage. This is squarer than the Yorkshire, made of mahogany, either French polished and larger, owing to the size of the bird for or varnished, and very attractive they which it is intended ; it also has a flat top. looked. It is, however, much better to The size of those we have measured is have all show-cages for any one variety 9 inches long, 7i inches wide, and 14 inches of the same uniform size and colour. 23 LANCASHIRE SHOW-CAGE. 178 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS The present-day Scotch Fancy show-cajic is ilhistnited on this page. The to]i portion ot t!ie cage is all wire : the bottom and the four corner uprights arc ol' wood cxtendiut;' hall'-way np, finished rff witii a fancy turned bone si^ii-al. The 1o|> portion of the corner uprights is of wire l)assed through the Vtone spiral and forced into the io\> of the wooden upright. In sonic the middle cross-bars are of wood, and in others of wire, with a sliding door at the end. Some have, besides, a small door iu the front below the middle bai-. Some of the cheaper kinds are coloured all black. l)ut the better-class cage is made of niahogan\-. either French polished or var- nished, while others have the front liottom eross-l^ar bcautifidly iidaid with various fancy woods. As will be observed, two ])erches are arranged on the cross-bars so that the birds can take a regulated ho]) of about T iuchcs. a characteristic we shall deal with full\' in the chapter on this bird The cage is oblong in sha])e. with the toj) slightly domed. In length it is about 1.5 or 1(1 inches, 5 or 5\ inches wide, and 11 inches higli at the ends, rising gradually to i:i iuclus in the centre of the dome. ()u this page is also shown a Border Fancy stiow-eage, sinular in sliaiic to the Scotch Fancy, but smaller. The middle cross-bars are made of wire, and drop at SCOTCH FANCY SHOW-CAGE. BORDER FANCY SHOW-CAGE. the ends with au ai'tistic curve. This kind of cross-bar is a.No used in some Scotch Fancy show-cages. With either variity it gives a set-olf to the bird, though, of course, it will not make a jxior sjieeiuien of a bird into a good one. The J5ordcr l*'ane\' cage lias onl\ oni' door at the end ; the cage is i;! or 1.'}^ inches long, o inches wide, and '•• iuelies high at tiii' ends, ris- ing gradnall\' to 11 | inches iu the centre of dome. it is rolom-cd black both inside and out. the wires as well, and has two perches rest- ing on the middle cross- liars. Show-cages rccpiire to l;e k(])t in just as good eon- dit ion as bii'ds. t li (■ y sli(iul(] :ilso Ik' spot- lessly clean cNcry lime 1 he birds arc run iulo tluin to send lo a show, or other- wise the i)luniage will be soili'd. 'I'o a\(iid this it is essential to wash the show- cage each time it is rcfiuired, so tliat good work iu |)re- ])aiiugthe i)irds ma\ not be uiulone. The task need not be a long one ; a good Cleanliness in Cages. EXHIBITING AiND WASHING 179 sluicing in water is the work of hut a few moments, and tlie cage soon dries. The paint shovdd also be kept in good condi- tion, and if tlie cage be given a fresh coat of enamel just before each show season it will look as good as new. Cages thus kept set off the good condition of an exhibit just as a dirty cage has a tendency to detract from the bird's value. If the exhibitor is desirous of making his own show-cages, he can do so by following the directions "°^ *° "^^^^ given in Chapter V. relative Show=Cages. ^ ' to ordinary cages. Those for Norwich, Cinnamon, Norwich-type Greens, Lizards, London Fancies, and Crests and Crestbreds are all made with loose or movable wire fronts, and when first enamelled or painted will require at least two coats, both inside and out. When the first is thoroughly dry and hard it should be rubbed down smooth with fine glass-paper ; the second coat will then cover with a smooth, even surface. It should be remembered that enamel should be applied thinly, as if it is put on thickly it will run and give a bad finish to the work. The cages shoidd be thoroughly dry and hard before the birds are put in them. We have known birds' plumage to be literally ruined for the whole show season through lack of this precaution. We said early in this chapter that a bird must be at home and steady in its show- cage, otherwise it will not th ""B'^d" display its good qualities and plumage before the judge to the best advantage. This is where carefid '■ training "" conies in ; that is, running the birds into the show-cages frequently until they become reconciled to them. Some birds are born show birds, and from the time they leave their parents can be run into the show-cage and will move about in it with all the grace and confidence of an old show bird. Such sjiecimens give practically no trouble. But there are others — good birds, too — that have not the same nerve with regard to strange show-cages and faces, and require very carefid handling mitil they gain confid- ence. Specimens for exhibition should therefore not merely be run into the show-cage, but accustomed to seeing people in front of their cages, to having their cages lifted and handled, and to be "run" from one cage into another. The last is very important, and is easily taught, its use being to save unnecessary catching, which soils the birds and fre- cjuently damages their plumage. A good plan to adopt is, when a friend calls to have a chat and look at the birds, to run all nervous birds out into the show- cage and let him take them gently in hand as well as yourself, and look them over. It is surprising how soon even birds that are nervous become steady with a little such training ; the start, however, should not be made about a week before a show, but from the time they are able to feed themselves, or soon after. Of course, birds which are born steady show birds will only require an occasional run into the show-cage, as it does not do to make them too tame, or they will want to play instead of show off their good qualities, a fault just as bad as not being steady. What is wanted is that birds should not flutter about in the show-cage, but move about their perches with an air and grace as if they were of some import- ance. It is, of course, not necessary to use newly painted show-cages for training, so long as they are scrupulously clean. Some large exhibitors reserve their new cages exclusively for the exhibitions. At the beginning of the show season most birds that have just finished their moidt and have been kept in a room by themselves and sheeted down, as explained in the chapter on moulting, will be fit for the first shows Avithout being washed, as they will then be in that spotlessly clean condition which has very much to do with success in exhibiting. A few weeks later, however, the new coat becomes soiled, and hence most light-coloured birds have to be washed before being shown. " Tubbing," indeed, is an absolute necessity in tliese days of close competition. A few i8o CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS favoured fanciers living in some of those sweet villau'es still kit to iis may be exempt from the necessity of washino' birds, for in sueli ])in'e air. if ])ro]ieriy attended to and a.llo\ved to bathe freei\-, Canaries ean sin'pass in briuiitncss and bloom all that the best washinu' eonid do for those bred, say, in London, Bradford, or Manchester. Most Canaries, however, are town-bred, and snch nnist he washed occasionally to have a chance of success. One good wash will often sulliee for more than one show if the birds are able to haV'C a day between at home so that their show-cages ean be cleaned out or the transfer effected to a fresh one. The ])ro- cess of washinij. however, is very exhausting to the birds, and should on that account not be abused. The result of too frequent washing is a kind of giving way of the feathers, which might almost be called a rid)bing- out. and which is very apt to dis- Over= washing. play itself about the back of the neck especially. By these or similar signs a bird which has been subjected to nnieh tubbing can often be recognised at good shows. Ill spite of all this, however, wash- ing being a nceessary evil, let us see how it may be made the best of, for with care nuieh can be accomplished without injiirx' to the feather for a. miinber of times in succession. We li,-i,\'e long rw this Innteil at the propriety of enlisting the aeti\-e sympiilliies of one's '"better half"' in a.ll experiments in Canarydom : and now that we re;icli the Unal stages of getting our birds into proper condition to show. Iliis course is more tli:i,n ever advisable, since the domestic domain is almost nccessarils invaded. if i)reeding. :iii(l rearing, and monlting ha,\<- been snccessfiilh sur- mounted, it will be strange if hoi)es and syiii|);i,tliies ;ire mil excited by this time as To the nltimalc result. If t he o|)erator has not seen a, bird washed liy some experienced exhibitor which we ad\ise him to lose no eh:inee of doinn he should not attempt to \\:isli his iiest birds first. .\ common one. or e\(ii a spnrrow, is good enough to practise on at lirst , and if successful with one of these confidence is gained, and \\itli it half the liattle. enabling tin- ojierator to tackle the good birds aright. First of all. bi'fore o])erations ari.' eom- mcneed. if there are children in the house it will generalh- be best T''^^'"^!!""^ to see them safelv to bed. for Washing. There are some httle trea- sures, born fanciers, who know how to abide still as mice until need arises, when a little hand will ])ass a warm cloth or other necessary, neither one moment too soon nor too late - no one would think of send- ing Ihrni to bed. But average children are sadly in the way. and all the sjiacc by the fire is badly wanted. ^loreover. washing a small bird requires care, and chatter l)y no means assists the process. While this is being managed, then, let a good lire. free from ash and dust, be made up. and some large vessel full of hot water jilaccd ujion the hob so as to kec]) simmering- Boiling is not necessary, but if many birtls are to be done, plenty of hot water will be wanted thrcjugh the evening. A drying-cage is also required. There are various forms of such, but wlun at all possible bii'ds are best ^'■yi^e ,i|.i(,,i 1,^. .^ii- heated bv hot Cages. \vatcr. This is aceoin]>lished by lia\iiig a hot-water tank, about .'5 ineliis deep. Ki to '20 inclies in length, and 10 or 11 inelies broad. It ean. of course, be larger or smaller as desired. This lank is iiia.ik' eitlur of copper or block tin. and stands on four legs. I- inches high, thus admitting of a, small gas ring or spirit lamp being ])laced beneath the tank. There is a small fniiiiel-slia|)e(l o|)eiiiiig in the lop at one corner \\herel)\ to llll and enipl\ I he tank, and also act as .-in onllel for the steam if the water gets \t'ry hot. This tank can be i)laced on an\' convenient linn piece of furniture, .and on it should stand a, box-shaped cage iiiade of wiiod. with a, wire bottom and front. To form Ihis bottom, lirsl make a wire frame the si/e of the inside measiircminf s of the cage, and stretch a ])iccc of stout llannelcttc over it : then llx this rii'inU in the cage at EXHIBITING AND WASHING i8i 1 inch to lo- inches Troni the bottom oi' stood upon tiic t;il)lc and the tank fdled the sides and back. A very good plan is with boiling watci-. When the birds are to nail a narrow strip of wood along the washed after being rolled in the flannel inside of the two ends 1 inch from the they are laid on the perforated tray over bottom, so that the wire frame can then the tank. After they have been there the rest on them and be quite firm. The necessary time they are taken out of the reason for thus raising the drying cage flannel and put into the flight, with a floor level is to prevent the bird's feet or perforated ti'ay, above where they had been h'ing. This is repeated until all the birds are washed. The flight has a glass front, which protects the birds from body touching the hot tank. The front of this cage is a movable wire one, with a door in it, or a door can be made in one of the wooden ends. Over the wii-e front a sheet of glass is made to slide in grooves, to keep the heat in the cage and at the same time not obstruct the light. This cage should be made slightly shorter and narrower than the top of the tank, the heat from which rises through the flan- nelette. The temijerature is regulated by a ventilator in the top. It is well to have a thermometer hung inside the cage at the back so that the temperature can be seen at a glance, and it should be re- nrembered that 90 degrees Fahr. is a suitable heat to maintain. On this page is illustrated such a cage draughts. The heat from the tank and ready for use, with the glass front over the vapour from the birds can be regu- DRVING CAGE. WITH HOT-WATER TANK. the wires. The advantage of drying birds in a cage of this kind is that it is im- possible for the birds' feathers to dry "harsh" by heat generated by hot water : furthermore, owing to there being plenty of light, as soon as the birds get partly dry they begin to plume and preen out their feathers. In Canary and Cage Bird Life there appeared, on November 5, 1909. another pattern drying cage, heated by a hot- water tank, the work of Messrs. .1. E. Reeves and A. Mallett, and we are indebted to the Editor of that journal for her kind permission to reproduce an illustration of this cage (p. 182), with Mr. Reeves's des- cription of it, which is as follows : " When lated and ventilated by a thermometer inside and two 2-inch discs on the toj). The birds can remain in this state till the next day without any fear of getting a chill or of the feathers drying too sharply as before a fire. The idea is that, after birds have been washed and allowed to remain in a space where there is a moist heat, by flying and preening themselves the feathers gradually dry and retain their natural sheen and tight position, as by the ventilation the heat and -s'apour leave as the birds dry. Anyhow, it has proved so after the many successful trials we have made. Work worth doing is worth doing- well. The following are the dimensions, inside measurements : Case, 21 inches about to wash the birds the cage can be square and 10 inches deep ; flight, 12 lS2 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS inches hiiih, witli iicrforiited zinc bottom truy : dryinn' coiiipartnicnts. .") iiiclics liiyh witli Iray as al)(>vf. wliicli is dircctiy over tiic taniv ; tank s])aee. 4 inches hiyli. The tank is made of c()p]XT, covered with flannel to retain the heat. It slides in at the hack on 1-inch blocks screwed to the bottom of the case, and has 1 inch s])aee o [/ ^ o ^ V \ ANOTHKR FORM Ol- 1)KV1N(; CAGK. all round, so as not to come in eontael willi llie cast-, which also oives a ^ood sui'- Tacc of ileal. The hack ol' the (li ])erches screwed on ironi I lie l);'ek. I he ,'-iiieli perlorated Iray which shdcs in IVoni the hack niakini^' il up lo T_> inches loi' (liyht and aetiny as .-i lilock ioi' I he I wo doors oi I he drying coinp.-ii'l nicnl : in I lie latter another tray slides in and acts as a block i'oi' the two doors ol' the tank s])a('c. There are two I'oldiiiL; doors. hinL^fd and opcninfj outwards lor the aee ^vhieh can be opened siuyly ii rt'(juired. \Vhen eleaniuL:. the doors are o])ened and trays taken out. u'iving the whole a clear space. The cage was desjoned and made by Mr. A. Mallett. ol' West Ilani, London.'" If it is not convenient, however, to have a drying cage heated by hoi water, then the old-hishioned wav Drying before ^^^ ^j,.^,;, . ^j^^ j^j^.^j^ j,^ .;,^ the Fire. , • ' '7 ordmaiv Ixix cage before the tire must be resorted to, bnt an arrange- ment far snperior to an ordinary box cage can now be obtained lor use under these conditions. That is, a box-shaped cage al)out the size of a single breeding cage, with the top, bottom, and sides of wood, and with flannelette or stout calico stretched tight across the back and tacked to the wooden frame all round. The woodwork inside and out is left unpainted. ;ind the front of the cage is of glass. A small ventilator is made in the top- -so that the heat can l)e regulated -and adoor at one end. A cou])le of perches are placed fairly low down, say ;3 inches from the bottom, so that the birds can get on to them easily before tluy are dry. The inside of the bottom must be covered with clean llannel or some handy woollen material. The cage is then placed where a, good heat from the fire can reach it. with the llannelette l)ack towiirds the fii'c. though not near enough to scorch. J?\' this means the birds get the warmth of the fire through the material, and at the same time can have a good light from the room tlii'ough the glass on the rexcrse side, and thus are able to git about and jirecn their hathei's as they dry. The mistress of the house luning been ])ro])it iated as aforesaid, we next beg a few eleau. soft cloths — Other Preparations. clidii (Did sdfl. mind— about 1 S inches sipiare : and l;i,sH\, from the same or oilier source, three yood-si/.ed basins. Washing-hasius arc \ery suitable for the ])urposc. as they are less liable to be overturned : but better than all are the round white pans to be liad in some ])arts of l'',ngl;iiid. of e(iua.l size at bottom and toi>; these, when procurable, not onl\ stand firm, bui without occupy- EXHIBITING AND WASHING 183 ing any more room, hold double the quantity of water, which consequently keeps cleaner and needs less attention. The first basin or pan should be half- filled with warm water of about 50 degrees. If clean rain-water is procurable for tlie purpose so much the better for both wash- ing and rinsing, as this needs no addition to soften it. Failing this, a piece of lump borax should be dissolved in the ordinary hot Avater ; a piece the size of a small haricot bean will be quite sufficient to soften a quart of water, and will be beneficial to the bird's feathers. Certainty should be made that borax is used, as we know of two instances where fanciers were given alum in mistake for borax, with the result that the plumage of several of their most valuable birds was ruined for a whole season — until, indeed, they moulted again ; the feathers were stiffened, and many of them caused to stick up like porcupine quills, while the plumage was given a bleached appearance. After the water has been softened it should be thoroughly impregnated with soap by means of a badger-hair or other soft shaving brush, rubbed over good yellow or white soap. The other basins should be half filled with water maintained at a temperature of 90 degrees. A small piece of borax should be added to each of these waters. The soap should be placed where it is liandy. A good plan is to bed it in the soap-dish with flannel, so that it will not slip about wliile jjassing the brush over it when wasliing the birds. These preparations completed, the actual washing of the birds can be begun. Take your first bird and place it along the palm of the left hand, as shown on this page, the head towards the wrist, and the tail pro- jecting between the thumb and forefinger, while the other fingers hold the bird lightly but firmly, the little finger securing the head, and the others the shoulder or side of the wing. It will be readily found that in this posi- tion the bird can be held lightly yet with perfect securitj', and that the posi- How to Wash Birds. tion of its body can be clianged at convenience, according as the back or sides are being done. Innnerse all but just the head in the suds for a few seconds, whilst the lather-brush is being plied with FIRST POSITION FOR WASHING. telegraphic speed over the soap ; as soon as a good free lather is obtained in the brush, lift the bird out, remove tlie thumb or second finger out of the way, and wash well with the brush the lower part of the body, the wings, and tail ; always work in the same direction as the feathers lie, occasionally dipping the ])arts that are being washed into the soap-suds. Do this until the dirt appears gone, and when satis- fied tliat the back up to the shoulders, sides, and top of tail are clean, turn the bird over in the hand as shown in the ^MiBailll;,l!!.£l!i;;iil:il|i,!lii|il i.iHaMlia^^#?' ■ SECOND POSITION FOR WASHING. next illustration, with its head coming under the little finger towards the wrist as before, and commence brushing the under side of the wings and tail, opening i84 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS the winijs ;is imirh as possible ; and liiiisli oil' with the throat, breast, and belly. Having done this, reverse the bird, lioitling it in the hand as at first, exce]>t that the head and neck shoidd now be between the thnnib and forefinger ; it can be field quite securely in the j)ahn of the liand witfi tlie other three lingers, thus allowing the o])erator to open the forefinger and thnnib, and giving full scope to wash the head and neck, whicli are always best done last, as they can then be quickly rinsed from soap, and so prevent undue irritation to the eyes should any soap jjerchance get into them. With the bird in tliis ])osition it can be field with forefinger and tiiumfj round tlie neck while the ticad is washed, opening the finger ANOTHER METHOI3 OF HOLOING A lOKU FOR wvsniN'c. and tlninib as e.\i)hi,ini(l, and securmg tlie i)ir(l willi the other lingers while the ne<'k is dealt with, and rcni(i\ing llic other fingers sulliciently and alternately like those of a. violinist, to give space as head and neck arc washed, taking eai'c that I he dirt is well removed round llie beak and luis- trils. and linishing olT with I lie shoulders. The tliii'd linger, |)laced under Ihc Ihroat. will rcadiU' raise the head for its wash. It is no use a,ttem|)ting 1o l)e loo p.-niiiai- la.r a.boul the eyes: il is licllcr to lorgil llial the bird has an\'. e\cc])t. of course, that care will be taken that the l)rush floes not (;ome against those delicate organs, and this is best acconiplishcd by passing the side of the brush over them. The soap will alfi'cl tluni for the moment, but this cannot be helped : its elTeet soon passes oft, and it is no use fretting ; most sensible birds shut their eyes. Should the foregoing method of fiold- ing a bird be f'onntl awkward or dillicult — and different hands seem naturally to fall intcj tlilTercnt methods — there is another we have seen practised with good results. In this method the head is passed between the thnnib and forefinger of the left hand, and the three other fingers spread out so as to support the flights and tail whilst they and the back are washed with the brush, as shown on this page. The bird is then reversed and laid on its back in the jialni of the hand, while tlie throat, l)reast, belly, and under parts of the wings and tail are washed : it is then reversed as before and tlie last three fingers closed over the back with the thumb and fore- finger opened suflieiently to allow the head, neck, and shoulders to undei'go the operation. Should this mi'thod be ])nr- sned, care must be taken not to [ircss the neck feathers too tightly with tfie fingers, or they may become " frilled." S(j far all is fairly simple ; but at first, until the operator gains confidence and masters the task, he is almost as afraid to handle a Canary as average men are to meddle witti a new-born baby. It is dilfi- cidt to avoid a fear that the legs will come off, or till' bird eollaj)sc. or something I'cpudly dreadful ha])|)en. Once get over this and remember tfiat the object is sinqily to get the dirt out of the feathers, and that there is no danger so far. or any great ])articu- la.rity as to which way the brush moves so long as it mo\es in the general direction ol' the leathers, and that is enough. Of eouise. it should be seen that there is uo |)a,rt ieulai' pi'essure on a,n\' |)ai't of the body, cspceiallx' on the belly. We will su|i|)ose that the bii'ds are now clean. The next thing to do is to scpicezc the soap from the lil'usji. dip it in the water in the second basin- making sure thai t liis is ol' I he tem- perature ads ised and with it washout the soap left in the birds plumage. Finally, hold the i)aticnt (by this time reduced to eomparati\-e tameiicss) in as ])erpeiulicu- Rinsing. -T--~'T^"- y ^ ^\ao>j CRESTS AND CRESTBRED Evenly Wing-marked Yellow Dark Crest Clear Buff Dark Crest Yeilow-Oreen Crestbred EXHIBITING AND WASHING 185 lar a position as possible, and scoop the water in the third basin over it with the rioht hand until it is perfectly free from soap. A small cup can be used to run the water over the feathers, allowing it, of course, to run in the direction in which the feathers should lie. In either case too much water should not be placed on the head, as this exhausts the bird — about three sluicings over the head are quite suffi- cient. After this the flights and tail should be gently drawn through the fingers to remove as nuich water as possible before proceeding to the drying stage. Care must be taken not to use much pressure, or a portion, or possibly the whole, of the tail may be pulled out. If preferred, a sponge may be used for the final rinsing, and the bird may even be dipped and freely moved in the clean warm water — with the ex- ception, of course, of the head. In what- ever way it is done it should be remem- bered that the great point is to get every particle of soap completely out of the plumage, for if any is left in it will pro- portionately liinder a good result. At this stage a heavy sigh may probably be heard from the " better half," and an anxious face be seen watching the }>ro- ceedings. Very likely the operator feels badly too, as he beholds the miserable little object he has produced ; few men have ever '' smoie a smile "' at this crisis of their first wash. Never mind ; but having first " wrung out " the bird, as it were, with the fingers (some people draw the wings and tail through the lips instead), take one of the soft cloths, previously well warmed at the fire, which the good wife will have all ready for you ; place the bird on it, and '' dab " it gently between the hands until the worst of the wet is soaked up by the cloth. Be especially sure that the water is well absorbed from about the belly, vent, and under the wings. An excellent method of " towelling " for efi'ect- ing this purpose is to place a secf)nd dry and hot cloth over the whole left hand ; then take the bird with the right liaud, with the two first fingers under the belly and the thumb over the root of the tail 24 and ends of the wings, when the patient will open its wings a little at the shoul- ders. At once the covered left thumb is popped under one wing (extending between wing and body), and the left second and third fingers (also covered by the warm cloth) under the other wing (sec illustra- tion), which will, with a little judicious manipulation, rapidly soak up the wet all along the belly and under the wings. After this the left forefinger, brought up over the right side of the laird's neck, holds it securely while the right hand takes up the loose end of the cloth and wipes over the head, down the back, flights, and tail. The wet being, in the main, soaked up, another hot, dry cloth, doubled this time, is taken in the right hand, How to Dry .^^^^ ^j^^ ^,j,.^i ^^^^j^, j.^jj^^ the Bird. . , '^ in it, so twisting the cloth at the end where the head lies that the bird cannot sli}5 out, but at the same time allow- POSITION FOR DRYING. ing free access of air to the beak, so that the bird can breathe quite freely. Let it lie in front of the fire in this position for a few minutes — not too near, but just to keep nice and warm — to recover some- what, and then take it out of the cloth, see that its plumage is all lying in its proper position, and place it in the drying cage — on the perch if it has recovered suf- ficiently to stand ; if not, put it gently on the cloth which covers the bottom of the cage. If it is one of the hot-water drying cages, close the door and slip down the glass front, and tnat is all that is necessary. If a cage is being used so as iS6 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS to dry the birds be lore the fire, plaec it in front as previously explained, and leave the bird alone. The bird may appear half dead, in which case some think it best to hold it quietly in a cloth near the fire till a good pidsation can be felt in the heart again, and then place it in the cage. But very few — not one in hundreds — really do die, and it is as well to place the bird in the warm flannel-lined cage at once, with the tail pointing towards the fire. It will generally lie there till about iuill dry, when it will give a bit of a roll over, stand u]) suddenly, and hop on to the perch. taking care of itself till the feathers assume their natm-al appearance. Here a word of c;iution is necessary. The drying cage nuist be very warm, for the danger of chill is consider- ^"'f.^ °^ ;i,l)!e. On the other hand, if Uaution. too hot there is a possibility of the birds becoming faint. Hence the advantage oi having a small thermometer in the cage, as it can then be watched and the tem])crature not allowed to rise above 90 degrees. Throughout the washing the licat of the water should be kept u]> by judicious changes or additions, and it should be I'cncwcd as olten as dirt or soaj) make it necessary. The cloths should be regularly dried and heated after each use on a bird, so as to be always ready I'or the next: a towel should also be ke]>t foi- the sole ])urposc oT wiping the wet bauds alter each bird is done. If a bird gels cold ;i,u(l slii\(Ts aJter it is j)ut in the drying cage, it should ahvaii-s be taken in hand and carelully wra|)|)e(l in a, i.-iirly wai'ni cloth for a niinulc or two. when another warm cloth shoulil be applied. This o|)eratiou repeated two or three times will soon thoroughly warm Ihe bird, when it cin be returned to I In- drying cage, where it \\ ill soon move about and commence to plume itscir. In conclusion, we may remark tluil oiie ])raetical lesson from a. good praelic;il washer will be more elTictual thnri a eait- load oi inst nu't ions ; but il' if ea,uiiot be obtained it is well to practise, as we said at the beginning, on a lew common birds before those of value are operated upon. As the birds get thoroughly dry — if being dried before a fire — they should be gradu- ally moved farther from it. When there are many to be washed, they Wash ^ ^'^ generally moved into an- other cage as they dry off ; this is quite safe, as the room will have got fairly warm. It need hardly be said that the cage into which a washed bird is put should be scru})ulously clean. \\'hcn the washing is done and the bird is dry it is essential that it should have a drink and feed. After this it is best to draw a linen cloth over the cage and leave it for the night. If the bird does not look as well as it might in the morning, it is a good plan to |>ut a ilannel or other clean cloth over the bottom of the cage and give it a natural bath ; this is the surest and Ijcst way of getting the feathers quite right and restoi-ing the natural bloom. SoTne birds" attire looks so perfect alter they have been washed that it is well not to ofiV^r thi'm the bath, as in that case it does not imjirove them, rather the reverse — so the fancier nmst be guided l)y circumstances ; but if a bath would apparent ly improve tlu' liuish ol' a bird, and il will not bathe when it is olTered, it should be sprayed with tepid water, though not o\(r-(lone. or the bird, instead of ])reening itsell'. will sit sulkily huddled up in a. lum]). Such a spray may be ])urehased from any chemist or vendor of bird re([uisiles for a shilling. \Vhen the birds ])lumage is made nicely damp all o\cr. i'emo\"e Ihe Ilannel (put into the cage lo al>si)rl) the wet), wipe the ])crehes, feed Ihe bird, and lea,\c il again to dry; or it may, aller the bathing or spraying, he run into a. clean, dry cage. We lay gi'iat stress on clean cages, since the birds begin o|)(i'alions al once alter a bath of any kind, and any dust on Ihe wires or |)erehes is al once I r.a nsl'erred lo Ihe head near Ihe heak and s|)oils all. The cokl bathing or spraying ])r()cess is callcfl lining down." and is \-cry necessary for showing some birds in good bloom. They EXHIBITING AND WASHING 187 generally look theiv best a day or two after washing, and on this account it is well to wash all, or nearly all — there are a few exceptions — three clear days before they are to be shown. They ought to be covered up to keep them clean and from knocking themselves about in tlie meantime. A word is necessary about the general condition of birds irrespective of their plumage. We have already Oenera ex]>lained the wisdom of hav- Condition. ' ing them in a plump, but not over-fat. condition. It is equally essential that they shoidd not be in a too forward condition. Life and sprightliness have their good qualities in assisting a bird to show itself off well : but a bird fed up until it is practically in breeding condition is a mistake, for then he thinks more of ]:ieering through the wires of his show-cage at his next door neighbour, or, if in an all-wire show-cage, dancing from one side of the perch to the other, singing, than he does of show- ing off his good points. This is what we mean by a too forward condition. Great care should be exercised in the use of stimidating foods, such as egg and maw- seed. If a bird is a bit down and buck- ward in condition, these may Ije given it fairly frecjuently in small quantities until the bird is fit enough to show itself off well, but not mad to be through the cage wires at the other birds. That high concert j^itch should be avoided. Very backward birds, which are wanted ready for a certain show with time going apace, may occasionally have two or three dro])s of Parrish's Chemical Food mixed with a little egg - food. This has most beneficial effects, as has also a pinch of niger and linseed with a little maw ; but these nuist not be over-done. Daily use of the bath for a week, if the bird will bathe, also assists to the desired end. A tonic in the water, too, is beneficial ; say 10 drops of tincture of steel and 5 drojis of tincture of gentian on alternate weeks in 2 ounces of drinking water, fresh daily, are good, given at intervals during the show season to birds doing a lot of travel- Selection for Exhibition. ling, especially the gentian. In some cases a teaspoonful of good port in the drinking water works wonders in keeping a bird in condition when travelling. In selecting birds for exhibition it is always well to choose several, and place each se]iarately in a show- cage and stand them side by side, for some birds show themselves off better in the box or flight cages they live in than they do in a show-cage, and vice versa. This method of selection will often prevent the leaving of a good show bird at home. In the Crested variety some of the crests are apt to get a little untidy. The wash will put some of them right, "Grooming" ,^,j^j ^.^ require nothing Crests. - ^ ■ 4.U ■ more. Others require their crests " groomed " or " dressed " — that is to say, the feathers trained to lie neatly in their proper place. There are many supposed secrets held by fanciers for dressing the crest feathers, but we have found nothing to excel taking such Ijirds in the hand, blowing the feathers into their ]>roper position, and then placing a small l>iece of sponge, wrmig out in moderately hot water, over the crest. This should be held on the crest, the feathers being in their proper places, until it is thoroughly warm and soft \vitii the vapour from the sponge ; the tip of the warm sponge should then be worked round the crest and the feathers smoothed into their proper places. A few dressings of this kind usually have the desired effect. Some fanciers use a fine tooth-brush for this purpose, made warm by dipj)ing in hot water and then shaken almost dry ; either plan answers well. Of course, there are some unruly feathers in rough crests which nothing will bring into subjection, and unscrupulous persons pluck these out and then tell fan- ciers they have a secret for making such feathers lie down. This is " faking " or " trimming," and not legitimate dressing of a crest. In almost all varieties a bird will at times twist or fray its tail feathers. These can be straightened and )3ut right again 1 88 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS — providinji' they ;irf not broken — in the followinji- inaiiner. The whole ol' tlie tiiil should l)e dipped into ;i euj) ^'•■.fl^*^"'"^ v1 ahn<.st boilino- water Tail Feathers. "^ and liehl there tor a lew seeoiids. The wet tail leathers shoidd then he drawn uenllv between the lore- ail~J" A SIMPLE PACKING TKAY. finger and thumb, and most ol the water so abstraeted. The leatlu^rs will then become (piite straiyht auain. ( H' course, wlu'n the tail is liehl in the hot water, eare must be taken that the water does not touch the bird's bo(l\'. Both birds and show-eages now being clean and ready, the birds are trans- ferred to the latter (pre- suming the time has ar- Final Preparations. ri\'ed lor their (les|)ateh to a show) and the water-tins are hung outside, so that the birds can have a final (ji-ink before being packed, eare being taken that the tins are sound and do not leak. Seed vessels are useless: the bettei- ]>lan is lo throw about ei|ual (|ua.ntities of seed and oat or rice husl^ on the floor of the cage, and with just a vrvv little egi>- food and maw- seed in addit imi. this will |)ro- vidcagood feed before t he joinney is l)egun. Care .should be taken also to see that tlie show labels are projurly lixed to each cage : the\ ai'e usu.-dK tied to the front wires at the left-hand eoruer on such cages as Norwich : to the middle cross fi'ont ba.i' at the Icfl-h.-iud coi-ucr in such as Scotch l-'anc\ : and to the \'orksliire cage at the top in the centic at the highest ])oiiit of the dome, at the end on which the water tin hangs, these being tlie most conxenient ])la.ces on which to lie them. All labels should be clucked by the schedule to see that the right hibcl is on the cage for each biril. according to its class. The birds should then, if possible, be lift for a couple of hours to settle down. Next conies the packing, the mode of which will depend upon the kind of cages. In the olden times of exhibit- Despatching i, ijeloian and t'o])pv cages the Cages. . wcri- often put in a bag of coarse linen made to lit. and drawn with a string round the top : then a stick was placed through the rings on the to]). which wei'e tied to the stick, say four in a row, and made a handy ]>ackage. The Nor- wich or similar cages were often jiackeil in wra])i)ering. They were jjut face to face in l^airs with two ])ieces of paper between them, the ])a]ier being large enough to turn oNcr a little and thus |)ri'vent draught, each ])air being tied round the middle with string. Then three pairs were ))laecd end to end on the wra|)pcr. which was sewn up tightly by the aid of a packing-needle. Ica\ing a ct)rucr or ear by which tt) carry it. Then an improved method for ] lacking such cages was ado])ted, as shown in the illustration on this ]>age. The cages fit end to end in tlu' double tray along the bottom and rest against the centre rails li h and c c. Through the bottom and end I'ails holes arc bored for ventilation, and ca.n\as is ta,ckcd aloUL: the bottom (i (i, ]>rojecting somewhat at the ends. This, TKWIIIINC CASE FOR CAGES. beiiiu laced u|> lighll\ at the top and both ends, makes an admirable package. Hut by far the best, easiest, and safest way to send birds by rail or otlu r means to an exhibition is to jjaek the cages in light boxes or baskets, like poultry baskets, lined with unbleached linen, made square EXHIBITING AND WASHING 189 or oblong instead of round, to suit the shape of the show cages. We give an illustration of such a case on page 188. They can be made any size, to hold two, four, or six cages as desired, and make capital packages. They are now in general use by all experienced exhibitors, and can be obtained from all makers of show-cages. Such appliances save secretaries and com- mittees much trouble, as well as being far more secure for the birds than mere canvas. In any case, before fhuilly fasten- ing the package up, it should be seen that the water-tins, rolled in a couple of thick- nesses of pajier, are put inside the packages, and also that a good sujiply of the proper food is included. The words " Live Birds " should be painted as conspicuously as ])ossible on the canvas or other package, independently of the show label. This last is now sent reversible by all the best -conducted shows ; but it is as well to have the owner's address iegiblj' painted on the box or basket. This tends to prevent cases or birds going astray should the official show label by chance come oi? the case. The exhibitor has now done with his birds when he hands them over safely packed to the officials of the railway company or carrier, who has to take them to their destination. But let us impress one more point on his mind — the last connected with this chap- ter, but not the least. Ahvays despatch the birds, no matter by what means they are going, so that they arrive at the exhibi- tion in good time. It is to the exhibitor's advantage : the birds get reconciled to the strange surroundings, and have a feed and rest before being judged, and consequently stand a nuich better chance of showing themselves to advantage than birds arriv- ing late, with only time to be unpacked and placed right away in front of the judge, as some are, by no fault of the show officials, but entirely through that of the exhibitor and owner of the birds him- self. JUDGE AND STEWARD AT WORK. A Siiaf^shot at BrackUy Sfiow. A MHMllERS' snow. PJn'h^gitipli by Ml. J, is. A. hilbul, Lfvlon. J.oi riiuiiii;cmciit vj n Icii^c I'pcii show see page 7. CHAPTER XV SHOWS. JUDGING, HKPOKTING. AND TFCHNICAI. TERMS Bird shows arc now ol' such rrcqucnt and iicttiiii;- the best out ol' tlic working occum-ncc tliat there is link- need to enter slalV. into the details ol' tlieir nianayeniciit exrepl At sueli events eiw// innnhcr of Ihe to give u lew general liints to those respon- society, wlictlicr on the eoinniittee or nla,ee allolled to him under a, ])ublic and lluis make the exliibilion a. directoi'. fmancial success. The secretary or manager Ol' late years gi-cat im|)i-o\(inenl has should liavc some cxiK'ricnce ot the work been n .ade in regard to Ihe slaging or he is undertaking, oi- else be supjiorted by tables I'or slanding the cages an experienced staiT. He should oossiss ^*^^i."^, noon, a,nd I his h,-i,s been ol' I be , 11 *"^ Birds. ' a coni])lcte set ol siiow a.ecounl books. greatest assistance to judges so that the delails ol c\-crytiiing coiuicctcd in carr\ing out tlicir duties, as exhibits witli tlic exliibilion can be a.l his linger- staged al a proper heighl a.re seen more ends. (iood temper and tact arc also easily and to greater advantage. It is all the valuable assets in tiding over (hlHeultics l)cttcr lor the pubHc, and perha])s ol' even 190 JUDGING, REPORTING AND TECHNICAL TERMS 191 greater importance Tor tlic birds them- selves. Picture what must be the nervous strain on birds, even if steady and used to the excitement of shows, when staged on low tables about 2 I'eet G inches high, with a throng of people peering over the top of them the whole day through for two or three days, to saj^ nothing of the probability of several of them getting knocked over. The best staging is that on the twt)- or three-tier princij^le — that is, one tier above another. It saves space, and gives the show a neat appearance. The bottom tier, or shelf, should be about 3 feet from the floor and 7 or 8 inches wide for the cages to stand on, this width affording greater protection to the birds and cages than a narrower shelf. The next shelf is arranged behind and about 10 or 12 inches above the first one, and the third a similar height above this ; the rests, or arms, for the shelves being arranged on the lean-to jjrinciple. Two shelves can be placed on the opposite side in like manner, with the third as apex or top for lioth sides. This arrangement permits of staging a large number of birds in a small space. On the two lower tiers on either side such varie- ties as Norwich, Crests, Cinnamons, Lizards, Hybrids, British, and all birds other than birds of position should be placed. Birds of position, such as Belgians. Scotch Fan- cies, Yorkshires, Lancashircs, Border Fan- cies, and all varieties which are exhibited in open-wire cages, show better when staged on the topmost tier. It the front of the staging is draped with red or green baize from the bottom tier to the floor, a neat finish is given to the exhibition. In the North of England and Scotland the staging is often arranged in the form of long shelves directly above each other, with just sufficient space between each for the cages to stand. At some shows three of these shelves stand one above another, and at others, where space is at a premium, we have seen four, five, or even six rows of cages thus placed. The shelves are raised on upriglit single-legged trestles, a 2- or 3-inch lath being nailed across the top of each upright from one end to the other, and the bottom of the legs of the trestles being fixed to the floor. This staging is quickly erected and as quickly removed after the show. Mr. D. Kinlayside, of Edinbiu-gh, has adapted a collapsible principle to this form of stag- ing. It is fixed up with thumbscrews, and it answers well. Wliatever form of staging is adopted, sufficient space nnist be allowed in the aisles between the exhibits so 9r"^^''°" that several i>eople can pass of Space. ' ' . each other without mcon- venience and the staging arranged so as to get the greatest amount of light thrown MR. KINLAYSIDE'S COLLAPSIBLE THREE-TIER STAGING. upon the birds both by day and gas light, and thus prevent unnecessary handling of the cages by visitors. All should be erected before the birds arrive, and the space measured off for each class. This can easily be calculated by taking the number of entries in each class and allow- ing for the average sized show-cage of the variety. As each class is thus measured oft, its class number should be affixed, so that as the exhibits are unpacked they can at once be put into position. The exhibits should be unpacked in a place tree from draught, and as each cage is taken out its number How to Deal should lie called over to the ■with Exhibits. . , . , , official in charge, who should check it by his list and direct where it is to be staged. For this purpose he should be familiar with the arrangement of the classes, and in this way one checker can keep several unpackers at work with- out confusion, and save much time. It is 192 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS most important to flieck the birds off as they arrive, so as to know il' any l)irds are absent. As soon as each ])acka}>c is enij)ticd the label sliould he reversed, so that the iwhibiior's address is outside, and then put away in tlie aj>pointed ]>laee. ir food is sent, another person ouoht at once to see that the caoes are supplied with this and also water oiven, taking care that none is missed. It is most important that every bird should ha\e water before leaving the un])aekinick out the most perfect exhibits for the prizes withoni Ihe aid of a catalogue to lell him to whom those exhibits belong, then he dot's not possess the necessar\- ability to a.el as a judge. We say the same of Ihe reporter. \Mieu 1a,kiug our notes at a shiiw' we use a schedule from whence to get the headings of the classes, then write our eriti(]ue and al'lerwards secure a catalogu<- foi' the names of the respect i\ I- exhibitors. Two pouils need c;>uslant care a.s regards critical reports \i/,. im|)arl iality and competence. Ke|)orls thus wrilten .Lre of iinmensi' value In all eoneerued. and the journals we ha\'e been and aie eomucted with, we are happy to sa\ . lia\c' always made these their lead- ing |)rinci|)les. It is sheer prcsum|)t ion — almost impertinence — lor a reporter merely JUDGING, REPORTING AND TECHNICAL TERMS 193 Catalogues. to say that an award is wrong, or that some other bird ought to have received it. and not support the statement by well-reasoned argument. An honest expert's report upon a class, differing from the judge, may often start a discussion on important points that may clear away difficulties and perhaps affect breeding operations through the following season. Catalogues showing the prize-winners should be on sale soon after judging is completed, Vnit until these are ready there shoidd be a supply without the awards. A certain number of stewards should always be about the show, keeping a watchful eye on the exhibits and seeing that all is well. Before passing from these general cha]>- ters to detailed treatment of various breeds and varieties, it will be con- Ternfs venient to present a glossary of some of the terms employed by fanciers and breeders in descriptions of birds, and a reference to the diagram of the ornithological regions of the bodv of a small bird on page 148 will assist our explanations. Action. — This appUes particularly to tlic regulated hop of the Scotch Fancy from perch to perch and the tremulous motion of the neck of this bird and of the Belgian Canary as they pull themselves up into position when Iheir cage is taken in the hand. Awry. — A twist in feathers which ought to lie straight, or an unnatural twist of the neck or otlier part not characteristic of the l)ird. Bald Face. — A patch of light colom- run- ning into the dark colour of the cheek of a Lizard Canary, often encircling the eye. Blaze. — The red on the face of a Goldfinch or Hybrid. Boaty. — An expression applied to York- shires with a falling away at the sides of the breast, giving a boat-like appearance to the under body. Bottle-shaped. — A term applied to York- •shires wlien the body lacks symmetry of cut and has too much of a sameness all round. Braced-wings. — ^Vings carried close to the body in a neat, compact manner, giving a smart, even finish, and good carriage. Breast. — This term refers to the extreme ])oint where the breast-bone terminates and the lower part of the neck begins. 25 Breed. — Any variety of bird in all its dis- tinct characteristics. The breed includes all the varieties of colour which are found in it. Broad-tail. — A tail which is wide at the root, or base, as well as at the end or tip not closely folded. Broken-cap. — Dark feathers intermingled with light crown or cap of a Lizard Canary's head ; it matters not whether there is only a dark feather or two, or the greater portion be dark. Broken Green. — A bird with the greater portion of its colour green, but with a light patch or patches in wing, tail, or on body. Broken-lafter." — .\ term used freely in the North of England for a broken eggery ; that is, when a hen lays part of a clutch of eggs, say two, and then misses several days or possibly a week, then docs not sit, and then lays the other portion of the clutch or another com- plete clutch ; afterwards settling down to sit in the usual way. Brood. — A family of young Ijirds from one nest. Browed and Beetle-browed. — Terms ap- plied when the feathers over the eyes have a pronounced overhanging appearance, giving a frowning, sullen appearance. A term freely used in describing the head and head feathers of Crestbreds and Lancashire Plainheads. Bull-necked. — Indicating a short, full neck, an important characteristic in some varieties. Burnished. — When the surface of the feather possesses a rich, glossy surface, as if polished. Carriage. — The bearing, attitude, or style of a bird. Centre. — Applicable to the centre of a Crested Canary's head, from which the feathers of the crest radiate evenly all round the head and over the beak. Cere. — The soft, pliable skin immediately round the eye which acts as a shutter or lid to that organ. Chick. — A newly hatched bird. Cinnamon. — hidicating the colour of cer- tain l)irds after that name. Cinnamon-green. — A shade of green in Canaries produced by crossing birds of cinna- mon colour with birds not cinnamon colour or cinnamon bred, some of the offspring from which carry a distinct cinnamon tone in their green colour. Cinnamon-marked. — A bird with markings of a cinnamon shade of colour. Circle. — Indicating the convex outline of a Scotch Fancy when in position. Circular-crest. — The desired round, even shape of a good crest for show purposes. Clean-cut. — A term used freely in describ- ing a neat, harmonious finish to the shape of a bird ; the outline clearly defined. 194 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Cleaned-out. — A])i)lic-;ilik' lo I he hrcasl of a slim, syiiiiiu'lrical :i|)|)car:inc-i' of tlic body ot Scolch I'ancy. showiiiL; no iiroinincncc al llic a Vorksliirc. hrcasl, lull arcluMl out as if lo ulsr the ucccs- Drive. Tlu' forwai'd cari'lai^i' of the head of sai'v ciii'xc to I he hodv. a Scidih I-'ancy wlu'ii in ])osition with neck Clean-front, -liidicatiii.a close. siuoolh-l\in,a I'ully extended, as if si.uhtiiia; some landmark hrcasl feather. lo make for. Clear. — A hii-d ahsolidel\- free' iroiu dark Droop (" a good droop ").— .\li|)licalile lo the feather, marking, or Ihie. feathers of a crcsl when they fall with a ui-acc- Clear-cap. — .\ term used in descrihinf^ llie ful (an'\e frcjm the I'cnlre o\cr the eyes and lif^ht patch on top of a IJ/.ard Canary's head. heak. falliiii;; evenly all round, which sliould l)e (|nile free from dark feathers Ear-coverts. — I'ine feathers covcrinu Ilie fi'om a mar.uinal line of tluindi-nail sliape. 'I'lic ear. a little behind the eye on cil her side of head, li.uht palch should co\er the whole (>\ \\)v to]) Entrance. — That jiart of the skull inune- (d' the skull. dialcly o\t'r the base of tlie beak. Close-feathered. — Showinii no looseness on Evenly-marked. — llavinL; similar dark any i)arl of the liody. the ])lumaf;e filling the marks cm either side of the body: that is. on body close and compait throughout. Ihe eyes, wings, and a feather or two on citlier Cloudy.— -.\])|>lieil to the spangling on the side of llie tail. Also see definitions of "two- back of a I.izard when ii(d clearly defined. pointed," " four-pointed." and " six-pointed." Coarse-head.-- I-acking madness according Eye-cere. — .S'cc (',i-:iu:. to \ariely. Finger-moult. — To assist a bird lo moulf Cobby, or Chubby. — Shorl. stout Ixidy, quickly by i)lucking ont poidions of ils ha\ing a plum]). chul)hy aijpi'aranee. ])lumag( — a \ery nndesirable practice. Compact. — Xeat. smarl appearance. Sec Fish-tailed. — A term used to describe a ('.i.osk-i-i:athkrf,d. bii-d with the tail nicely folded al the base. Condition. — The slate of a bird as rcgai'ds opening oul wide at the end like the tail of health. ])eanly. and perfecliim of ])lumai;c. Ihe a lish. Ihe tips i>( Ihe feathers being inclined jailer esi)ecially. to hnn outwai'ds a HI lie. Contour. — The delhiing oidliiie chai'actci'istic Flat-backed.- Chielly applicable lo a ^'ork- of a \ariety. shii'c whose liack is inclined lo a slight depres- Coppy. — Indicating Ihe crested bird of llie sion toward Ihe shoulder, and a Scotch fancy Lancashire \ai'iel\. lacking eurvatuiv of Ihe back. Crest. -.\ crown oi- tuft 'eIlow Four-pointed. .\n cxcnly marked bird, birds togellieror Ihe produce from lwo>ellows. marked on both eyes and both wings. See Drawn. A lerm used lo denote Ihe line. lA i;m.\' Maiiki.d. JUDGING, REPORTING AND TECHNICAL TERMS 195 French Moult. — A lenn (it'U'ii iisod in coii- lu'clioii with liirds in an unhealthy condition wliich lose their feathers and fail to re))ro- duce others ; the hody in time Ijeconies prac- tically nude, except tliat llu' iiriniary and secondary feathers of the wiiig and the tail are retained. Frontal. — That portion of a crest which conies over the beak. Furnished. — Has assumed tlie full char- acteristics— i.e. when a bird has attained its fidl adult plumage (which it docs with its second luoult), and its coat luis a more com- plete finish. Gait. — The free-and-easy movcnunl with which liirds move from perch to percli. Go. — Often used to describe birds of posi- tion ; possessing a nervy, quick movement, the whole body being on the move. Grey- — Applicable to a liglil-coloured crest, tile lii- stock possessiiiu' those particulai- (|uali- ties in more or less j)crfeetion. This is equally true of such ])urely " fancy "" ))oints in oui' Canaries as shape, position, certain kinds of markings the spanyle of a Li/.ai-d. to wit -or a particular shade of colour, such as eiiniauion. Such points may some- times occur occasionally, as if hy accident. in some individual ))ir(l. hut if it oeciu's habituallw as one niai'k of a strain or family, it has been bred into it l)\' man\ generations of si'lectioii. Some peoi)lc thiids that this is not Ihc case with wild birds or animals : but in realit\' it is sometimes e\'en Natural Selection. moi'c true in their case. I)ar- wiii h;is tauuhf us t li,-it the '■ natural selection " induced li\ suridund- injis, food, struoole for bare e.xi.stcnee, and competition ainonost surplus numbers is most severe : it is unmodilied by pity or caprice ; and Nature does not ^•ar\ her methods .save in lontj |)cri<)ds and by imjier- ceptible dea-rees. .She does not select like man, makino- one choice this year and another the next, but her conditions are the same for generations, and often for ages ; hence the wonderful uniformity and per- manence of her jiatterns. as in the ])hnnage of a (ioldfinch or Bulllinch when uncrossed l)y any foreign strain. It is in this sense that the ])roverbial phrase of the breeder — '' Like ])roduees like " — is true. They are all of the .same ])attern as regards colour and structural ])oints, though some may be better developed specimens than others. It is the ambition of every breeder to produi'c the most |)eri'e<'tly develoiK'd s|)ccimcns pdssibk'. and it is Breeding , , ,.ea,s(,nable to expect bv to Points. ' far the greater number of will developed young from those; s])ecimens which best display Ihc desired character- istics. \\] r((|uiring size, for instance, we should natur.illy expect to get it to greater per- fection from a l)irotent in ensuring their rejiroduction. The same developments can be brought about by the use of other stock, in which the desired points are not so pronounced, by careful selection ; but the progress is slower, although there may be — and, indeed, are — instances where rapid improve- ment comes from the happy blending of im])erfectly developed stock. Still, wc are not speaking of isolated cases ; our reference is general, and to lasting- results rather than fortunate hits or sports. Sir Ray Lankester once wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "Selection, whether due to survival in the struggle Sir Ray j^^. existence or exercised Lankester on Selection. ^Y ™an as a breeder or ' fancier,' is the only way in which new characteristics, good or bad, can be implanted in a race or stock, and become part of the hereditary quality of that race or stock. This applies equally to man and to animals and plants. And this selection is no temporary or casual thing. It means ' the selection for breed- ing ' of those individuals which sponta- neously, by the innate variability which all living things show (so that no two indi- viduals are exactly alike), have exhibited from birth onwards, more or less clearly, indications of the characteristic which is to be selected. Nothing done to them after birth, and not done to others of their family or race, causes the desired char- acteristic ; it ajipears unexpectedly, almost as an inborn quality. It may be a slight difference only, not easy to take note of ; but if it enables those who jiossess it to " Variation." get the better of tiieir competitors in the struggle for life, they will survive and mate, and so transmit their characteristic to the next generation. " Selection is not a thing once done and then dropped ; natural selection is continu- ous and never-ending, except in rare and special circumstances, such as man may bring about by his interference. The characteristics of a race or species are maintained by natural selection just as much as they are produced by it. Cessa- tion of selection (which is sometimes brought about by exceptional conditions) results in a departure of the individuals of the race no longer subject to selection from the standard of form and characteristics jireviously maintained." [This we have efficiently borne out in the Canary family where they are allowed to pair up indiscriminately.] " To understand this we must consider for a moment the great property of living things, which is called ' variation.' No two ani- mals or plants, even when born of the same i^arents, are ever exactly alike ; not only that, but if we look at a great number of individuals of a race or stock, we find that some are very different from the others in colour, in proportion of parts, in character, and other qualities. As a rule, it is difficult to look at such a num- ber, because in Nature only two on the average out of many hundreds, sometimes thousands, born from a single pair of parents, grow up to take their parents' place, and these two are those ' selected ' by natural survival on account of their close resemblance to the parents. But if we experimentally rear the offspring of a plant or animal to full growth, not allow- ing them to perish by competition for food, or place, or by inability to escape enemies, then we see more clearly how great is the inborn variation, how many and wide are the departures from the favoured standard form which are naturally born, and owe their peculiarities to this birth-quality — called innate or congenital variation — and not to anything which happens to them 200 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS afterwards differiiio' I'rum what lKi])|»cns to their brothers and sisters. " Of course, we are all familiar with this ' conoeiiital or innate variation ' as shown by brothers and sisters in human families. How and why does iimate variation arise ? It arises from chemical and mechanical action u]ion the ' jjerms ' or reproductive cells, contained in the body of the ])arents. and also sometimes from the mating' in reproduction of two strains or races which are already dilTercnt from (/nc another, ^Vheu an animal or plant is ijiven unaccus- tomed food or broujiht uj) in new surround- ings (as, for instance, in captivity), its germs are affected, and they produce variations in the next generation more abundantly. The best analogy for what occurs is that of a ' shaking up ' or dis- turbance of the particles of the germ or reproductive material, somewhat as the beads and bits of glass in a kaleidoscope arc shaken and change from one well- balanced arrangement to another. The same aiialogv aj)|ilies to the crossing or fertilising of one ' strain " or ' race " by dilTei'ing froiu it. A disturbance is the conscciuence, and a de])arture in the form and character of the young from anything arrived at before often takes place. These variations have no necessary fitness or correspondence to the changcK:! conditions which have jiroduccd them. They are, so to speak, de])artures in all and every direc- tion—not very great, hut still great enough to be selected hy sui'\iv:d if occui-ring in wild, extra-human nature, and obvious enough when ))r()(luced in cultivated animals ••md |il;inls to he seen and selected b\' man. the stock breeder or fancier. Indeed, the stock breeder and horticulturist go to work in this way dcliherately. 'J'hus they get olTspring j)roressed in the resemblance of offsjiring to ])arcut. \Vhat happens, then, when there is a cessation of selection ? All sorts of birth-variations appear and grow UJ)."" This is yearly \erified in the breeding of our Canaries. The great i)ower of this ])rinci])le of selection is not hyjiothetical, it is certain ; an animal's organisation is something quite plastic, which can be modelled almost as one pleases, within reason, in the hands of careful l)reeders who know their work. Mr. Lewis Wright, in his " Book of Poidtry," clearly showed the force of selec- tion. In dealing with pedi- Lewis gree he took as an illus- Wright on 4. .■ .1 v c , .. tration the ai)pearance ol Selection. ' ' a fifth toe in one or two chickens, in a variety in which that pecu- liarity does not naturally exist, but which luight have arisen from some remote taint, and showed what might be done by breed- ing from one of these chickens. "" If one of these chickens be bred from, it is probable that a few of her ]irogeny, but still few, will also show this lifth toe: the greater pari, however, re\'ei'tiiig to what \vc may call the usual type of the yard. If we mate this hen to a, cock showing the tendency in the same w.-iw the number of five-toed proginy will be somewhat in- creased : but still, supposing there is no apj)recial)le t;iiiil in the y.iril, they will nl;iii. or a (lelinite object steadily |)iii-- J,^^ , sued wilhoiil liie evils of Necessity for . a Record. ni-breeding. 11 three st rams have been started from tlu'ce nearly-allied and simihir ])airs of birds, and I lie same phm of breeding pur- sued willi .-ill. I lie ad\anlages of a cross can he li;i(l for m.iiiy generations, wiMioiil its e\ils. by keeping a record of pedigrees.* \VI)ere another must breed together brother and sister, or else resort to a foreign cross, a breeder thus armed e;in t:ike a i>ii(l c n well-bred bird, it is: \ery likely he may ' 1 hi'ow " some well- sp.angled Xdiiiiii' ones from these pool- iiirds : and many ])co|)le think this is a gain. To a certain extent, and in a cci'tain sense, it is; whei'e the |)oeket will not permit the procuring of the best it is the only resort, though a, longer road, and from a l)rccder"s point i<\ \ iew it is a. serious loss of time and ground gained, and " jjuts back " the strain, since if these birds in turn are i)red from lliey " llinnc ' Ixick lo the poor jxireiil. Of course the cocks will also be sek'cfcd with all |M-aelieal care. I'rom such pairs, breeding (Jiihj fnnii well-spangled birds. PEDIGREE OR LINE BREEDING 205 there will be the very fii-st season some equally well-spangled young hens. If the projjortion is good, it shows that the cocks, too, are of good breeding quality, and have ' hit ' well with the strain of the hens, in which case they shoidd be kept. And so the first season's breeding comes to to an end. " Next year's breeding will show a marked advance, the proportion of well- spangled birds being very good — so good, that out of them, if ordinary judgment has been employed, we can now have little difficulty in finding the few we want to breed which are also good in caps and other matters." And here will be seen the advantage of the plan we have insisted on, of fixing upon the one most important point, whatever that may be, and never dropping it. If this plan has been followed it will be found that we have now — imperfectly, it is true, but still to a very great extent — made it certain already in our new " strain," and can to a moderate degree, without dropping it, already begin to select our birds for other points as well. The next season the proportion of purely- spangled birds will be very large indeed (we will suppose only the perfectly-spangled to be bred from), and there will probably be no difficulty whatever in selecting those which show also other points required. Every variety has some point or points Avhich demand long breeding and patience to acquire. Some points are obtained with comparative ease, and are readily trans- mitted even from parents, so that a single mating will produce them in a fair pro- portion of young, others will need years of work, and one unhappy mating may upset much work already done. Comparing many breeds or varieties, we have foimd that about four points will in nearly all of them cover those which cause real difficulty and require serious breeding for, those beyond four giving little anxiety or trouble. Let us consider these, therefore, and suj)- pose that, taking all things into account, we have determnied their order in difficulty Four Points. and value. In perfecting our bird by selection a difficult point must never be sacrificed to obtain a minor though neces- sary point, and on these should attention first be fixed and kej)t there, gradually giving attention to others, not bi/ tarns, but just as fast, and no faster, than the increased number of birds (good in the first ]ioint and therefore admissible to breed from) enables selection for the second and subsequent points to be made. One thing, however, is obvious. The best birds, fro7n the breeding point of vieiv, must never be sold, but kept for the breeding room ; for a man cannot reasonably be expected to make any marked progress who is con- stantly selling what represents nearly all the ground he has gained, as the breeding which is to succeed in producing valuable birds consists in throwing all these tend- encies into one desired direction, so that the influence of remote ancestors, of great- grandparents and grandparents, as well as of the parents, combine toward the desired point. And as Darwin rightly says : " The key is man's power of accumu- lative selection. Nature gives successive variations ; man adds them up in certain directions useful to him. In this sense he may be said to make for himself useful breeds. Over all these causes of change I am convinced that the accumidative action of selection, whether applied methodically and more quickly, or vuiconsciously and more slowly but more efficiently, is by far the predominant power." In commencing to breed with a view to producing the highest class of canary, of whatever breed or variety. Clearness ^^.^ cannot impress too dis- of Purpose . . ., ., • 1 c n Necessary, tmctly upon the mmd of the beginner the imi>ortance of having a clear notion of what he intends doing, and of following out some definite plan such as we have fully explained. That success can be achieved by such a process can be amply proved by a visit to our exhibitions. Desultory breeding is not " breeding," but only an amusement that frequently goes by that name. A CANAK"^ MEASURE. Of Kit' in cniiiicction iL-ith vatifties fay n'liiih a standanl length is adopted. CHAPTER XVII THE NORWICH CANARY We now turn from these details of jjencral management to a description of the different varieties of the Canary, and the classes into which they are divided, with specific instructions as to the mctliod of breeding them, and sucii further remarivs on manage- ment as may be special in their application. We propose to arrange them in three sections, each based on some distinguishing feature. Tliis, we think, is the most natural course to follow, and we accordingly divide them into («) Colour Birds ; (/;) Distinctive Plumage Birds ; (c) Shape and Position Birds. At the head of the colour group stands the Norwich Canary, perha])s the most general favourite of the entire tribe, and certainly one of the most extensively bred, being the embodiment of the popular idea of the bird, and the fountain from whence spring three-fourths of the drawing- room cage-birds in the country. It is easily recognised as a brilliantly - illuminated edition of the evcry-day Yellow Canary. It took its name from the city in which it has for generations been cultivated, and where it doubtless built up for itself a character so decided as to cause it in early times to be recognised as possessing feat- ures sufficiently distinctive to identify it with the name of the place in whicii it had become localised, and to distinguish it from other varieties already established. Hervieux speaks of the clear orange- yellow Canary as far back as 1713, and, as will be seen by this early description, colour was the first and leading character- istic of the bird, and continued to be so for many generations ; but to-day, whilst colour is still looked for and is essential in a good bird, we must have type and other points as well. The relative importance of points has been entirely reversed by new standards drawn up by the specialist clubs representing the breed, and the order of merit as it now stands may be cited as : second, quality of feather and general proj)erties ; and tJnrd. colour. We shall deal further with these points when describing the present-day standard of the bird. It is more than probable that the culti- vation of this bird as a speciality began in the latter quarter of the six- teenth century, when the Flemish, driven from their country by the {x^rsecutions of the Spanish under the Duke of Alva, took refuge in our " right little, tight little island," indirectly Order of Nor^vicb Points. first, type History of the Breed. 2o6 THE NORWICH CANARY 207 repaying us for the protection aiforded them by the impetus they gave to some of our inanul'actui'es. A great number of these refugees settled in the county of Norfolk, where they found congenial employment in the woollen manufactories which had been originally established at Worsted by their kinsmen inore than four centvn-ies before, under the fostering care of the first Henry, just in the same way as the silk-weavers, driven from France by the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, found their way to London, and, by their skill, gave an impulse to our silk trade. Canary-breeding, \\e know, had b_v this time spread through a great part of Ger- many, and was extensively engaged in in the Netherlands ; this view is borne out by Dr. Galloway's able treatise on the Origin and Historj^ of the Canarj' in Chapter II. of this work. It is only natural to suppose that the refugees, in escaping with tiicir little all to iind a new home, woidd not leave behind them all their home associations and pleasures, but would carry with them their tastes and likings for natural pursuits, which could not fail to commend themselves to, and spread rapidly among, the popidation round about them. From that day to this — for the introduction of steam-power into many of our manufactures is only an event of a little over half a century — the nature of the occupation and the character of the in- habitants has changed but little. Though the iron horse now waits at the pit's mouth, ready to run his heavy load across streams bridged for his convenience, over valleys filled up to make him a high- way, and through hills levelled or pierced to remove every obstruction from his path on the iron road, and deposits it by thou- sands of tons where the noise of machinery, replete with life and giant jjower, has dis- ])laced the modest loom and the music of the shuttle, still there may be isolated here and there a rose -covered cottage by the roadside, where may still be heard the quiet click, click of the primitive machine which yet has a poetry of its own, and in which some exquisite textile fabrics are Size. still woven by delicate fingers that know no other handicraft. It is not to be won- dered at that such sedentary employment, carried on generally in the 'sixties of the nineteenth century under the domestic roof, should have a tendency to induce a love of quiet home pleasures ; and it is under such favourable auspices as these that the Norwich Canary has for so many years been nurtured, till its fame has spread far and wide, the world ovei', and other towns vie with the old cathedral city from which the biril takes its name in producing — nay, even excelling in the jDroduction of — the most perfect specimens. Regarding the size of the Norwich Canaiy, it is difficult to give exact measure- ments, except of the length that the bird must not exceed, for it is prac- tically impossible to find any two birds to measure alike in bidk of body or size of any particular jDart. An exact standard of measurements has been proposed by some fanciers, but the very thought of such mathematical definition of the bird's proportions sends a shock to our nerves, for we know too well the confusion which would follow upon the adoption of such a suggestion. The shortest and best description is for us to say that the bird is similar in size to a German Bullfinch. It is plump, chubby as ojiposed to length and slimness, and is stoutly built and bold of carriage ; quick and active in its movements, and lusty in its song, and when at rest stands at an angle of about 40 degrees, measured from a base line drawn from the tip of the tail. The head should be broad across the skull, not round, but with a gradual rise from the base of the beak right over the crown, then falling away gradually at the back of the poll into the neck in an even curve, with a good expanse throughout. A bird with a small, narro\v head shows to poor advantage, and has a iieculiar expression when seen face on, giving one the idea of being out of drawing. The richest colour, too, is found on the crown, and the larger the surface, the better the The Head. 208 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS The Body. eifect. Xo idea of coarseness should attacli to it, but neatness and elegance and delicate close feathering should be its character- istics ; coarse feathering and overhanging eyebrows indicate a cross in the direction of size not bred out. Tiie eye is dark, full, bright, and sparkling ; the beak should be neat and finely finished, free from any appearance of coarseness, and of a clear pinkish-white, free from discoloration, though the whole or half of the ujipcr mandible is sometimes dark. This is no disqualification : but other ])oiiits being equal, the clear beak would win. We are speaking now of the " clear " bird, which is one in which the wiiole of the feathers are entirely free fro)n any dark marks whatever. The discoloured mandible is indicative of hidden marking somewhere or other, which should be searched for, for reasons which \\ill jiresently be cxj)lained. The neck should be short and full, the under part foiining in profile a perfect line of beauty with the breast, which should he broad and full, and IVathcrcd as smoothly as it is possible to conceive. Any de]>arturc from either of these properties is a defect of sonic moment. The l)ack is broad, and rises very sliglitly immediately after the junction with the neck, forming a vei'v delicate cur\<-. aiul uuist show most eoni- ])acf feathering without the slightest dis- position to open in the midflic. which is not an imconnnon feature in some varieties. Between tiie sliouidei-s it is slightly con- vexed. Looked at from any ])oint of \iew. the Ijird's outlines j)rescnt a series of sublic cur\cs of singular i)canty — a feature com- mon to all birds, in fact, the i)resence of a liard line being nowhere visible. 'I'hc wings should not be long, biil sliould hai'nionise in length with the chul)b\- built bodv ; thcv must be carried Wings. 1111114 1 ni'iiily closed, witlnint a symptom of droo|)iug. and tucked in close to the body, the flights matching feather for feather on the back, the primaries meeting in a point over the rum])-feathers without overlapping each other. The closer the flights are packed the better will the cokjur of the wing show itself, as only the extreme outer edge of each feather is tinged, and close lamination is necessary to maintain the continuity. The same holds good with the arrangement of the larger coverts and the small feathers of the bastard wing, any slovenliness here interfering most materiall\' with the com])act appearance indispensable for the uniform distribution of colour throughout the entire member. The shoulders should be well covered by the scapular-feathers and show no projec- tion of any kind, the feath- f" J. ering throughout the whole Feathers. '^ , ^ of this part being of the closest possible character, compactness and perfect imlirication being the most neces- sary conditions for the exhibition of coknu'. The rump-feathers are the finest and most silky in quality in the entire bird, and as they merge in the upper tail-coverts, become longer and narrower, the greater portion of their length being clothed with snowy white flossy under-flue. Any coarseness here, or in the vent-feathers and inider tail-coverts, is a blemish interfering with the gradual tajxring which constitutes what is known in the Fancy as a neat " waist," and is one of the blemishes it is necessary to breed out of any cross which may have been made with a view to obtain size, which it usually accom])auies. It is the jiresenee or absence of this coarseness and want of general comiiactness which indicates the possession or lack of " (juality " — a term almost iiudefinablc, anil a])|)Iicd to in- dividual parts or to a balance of good properties considered as a whole. The tail should lianiioiiisc in length with the i)o(l\' and wings, and be inclined to slu)i-tuess. The shai)e of the in(li\ idiial t a.il-IV;i,tliei's -i.e. narrow at their l)asc and slightly increasing in width in the direction of their length, tlie outer ones being the long(>st, and each ol' the six on either side gradually decreasing in length — will, of itself, determine the correct shape of the tail, which cannot belter Ix' described llian by coinparing it with a closed fan. narrow at the innction with tl\e boily, and slightly, but very The Tail. THE NORWICH CANARY 209 The Legs. slightly, radiating, the lengths and arrange- ment of the feathers causing a V-sha}>cd indentation at the extremity. Here, as in the wing, carriage is everything, tlie closed fan, so neatly folded together, showing the gilt edges as one feather, but which, when partially spread, spoil the effect. The only remaining parts of the body covered with feather growth are the thighs, which shoidd be well-covered with silky flue right down to the hocks ; this flue should be short, close, and compact. The legs, which Nature generally makes of a ])roportionate length, should be inclined to shortness rather than length, as if too long they raise the bird too high from the perch. On the other hand, they must not be too short, or they will give the bird a squatty appearance as it stands on the perch ; but be such as to give the bird full command of its body, the muscular power of the legs and feet taking a firm grip of the perch, and they should be free from malformation or defects of any kind, even to the toes and claws. It seems scarcely necessary to mention a matter of this kind : and the points, as described in several printed standards, " toes and nails entire and not twisted awry," always seem to us super- fluous. Malformations are malformations wherever we find them, and it seems absurd to point them out as things not to be desired in a perfect specimen ; still, for the enlightenment of the inex2>erienced, we have done so. In summing up the whole under the head of general appearance, we shoidd say the Norwich Canary is a jolly, comfortable sort of bird, not of the extremely graceful school, but inclined to embonpoint rather than to sylph-like proportions. Though not the largest variety of Canary, the Norwich is a bird of good size, and this property has its value when combined in a marked degree with t>pe, quality, and colour — a combination rarely found in very large birds. Mere size alone is not suf- ficient, for whilst size is a feature in almost every variety, yet, where it is not 27 General Appearance Size. fhc i^ropert}', it has to give way before the particular feature sought. Hence, where that feature is found to develop itself jirominently in any specimens, they are sure to be selected for future breeding operations, whatever other minor ]iro- I)erties, even though they may be desir- able ones, are absent ; and thus size has, no doubt, been over and over again relin- quished in favour of the three sine qua non ])roperties mentioned above. Size, however, should never be lost sight of, especially in the breeding-room, though we must admit that the best Norwich are almost invariably of a medium size, and there seems to be a point beyond which it a]i]>ears impossible to go in at- tempting to unite the properties aimed at in the standard. Still, some breeders have made strenuous efforts to do so. though with only partial success, and have only desisted when they found that their birds, though grand and imposing, were palpably deficient in the more valuable points. Other things being equal, the larger of two birds wins ; but in the struggle for size, it is evident the chances of other things being H/!-equal are greatly increased. This view of the question will hardly admit of the suppo- sition that size is a property which has been lost and might be regained, since it rather goes to show that the extreme development of quality of feather and colour has only been brought about by a compulsory relinquishing of size to an extent which almost indicated the incom- ])atibility tif their co-existence in the breed. Still, of recent years great progress has been made in maintaining fair size combined with type, quality, and colour, although the grafting of size into this variety from other sources brought into it many objec- tionable characteristics. These caused many a battle royal between the older and younger breeders of the bird, even to the extent of holding conferences at some of the Cr\'stal Palace shows, with a view to arriving at a common understanding as to a standard for the breed, and following upon the conference of 1890 held at the Crystal Palace, great strides were made in 210 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS iin])r()\'iniv the iill-roiuid ]iro])erties of the bird. The objectionable points alhuled to have and are still being gradually over- come, without sacrificing to any extent the size gained, and this is of great im])ort- ance, for in conjunction with the other leading features of the bird, size helps much to give a noble and conunanding appear- ance. In these general remarks on conformation we have been ol^ligcd to mix up the ques- tion of feather to some extent. Feather i,,,^ |^ ,,,,|^^ ,^.^^,p .^ j.^^.^ ^^ Qualities. ' itself, as formmg one of tlic most ini[)ortant features in tliis variety. The texture of the material cannot be too fine and silky, nor can the feathers be too short and compact. Nothing can atone for coarseness, for which there is no excuse in the eyes of a Norwich breeder. AVc arc s])caking now of the ])oints of a show or ideal bird. AVe say " nothing." for even colour cannot compensate for a marked (leficienc\- in close, soft feathering. Not- withstanding this, colour is the first thing looked for by many breeders after type, and is supposed to be the beginning and the end of the bird. " all over, underneath, in the middle, outside, overhead, on toj), on .ill sides, and at both ends," it cannot stand unsupported on the show-bench, but must have shape and feather to sustain il . No tru(" fancier of the vai'iety but wiiuld a,ccc'))t ail average dis|)la,y of colour com- bined with high (piality. in preference to simply excess of colour wilhniit tiicm, or with only a moderate share of them. ^Vhen they are i)resentcd in this way. it is not easy to an'i\c al a correct estimate of their cond)!nc(l \ nines by I he appliealion of :i numerical scale, because the sum of I he three values is really increased by an inde- lci-niin;ilr number i-eprcsenting the elTeel of tile e()nd)inat ion. l''or instance, siip- ])osing two birds to score 20 and .'}(> j)oints rcspceti\'ely lllidcl' I he i)e:i(i of coloni'. :niil 20 and 10 res|)ect i\'ely for sh;ipc and finality of feather: then the \aliie of liie first would appear to be 20 + 20 U). and that of the second .•JO i 10 40 : but in reality the value of the first would be Colour. K) + an indefinite number expressing the value of the effect of such a balance of ])ower, and that of the second 40 — a discount for loss of effect occasioned by such disparity in the proportions of the combining parts, assuming, of course, the relative stand and values of the properties to be ecjual. We have left the propci'ty of colour to the last, because the revised standards of the ^-arious sj^ecialist clubs re- presenting the Norwich have placed it below type and quality ; but though thus placed at the bottom of the scale, we should be indeed sorry to see colour neglected, because it is an important characteristic of the breed, which rightly heads the list of the colour family of Canaries. Though colour, as we have shown, h;is no right to over-ride all other properties, it is noteworthy that the ])rineipal character- istic of the Norwich is the ca])acity it has t(j develop colour. A long-contimied a])pli- eation of the ])rinci]iles of selection has doubtless fixed this feature. The ultimate colour of all "" clear "" t'anaries is what is generally understood Ijy the word " yellow."' But there are many shades of this colour, and it ranges from jiale lemon to the dwp hue of a Seville orange. AVell, tluii. the Norwich l)ird is the Seville orange aiiiong a, basket of lemons— the differcncr in enlour is (piitc as decided: and if a. furtlur illus- tration he necessary, we think we eonld not in;i.kc a, iKippirr eiiinp;iris(in than 1)\' reference to I he dilTercnee between the rich chrome of the dark .African Alarigold ;i,nd the p:ilc iemon-eoloiii'td llowrr of liie same \;iri('ly. ^^'<' h;i\c cndeiixoiireil to descrii)e its shapi' .'ind its fe,-ither. :uul these two illustrations will serxc to gi\c a general idea of its colour, which is meas- iii'cd for depth and |)iirity. The idcii. how- ever, is but general, and we will now go inio (lelails. The entire Canary family is divided into two colour-classes. A'cllow and HulT, which are synonymous wil li I he Icrins .h)ii(|iie and Mealy ; but inasmuch as tlu-se terms do not express the real colour, they 212 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS nuist he regarded as purely tcehiiical. For exain])k', we speak of a Yellow Green oi' a ]}iiJT CJreeii. a Yellow C'iii- Colour iiamoii or a UiifT Cinnamon. Terms. when it is patent neither of these colours can be yellow or bnlf in reality : and the words, therefore, taken in their oeneral application, are teehni- calities. The explanation is simjile. What- ever be the body-eolour of a Canary, whether it be literally yellow, or green, or cinnamon, or whether it be in a Lizard or even a dark Self-coloured Canary hybrid, it has two forms in which it manifests itself. One is liright and. for want of a better word, we will say luminous, ])olished, and glittering : the other, dull and flat, and is by eomjtarison what frosted silver or dead gold is to the })urnishcd metal. The lirsl is the yellow form, and the other the bidf ; and one or the other ))rescnts itself in every Canary or Canary hybrid. In speaking of the Norwich Canary, the terms .Toikjuc and Mealy in years gone by were generally adopted, and are both expressive of the general character indicated. The word .lonqne is originally piu'c French, and may be taken to signify jonquil-cf)loured, which speaks for itself. The very word " mealy "' indicates a pale shade of colour. These appellations ,are rarely used now in con- nection willi 1 he \orwich Canary, the usual terms being "yellow"" and ""hulT."" Having thus cleai'cd the w;i.y. we will endeavour to show how the Cleai- ^'(■lll)\v Norwich Canar\-, to which we The " Evolution ''•'^■'' ■•il'udcd. has Ihcu pro- of the Clear duccd, and, froui our iu\csti- Yellow ijation of I lie subiccl. deduce Norwich. "^ , , the laws which goMiii I he recognised sysli-m ol' classilic-atiou .-ii d the nomenclature ado|)tcd with rcg.ird lo il. We remark, in Ihc lirst j)lacc. that the fountain of coldiir iu the entire variety is the original green. And I liis word " gieen "' recfuircs some explanation, for. nrirr.-di. il may turn out not to be green. That il is a I'oi'm of green we thiidv is :i(lnnll((l on all hands: ;ind llu- fact thai tlic corre- sponding l\|»e iu some other \ariclics is green, jjurc and simple, seems to supporl the idea. The one green, however, does not eventually resolve itself into the same form of yellow as the other : from the pure green we get lemon-yellow, and from the Norwich green we get a rich orange shade. The foundation colour of our bird is of a rich bronzy tone ; so nmch so that whenever a bird of this type comes into com])ctition with a j)ure green in a Ikiiki fide Green class it is invariably passed over as not being green, and such birds usually run very light on the })rcast and mider-part of the body, though lieh in colour i)igment. Then what is it '! It has always seemed to us to be no inapt comparison when we say it resembles a piece of gandjogc, oi" some of the deep yellows in an artist's colour-box. Out- wardly it shows but little indication of the delicate tints lurking within, but can be diluted and toned down to almost any shade. So with our bird : we have e\ery gradation of tint, from the semi-opaque bronzy specimen, down to pure rich yellow, which we can fui'ther tone down to a pale straw colour. In the case of the so-called " purc-grecn "" — which we have admitted to be so, as much for the sake of argument and illustr.-it ion as anything, as this bird shows nnich black j)igmcnt on certain ])arts we find the same diluting ])roeess l)ossil)lc. with this dilTcrenee. thai it ends ill a. lemon-yellow with a decided green tinge. ca])able again of being toned doMu to a greenish-white. These Self-coloured Norwich (Jrceiis (we will adhere to Ihc name) ha\ing a dis- ])ositiou li> brc.-ds or spoi'l. adviiutagc is taken of I his, .-ind it is cull i\ alctl to its idliuKilc issue. TIk' lii'sl sle|) in the direction ol' .-ilbinism gi\'cs us the "" Heavily \':iriegaled '" class, as it IS called in show Language, or the "" Broken (Jreens "" of Ihe breeding-room. We might also say here that classes ai'e now pro\ ided at sluiws e\elusi\ely for Self and Hroken CJrecns. and that they arc l)red as a separate vai'iety ol' Ihe Xdrwieli Ca.n.ar}'. These, willi dllicr greens, will be deall with iu a, separate chapter. I'roceediug with our Xui'wieh ;iuil Ihe THE NORWICH CANARY 213 Broken Greens, we include those birds which, although showing a fair amount of light colour, still carry a preponderance of the original green in irreg- 1 V!.*""'?^,^*"^' »l«ir blotches or patches ; gated Class. ^ _ ' one condition usually in- sisted on by a number of the old school of breeders in the "sixties was that the bird should not have a " clean breast " — in which case it was said to be " Lightly Variegated."' These distinctions were, however, not recog- nised by some schools of breeders, but they are important as indicating two separate and distinct bars of the coloiu'-ladder, and we regret that more attention is not given to such marking to-day, though it may be merely a form of variegation. In open shows the distinction was seldom acknow- ledged, but the birds were united under the comprehensive term " variegated."" though in clubs where the members under- stood their business (and we are bound in justice to admit that in those days they gave more thought and attention to mark- ings than the majority of the present-day fanciers), an amiual exhibition was held among the members for the purpose of comparing notes. What object-lessons those shows were ! It was usual to keep every link in the colour-chain separate, A Lightly Variegated bird, whilst carrying a clear breast, had to be more or less marked on the back or neck, either or both, inde- pendently of carrying the green on the wings, which was a feature common also to the Heavily Variegated bird, which had, liowever. the marked breast in addition. From this brief outline it will be seen that the difference between " Heavily " and "Lightly" variegated was entirely a question of degree, the conditions being the existence of body-marks, and the dividing line the jDresence or absence of a clear breast ; but luider all conditions a Lightly Variegated bird's body shows more light than dark, while the order is just reversed in a Heavily Variegated specimen. Such stands good to-day, though no atten- tion is paid as to whether the bird has a clear or marked breast in either form of variegation. The question arises: Would it define matters better for the breeder, in deciding as to which is a Heavily and which a Lightly Variegated TheS?para= bird, to adopt the marked tion of the , , , j. 1 c j.- ■u • o » J ^i^'l clear breast dennition. Classes. with other markings as described, to distinguish the two classes of variegation ? There has been nnich misunderstanding from time to time on this, and as to what constitutes a ticked bird, and in this way there cer- tainly would then be a definite class of marking for each of the two forms of variegation, the Heavily Variegated having the marked breast and the Lightly Varie- gated possessing the clear. The most advanced form of light varie- gation is when the entire bird, including wings and tail, is perfectly TicRed" clear with the exception of a Birds. ' few dark feathers interspersed here and there, or in the form of a grizzly patch on the head, neck, or back ; such feathers usually being not dark from the quill to the end of the web, but grey or grizzly, showing a tendency to an entire fading out of the native green. Wlien a bird shows but one small ]>atch of such dark feathers on any part of the body sur- face, or dark under-fiue onh;, they are known as " ticked " birds. Some club standards admit of more than one small dark patch on a ticked bird, with the result that novices become puzzled, and enter their birds in wrong classes at shows, entirely owing to this difference of definition. Other clubs, in order to avoid this confusion, have added a clause to their rules that a bird witli two small dark patches is not a " ticked " bird, but lightly marked, and must be shown as such. This certainly is a clearer definition, but if it could be universally adopted that a ticked bird is one with one small dark or grizzle patch on any part of the body surface or dark imder-flue, how much better it would be, and the veriest novice coidd not then well make a mistake. Such a definition need not in any way interfere with the exhibition of birds with dark under-fiue and a perfectly clear bod\- 214 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS surface in classes for clear birds, where it is desired to do so ; the wording- of a schedule to that cfTect at tlie head of an\' such class would make that perfectly clear. This question as to what is a " ticked " bird and what is not has been a vexed one for a lonp- time. IT we adhere to the true meaning of the word " tick." then one small mark is the most consistent definition, and had our esteemed friend JMr. W. A. Blakston been with us to-day, we are sure this interpretation would have had his strongest su]>port. The ([uestion next arises as to the size of that small mark. Alter a moment's I'ellectiou it nnist appeal to ^'^^ uV^*" 'i>'V i'eas,,nal)le mind that MarK. whilst the same rule cannot be applied to all jiarts of the body, yet a definition can be drawn up to a])])ly so closely to the various ]>arts that no one need err -viz. any mark on the surface of the body, other than the flight and tail feathers, shall not exceed the circumference of a sixpence ; that the extent of dark flue constituting a " tick " be unlimited so long as it does not show on the surface ; dark thighs — one or both - to count as a "tick "' ; not more than four dark flight feathers in one wing shall con- stitute a "tick," or nut more than four dark tail feathers shall constitute a "tick." But a "ticked " bird shall only vnrry one such mark on wing, tail, or bo(l\- : tin- feathers constituting the "tick" nia\- be entirely dark or of a grey or grizzle colour. and may be smaller tluin the s])ecilied size ; or the dark leal hers in flight or tail i'ewer in inimber llian mentioned, bul not more, 'i'hough with any one Tiiarking such bird may in adarts of the bird the gradation is .so delicate that the edge of the green merges in that of the yellow, so that the actual dividing line cannot be discerned. This is most noticeable on the lower ]>ortion of the breast, the stomach and the region of tlu' " waist " among the soft, silky feathers of the sides and toj) of the rump, where some of the richest combinations of hues arc to be found. We do not yet know what is the ]>recise character of the ])igment matter in the cells oi the feather formation, except that a Cireen C'anai'vs plumagi- eon- tains a blending of black and chocolate melanin, and a ]>uro yellow — or what we call " clear " yellow — plumage owes its diiference of colour to the ])resence of these ])igments in a modified degree only. We must observe, however, as having much to do with the colour question gener- ally, that the Greens are the strongest as regards colour, and have the greatest power of developing or depositing it — a physiological ])roj)erty that breeders arc not slow to acknowledge and avail themselves of. by having frequent recourse to the (Jreen as a source from whence to derive fresh \igour and eoloui'- produeing j)ower. This nuist not. how- ever, be abused where the desire is to breed a ])reponderanee of clear birds. 'I'he first remove from tlu' (Jreen always produces the greatest depth of yellow, where\-er the clear ]>atch of yellow shows itself; and so it is Ihrongliont the whole scale —so long as there is a vestig(> of a green feather, or even the dark imder-flue attaching to it. it is the e\'idenee of .-i eoloui' producing powii' not |>ossessed by the clcai' bird, for reasons already stated. BenuMuber that the direc- tion in which the breexler travels is Jraiii (laik !ii light, and a clear bird once |)roduced is the enlmin;it ing ]ioiut. Coutimie the diluting ])rocess. and eoloni' recedes: and we must go to our colour-box for a, I'resh supply. 'J'his is tlie enuneial ion of a recoyuised |)rinciple in breeding to which we shall hereafter refer. We resume our classification, and I'cmark that the introduction and maintaining of Yellow Yorkshire Green GREEN CANARIES Yellow Norwich (Jreen Buff Yorkshire Green THE NORWICH CANARY 215 Pied Birds. the Green element have produced Pied birds, and this immediately opens up a field I'or the fancier, in the form of a desire to fix this Pied character in certain directions and render it permanent — a task of great difficulty. It is easy to account for this if we regard the Pied or Variegated bird as being in a transition state, somewhere on its journey from a dark self-colour, with feathers dark in stalk, flue, and web, towards the " Ultima Thule " of the fancier — the Cle«,r bird, with spotless feather and snowy white under- flue. Any exactness or regularity of mark- ing which may appear can, therefore, only be regarded as a fleeting beauty, difficult to arrest and invest with the character of perpetuity, for, owing to our desire to pro- duce clear birds, we take no steps to keep marking under proper control. It is by no means an hereditary quality, and the aphorism " Like produces like " is here applicable only to a very limited extent, simply because the work is tedious and patience on the part of the breeder short. It is no more unreasonable to think of " setting " markings than it is to set the various tyjies, provided the work is followed up in a business-like manner, which up to the present has not been the case. There are men, however, who are always doing wonders. To breed birds that are marked feather for feather with mathematical exactness is child's play to them : only the disappointing part of the business is that the world never sees them — they invariably die in the nest. It is not an easy task under even the most favourable conditions, and we ques- tion whether an evenly marked bird has ever been bred that possessed absolutely the same number of dark feathers in each of the dark marks constituting its even marks. But the task of breeding a bird with its markings so well balanced that they appear even to the eye as the bird stands in its cage is not an impossible one. We shall have more to say on this when dealing with the breeding of birds with evenly balanced markings, commonlv called " Even Marks." What constitutes a " Marked " bird, and what is the difference between it and a _ " Variegated " bird ? It TheDiffer= p . ., . r, , ences of *^ manliest that any Pied " MarKed " Canary is Variegated, and and "Varie= therefore what is known gated" Birds. i' i\t i i " u- 1 • as a Marked bird is as much a Variegated bird as any other. The literal meaning must, it is evident, be discarded at once, and the terms regarded as technicalities, viewed in which light the matter is simple enough. There are cer- tain places on the body of a bird in which the original dark colour seems to love to linger. In some places Ave often wish it would not stay, and vexing is the pertinacity with which it maintains its hold. But tlie last resting-place seems to be on the eyes, the wings, and each side of the tail. These marks most frequently ai>pear in comjjany with many others, but they are there : and as the objectionable patches or blotches disapiJcar, largely by careful breeding or in obedience to chance, the eye, wing, and tail marks remain. These, and these only, are technically marks, and a bird is two, four, or six-marked, according as he possesses each or every pair. Such a bird is a " IMarked '" bird proper, and any bird which is marked in any other place than those indicated is a " Variegated " bird, even though it possess, in addition to its splashes and blotches, any or all of the marks the locality of which we have described, and which are the acknowledged standard " marks " recog- nised as such by the Fancy. A mark on the top of the head, however regular in its formation, or on the back (and some saddles are most exquisite in shape and characteristic pencilling of each individual feather), is not a " mark " proper ; and hence it may be accepted as an axiom that a " Marked " bird must have a clean run, over and under, from the beak to the tail. And since dark feathers on each side of the tail constitute " marks," and further, since there are twelve feathers in the tail, it might be demonstrated from these premises that an entirely dark tail is a " marked " tail. But, if admitted, it would 2l6 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS be of no viikie, because sucli iiiarkiiig is imariably accompanied by so uiueh ol' a detractive character tliat the value of the whole woidd be subtractivc instead of positive ; indeed, it is by common consent tacitly agreed that a dark tail constitutes '■ varieoation." and not " marking,'" be- cause the absence of light feathers in the mi(klle destroys the idea of a clean run from stem to stern, with the marking on each side. When the clean run is obstructed, above or below, the marking ceases and becomes variegation, and this criterion api>lies as much to the head as to the tail. It will be plain that " marking '' is a question of locality, and that there are but six places in M-hich marks can i>ossibly exist : elsewhere they are not marks. The perfection of marking consists in evenness and exactness - two separate and distinct things, though the latter idea is included in the former. Nothing is more connnon than to hear that a certain bird is ui)t evenly marked, liecause one wing or one eye mark is heavier than the other ; but if it be marked on ((tvh wing or each eye it is evenly marked, although the marking may be so irregular and badly balanced as to lay but small claim to be called exact. To be exact, the marks should correspond in shape and feather, one side of the bird being the countcri>art of the other. It may seem umicccssary lo have to explain lliis. but. simjile as the thing is. a mis- apprehension as to the meaning of the lernis gives rise to ncai'ly as nuicli niis- uuderstaudiiig as the " ticked '" ([uestion already referred to. Uneven marking should (Icliiie itself: but thai there may be no mistake, we say that a bird with only one eye or Uneven wing or one side of the Marking. ^ tail marked, is unevenly marked; or, lo ]>ut the definition in a concise form, if any one of the three Tuai'ks is not repeated on the othci' siiic the bird is unevenly marked. A three-pointed bii-d may have both eyes marked and one wiiig. or vice versa, or a li\ c pouilcd bird may have both eyes marked, both wings, and one side of the tail, or both sides of the tail, both wings and one eye. Such mark- ings are of connnon occurrence. .Such birds are not technically " Variegated." because there is the absence of the necessary body- marks : but inasmuch as they caimot win in a class in which the desideratum is evenness, they are allowed to be shown in the " Variegated " class by sinking the technical character of their markings and eonsideiing them as of no value, and thus allowing them to compete with the irregu- larly-]Med l)irds, whose variegations also are of no value, on the connnon ground of cokjur, ((uality, condition, and all other good properties except marking. This grouping, though sometimes convenient, is not defensible on any other ground excej)t convenience- not always the safest foundation on which to build : and a very little inquiry into the character of the s|iecial feature of each of these two classes will show the truth of our position. The biids are representatives of different classes, to begin with, and have been lired with dilTerent objects in view. The one must l)e considered as approximating elosel\' to that standard of excellence which con- sists in the entire absence of body-marks and the retention of those representing evenness and exactness, to retain and lix which has been Ihr aim of all others, in the prosecution of which the production of colour has had to give way in some instances ;is i)eing only secondary in the endeavour to produce e\eu markings. The other represents a class in which marking or \ariegation of any kind is \alneless. as such, and only exists as evidence of an admixture of the native green element essential to lh<- (l(\clo|)incnl of colour. The result of mixing u|) tlu'sc unlike things in one competition, as was done years ago when colour The Old and was the ruling ))assion. New Methods „.,,, ,1,.,, , i„. ,|||,.vcnly in ;i r k e (I bird h a d no chance ol winning on a coloui' basis in wlial was essentially a colour class, a thing which ought not to be : while, if it did happen to win by sheer force of sympathy, on account of it being of Classic fication THE NORWICH CANARY 217 so nearly }>erfect, then an injustice was done to the variegated birds to whom such approach to perfection of marking is of no vahie whatever. Since those days all things have changed, some for the better, and some not. To-day we have not the careful, observant breeders we had thirty years ago. Breeders then studied ; they studied type, studied quality, and studied colour and markings as well. It was common in the 'eighties to have a class of twenty or more Evenly-marked Norwichs at a good show. Not so to-day. In the " rage " to " win," these ideals of Canary cidture have been thrown to the wind ; no thought or consideration is given them by the multi- tude of jjresent-day breeders ; with the result that now we never see a class of Evenly-marked Norwichs, and casual speci- mens of this handsome ideal of a Marked Canary are usually consigned to the " Any CHher Variety Class." It may be convenieni, as we said, to adopt such a system of grouping, and, considering the comprehensive character of the class, to give and take a little on both sides ; but in investigating the jwinciples of correct classification we must have something more definite than convenience to guide us. The lack of this may have had something to do with causing the decline in breeding evenly-marked birds, which, given proper classification, might in a few years be brought to the front again. A very detailed classification may not be I^ossible at once with the present multitude of shows ; but if it could be gradually improved, and breeders encouraged to pro- duce the various colours and markings, and thus bring out more attractive birds, a greater interest would be created in our exhibitions. With this object in view we will explain the true principle of classifi- cation, so that it may be extended or con- tracted in the right direction. With respect to the unevenly-marked birds, our contention is, that inasmuch as the breeder has aimed at getting " marks " at all hazards — with colour, if possible, but without it rather than lose the marking — it naturally follows that it is not in this 28 section that we must look for the richest colour ; and it is, therefore, hard for these birds to be called upon to True Classic ^^^^.yt^^^ ^^r^i^^ ^^ey have licaiion. •' gained at great trouble, and be measured by a property which their op- ponents, the variegated birds, have been bred for alone and possess in excess. The simplest way would be to give these un- evenly marked birds a place by themselves, or in the event of such an extension being considered impracticable, to group them with the evenly-marked birds in one section under the comprehensive name " Marked." They would then at least have the opportunity of competing on the merits of their distinctive featiu'e. There natiu'ally arises the question : " Would you then, give a prize to an i/«-evenly-inarked bird over an fue« /^-marked one ? " It would depend entirely on the quality of the mark- ing. There is a description of marking, to which we shall presently allude, M'hich is next to worthless. We will assume we have before us a class of " Marked " birds, which will, therefore, contain Marked birds only, but marked in every degree of evenness and exactness, as well as all degrees of unevenness. The best marked woidd then win : and we put the case of an imevenly- marked specimen being found among them to inquire into his chances. Given a bird with exact wings and one beautifully pencilled eye, and another with two respect- able wings, one good eye, and, on the other side of the head, a mere blotch, which happens to include the eye ; given, also, that the first is equally good in type and superior in colour and quality, in our opinion it is the better bird, and should win. In all shows the percentage of really exquisitely marked birds would, at any rate for some time, be small, and among the so-called eivenh' marked ones are always to be found manj^ which it requires a great exercise of charity to recognise as such. They may just come within the pale of the law, and, being there, claim the rights and privileges of citizens of the district. But they are worthless members of society : even the very qualities upon which they 2l8 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS base their elaim to notice are of ncoative value : there is an absence of good breeding about them, and all they can do is to flaunt their credentials in the face of birds whicli. slightly defective, are yet in other respects superior, and. after allowing a lil)eral dis- count for the defect (blemish there is none). could, in our way of thinking, win easily. If evenly- and unevenly-marked birds were classifie.d together in this way at shows, it would stimulate breeders to breed birds with evenl}^ balanced markings, much more than they do at the present, as then there would be classes for them at all shows in all varieties, and they would not have to go into the " Any Other Variety Class," as at ])resent. As their niunbers increased, the even-marked coidd lie se])arated from the uneven, and given separate classes. He fore going on to say in what consists good marking, we must draw attention to the thighs of the bird. The cover- Thigh and jj^„. jjpj.g jj, ^Q scant that no de- Rump -111 , ■ Markings. cidcd character can be given to any marking thereon. When it is jiresent it is generally in the form of dark flue, which shows itself upon any movement of the bird. It always has a negative rather than a ]>ositive value, and more frequently turns the scale against a competing specimen than )>laees any ])oints to its credit, and rightly so, especially if the dark colour sln)ws through to any extent. The presence of dark feathers in the tail also is Fre((ueutly aceomiKinied by more or less dark colour in the I'ump feathers ; this is not considei-ed as a body- mark uidess the dai'k colour is on the surface of the feather, and is a consequent disqualification in a " marked " class if not showing on the surface. sini])ly counting against the bird to its extent. Some clid)s allow greater latitude in this matter than others, and the birds have in consequence to be judged accordingly. The mai-k most difficult to obtain good is Ihat on the eye. where it only too fre- (|ueni ly assumes I he eharactei' Eye Marks. within its limits, and the delicately-pencilled spectacle-mark which gives such a distinc- tive style to the head of an Evenly-marked Canary. Sometimes a mark is found innne- diately in front of the eye, extending no farther. When this is the case it is. in the majority of instances, clear and decided, though only small : ])ut such a mark is, in our estimation, of infinitely greater value than one of the blotch type. Sometimes the front of the eye is clear, and the mark- ing runs off from behind it ; this is also a good mark when clear and decided. But the perfection of marking should com- mence in the front of the eye, and, i)assing above and beneath with a clearly-defined edge, continue its course in the same- curve as the outline of the head, and run away to a point behind the eye. This gives us a short, rounded mark in the front and a long pointed one behind. Such pencilling can occasionally be met with as perfect as if ]5ut on with a fjrush ; but the general form is by no means so regular, and perfection is so rare that any decent ai>proach to it is valuable. There should be no f^reak in it, and no disposition to enlarge into a check- mark, any tendency in that direction detracting much from its merit. Neither should it reach so far above the eye as to threaten the crown ; but whatever the character of the mark, eleai- outline is absolutely im])erative. ^\'e do not object to a heavy mark, if it be only decided and have no tendency to the ])ostcrioi' enlarge- ment we have referred to as constitut- ing a cheek-mark. E(|unlly objectionable is anterior enlargement, which, when it reaches the beak and begins to creep uj) the skull, ceases to be a " mark. ' It some- times ha|)|>ens also that the mark runs round in the direct ion ol' the back of the skull: this also is objcctioniiblc, and ol little worth. 'I'lic w ing-mai'kiug should be conlined to the flights, .-nid there is no fixed limit to the number constituting a show- a. mere blotch oi' patch. Wing Marks. wmg : It IS all a itter of taste, There is a wide difference between a clumsy ])atch which haj)j)ens to enclose the eye and tin- ^"aluc of an exact wing is too great to aiford room for disputing as to the extent of the marking. Some fanciers THE iNORWICH CANARY 219 like the entire half of the wing dark ; but we think seven feathers in each wing the extreme limit for beauty, and prefer only five or six, especially in a yellow bird. We need scarcely say they must be the inner feathers or secondary quills, and must form a perfect V, the point of each feather meeting its fellow, and the lighter brownish colour of the outside edge matching exactly with the corresponding bar on either wing. Slovenly wing carriage is fatal to a telling display, and the heavier the marking the worse such carriage makes it look. Though we say the dark feathers shoidd be confined to the flights, many wings we have taken notes of have had the corresponding coverts dark also ; indeed, it is sometimes aston- ishing, on expanding a wing for the purpose of counting the feathers, to find how large a portion of it is dark. But this is not of so much importance except in close com- petition, in which the nearest approach to exactness must win, other points being equal. The worst blemishes are the pre- sence of occasional light feathers among the dark ones, and the opposite ; and also an obstinate very black feather, which sometimes grows in the most provoking- way among the bastard quills. Dark feathers will also frequently ajDpear among the smaller coverts, the first row often being wholly dark, and though these are hidden by the scapulars when the bird is at rest, they show themselves when the wing is raised, and the bird is said to have black "butts." A dark feather on either side of the tail is an addition to the markings, but a qviestionable advantage to a Norwich bird, because it is so frequently accompanied by dark flue at the base that what is gained one way is lost another. A bird with a marked tail and clear flue would beat one with a clear tail ; but the difficulty is to get the gain without its equivalent loss. And when, in addition to this, we consider that the dark tail-feather is scarcely visible unless the bird be examined for it. so nuicli so that its existence is not unfrequently overlooked and would sometimes not even be sus- Tail Marks. " Clear Birds. pcctcd but for the tell-tale dark flue, its value as a show point cannot be nuich. The most that is seen of it at any time is the extreme outside edge, and unless there be a sufficient number on each side — which should not exceed three — to give a decided character to the marking, we look upon it as worthless, the six centre feathers, of course, being clear. The highest point of development attain- able by the Norwich Canary is the " Clear " bird, which, as its name implies, should present a imiform clear colour throughout. Not the slightest tinge should be observable in a single feather, nor should the under-flue of its spotless golden plumage show any trace of its native green. This latter point is not always insisted on even by the best judges, provided a bird be absolutely externally free from the slightest suspicion of a stain ; but the possession of dark colour anywhere may become a most dangerous proi>erty to a show specimen, since it is seldom entirely confined to those places where it is entirely hidden, but is apt to develop itself in certain feathers, which, though they do not take a more substantial form than mere down, are very liable to carrj' at their extremities the colour of the dark under-flue, the slightest indica- tions of which, in a severe competition, would disqualify a bird. The most usual place in which it crops up to the surface is on the downy covering of the thighs, indicative of the fact that the native green still lurks within, and is doing the work of depositing colour in a way that never occurs in the absolutely Clear bird. The question as to what is a Clear bird is generally answered by the definition : " One which shows no green " ; and it is probable that it will remain there, in the face of certain dilficulties in carrying it any farther. But we think the definition is open to objection, and serious objection too. We have shown how the native green is the fountain of colour and how it has the capacity for development ; and the object in breeding from dark to clear is to maintain that cajiacity to as full an extent as possible, 220 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS and at the same time cnidieate all trace of the original colour. We have also said that so long as there is a vestige of a green feather remaining, the colour-woik goes on Avith greater energy ; and it is only fair to consider whether the ]>rcsenee of dark under-fluc in any ([uantity is nut indicative of a considerable amount of the green clement still at work, and whether such a hii'd rcallN' has bidden good-bye to the green and is perfectly clear. We do not desire to take a one-sided view of the question, and are (;[uite prepared for the inquiry : If a bird scores tio green, where else can it be put exce])t among the Clears, or the externally clear, since every other class does show it ? But the plan of com- bating objections bj' asking questions is generally open to being itself met in the same way; and wc would rcj)ly by asking: If birds with dark inidcr-fluc are stronger colour-])rodncei's Ijy virtue of that taint, aic not the a])solutcly clear practically as much at a disadvantage in being lirought into competition with them, as they would be if made to enter the lists with the Ixuki. fide Ticked birds, w-hich are considered the first remove from Clear, and have one leg already inside the door ? Dillicnltics always couuni lice wlu ii wc hesitate about drawing a clcarly-dcrmcd boundary line. When we have luai'kcd out our ground, avc have iidthing to do l)iii l<> (h'i\c in diii' slakes and go ahead with our Fence on the line ; but if we })egiii to diverge here and there to include somcthiug without oui' circle, we at once lay the i'oundal inn dF 1rnid)lc. Now, it is not the breeding up to almost - but-nol -(|uite clear that is dillicult. but it is the ])utting the finishing touches to the work and turning out perfection, without a taini oF impcrl'cetion. that shows llic niastcr-workinan ; and wc have seen really clear gems, ckar thi'oughout. with snow\- wliite silky Hue, that it would be- a sin to |nil inio competition with birds carrNing dark under-llue which " blow black "" all over, csjiccially I'ound the waist. And here wc draw our line and dcllne '"Clear"' to mean : not having the remotest tinge of dark colour in ([uill, ilue, or feather ; birds from which every trace of the green has been eliminated so far as the colour of the feathers is concerned : the feathers have a clear, silky, snowy-white under-fhie, and show by it that they have arrived at the goal. There is not a fancier who has ever exhibited .a high-class hnud fuic Clear of his own breed- ing that would not object to be Ijcatcn by a bird with dark flue : and " doing as you would be done by "' is not a bad plan to follow, even in the matter of a siuiplc cjuestion on Canary classilication. We have no desire to turn the dark-Hue liirds out of their comjKinionship with the Clears without finding a i)lace r.^ . ,.. for them, and we submit that TicKed" ... Class. then' proper place is the bana fide " Ticked " division, which we define to mean : noi lightly "\aricgated " in the sense in which we have explained the latter, but simply as having a small ])atch of dark, or grey, or grizzled feathers, or dark Hue. Nineteen o\it of every twe.nty of them are ticked, for a " snu)ky "' thigh and dark flue are first cousins. It is frequently only the delicate flue of the silky, downy covering of the thighs that is dark ; and so long as the thighs remain in good repair, and the bird sits still, the discoloration is not perceptible without looking twice at it. Jhit the bird flics up against the wires and uncovers his thighs, iuid then it is plain cnniinh : the colour is tliere, and the bird owes his dee]), I'ich tone of yellow to it, and is not clear, and his grizzled thighs arc as mncli ticked as is the head or neck oF tlu- bird in the next class, which may i)low almost perfectly clear, and \r.i\v nol more than halF-a-do/.cn grey Feathers in it. Birds of this kind are all on an ccjuality : they arc in one and the same stage in the march 1 owards /"/Tf- ddiii Innii ///(■ tniee of green, the ))ossi'ssion of which, be it ever so slight, groups them in one class. Our arrangement of the \\holc in order oFcolour-gradatioii is- first, (ireen ; second, N'aricgated ; third, Clciir. Subdividing tliciu Further for the pnrpnscoF more de- tailed classification, and arranging them again in comi)letc order, we have — (o) Stonechat. Wheatear. Whinghat, 222 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS Green, (b) Heavily Variegated, (c) Lit>htly Wariegated, {(I) Evenly-marked, as it is from the previous three we o our ])ro(hiee these — (e) Unevenly- marked, (/) Tieked, (g) Clear. This is the extreme extension, and ineliules every form. There are, of eourse, yellows and bulTs of these grades, and to classify the two colours separately — which it is usual to do — that is, yellows in one class and bufts in another, would give just double the number of classes. The classes which may be united on a common footing arc (/;) and (c), which contain practically identical birds, differing only in the amount of variegation. Classes (d) and (e) can also be united inider the inclusive term " Marked,"' as we have shown. It is also usual to grouj) (It), (c). and (/) into one, as representing more or less variegation ; but we have endeavoin-ed to show that there is a closer affinity between (/) and (g) than between any other, and that (/) should be used as an adjunct to (g) for the recejition of birds perched on the top bar but one. where it is desired to curtail the classification. We suj)j)lenient these notes on classi- fication based on the naturnl gradations in colour bj- a few remarks on the dilTerence between the Yellow and BulT. We think there is no occasion to sav anything of the Yellow, other than that it is of a pure bright hue. witii all the colour on the surface like an exquis- ite orange-coloured satin. The Buff bird is of the same hue, i)ut the colour does not a])pear to glisten on the surface ; it is still a i-uddy orange satin, and sometimes ruddier even than the yellow, but the s;itin is covered with a liclicate ^vhite gossami'r veil by which its gloss is clouded, though rendered, if possible, more bcautilul by the veil-like hoar-frost covering it. The colour is softened in ])laees where the lace cover- ing seems to lie in thicker folds, lint a movement of the bird brings a fresh gleam of light to ])lay on its JHaiitirul dress, and from under the silvery cloud shines out the golden vellow. Difference between Yellow and Buff. The word " ]\Icaly " is very expressive of the appearance of the bird, though the idea is not very poetical : we have seen Xorw icii Canaries which appeai'ed almost as if the; white bloom on them woidd come olT in the hand like that of some fruits. This silvery frosting is occasioned by the extreme- edge of the feathers being fringed with a margin of white, and the elTeet produced is greater or less as it is presented in places where the growth is dense or otherwise. The feathering f)n the BulT liirds is nuich denser than on the ^'ellows. the under-tlue being very thick and long, as the fancier will be able to observe when he n akes his first essay in washing. This dense feather- ing gives the Buff bird an altogether larger and stouter appearance, and it is, as a rule in every respect the lustier bird of the two. By this we do not infer that the Yellow bird is not robust in health ; we refer more ]>artievdarly to a])pcarance. Every fancier, said Mr. Blakston, has his own i)articular liking. His was for the perfection of development in a Buff bird. Personally, we have no hesitation in saying that a Yellow of ecpial merit with a Buif would, and docs, take ])recedenee over the Buff on account of the greater diflicidty to produce such a Yellow. Such is the Norwich Canary of which we have cndeavoiu'cd to Furnish as comj>lete a descri])tion as ])ossible. •lUDGlNG TIM", NllliWII'.II C.ANAltY Xiy/dlii'i' I'nipcrtii's A C.h-.tr Yrllow .Norwich Cannry sliould not ajipcar (lull in Cdlour, however deep Uie lone may he, nor sliow any signs of meal on the hack or hreast, nor he l)atchy, nor white on the outsitlc edge of the flights or wing-coverts, nor show' dark under-fluc or discoloured thighs. It should not be loose or coarse in hody- feather, nor carry its wings loosclv or crossed at the tips, nor spread its tail like a fan. It should not have a coarse head nor overhanging eyebrows, nor be long and narrow, nor he in any way of puny build. It should not show any discoloration on either mandible or on the legs (though to show this is not a disqualification, hut a blemish in an otherwise clear bird), and should never be shown dirty or with broken patches. A Clear Hull Norwich Canary should not be delicient in meal, nor look like a bad Yellow, nor be unevenly frosted, nor show any indications before referred to as foreign to Clear birds. It should not be coarse, shaggy, nor open-feathered, nor other than as if cut out of boxwood, nor in the slightest degree puny in build. THE NORWICH CANARY 223 The bona fide Ticked birds are judged for precisely the same features as the Clears, with the exception that the unavoidable presence of dark under-flue entails no subtractivc value, the points which would otherwise be allotted to white flue and clear beak and legs being distributed between the two all-important features — viz. colour and quality of feather. Tlicse remarks apply equally to the lightly and heavily variegated birds ; of course, a weW-marked bird usually scores an advantage over a badly-marked one, owing to its attractive markings displaying its other points of merit off to greater perfection. By kind ])ermission of the Norwich Plainhcad Club, we publish their Standard and Scale of Points, which is the standard recognised by all Norwich Plainhcad Specialist Clubs throughout the country. The Norwich Plainhead Club Standard Colour. — Deep, bright, rich, pure, and level through- out. Shape. — Head, round, full, and neat ; neck, short and thick ; body, short and chubby ; with wide back, well filled in, deep, broad, full chest. Feather. — Soft and silky, with brilliancy and com- pactness. Wings and tail. — Short, compact, and good carriage. Size. — Well proportioned. Beak. — Short and stout (clear). Legs. — Well set back (also clear). Feet Perfect. Condition. — I-fealth, cleanliness, and sound feather. Streak beak and marked legs not to be a disqualifica- tion, but count against the bird to its extent. Length. — Not to exceed 6 J inches. Scale of Points Points Head. — liound, full, and neat, with "j short beak ... v . Neck.— Short and thick . j Chest. — Deep, broad, and full Back. — Broad and well filled in . Wings and tail. — Short, compact, good carriage Feather. — Soft, silky with brilliancy and com- pactness ...... Colour. — Deep, bright, rich, pure, and level throughout ...... Staging and Good Condition. .... 25 15 10 15 15 10 10 Total 100 dl In judging, the maximum total of points in standards is 100. It might be urged that 10 points of 100 is too much to assign to the vague property of " Condition," which is no positive part of any bird ; but health, cleanness, and soundness of feather are such essentials on the show-bench that no scale of show-points would be of use unless the value of this item were expressed in the terms at which it is assessed by every practical judge. A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF BIRD-KEEFERS. rhotographal at the Hull Sliou. CHAPTER XVIir BREEDING THE NORWICH CANARY The first thing to be mentioned in con- and puiriuu two UiilTs has just the contrary ncction with l)rccding tlie Norwich or any elTect, and we do not wish to apply it, other variety of Canary is that, in pairing, at present, in any other direction. It will the general rnic is to put a Yellow and a be seen that there is here scope for the Buff together. It is inmiaterial which exercise of a considerable amount of skill sex is the one colour or the other: but, on the ]iart of the breeder, who. in the ])nr- except in .special circumstances, the arrange- suit of the many ]ioints of excellence ment must be as we have said. The first recognised by la.ucicrs of this variety, object is to ensure the jiroductiim of good must nuiintuiii. from end to end, fine (piality feather ; the BulT supplying the close, of feather. It is in this respect that compact clement, and the ^'ellow the Canary-breeding differs so materially from silkiness of texture and the colour. There jjoullry-brccding. "We have two distinct is no rule that has not its exccj)tion. nor descriptions of feather, which wc are are there wanting occasions when this hound to mingle ; to maintain, as it were, order of things is not adhered to : l)ut both mirface and ^raiii of the page to be it is only de])artcd from when si)ecific printed ; and this it is which renders our results are desired. It may be. ])crhaiis. work doubly dillicult. AVc have the same that some particular strain, got d in all ends in view as regards the ])r(Hluction of other points, has. from some necessary certain fancy ]K)ints in feather, but wc line of procedure in breeding, become too have to work with these two distinct thinly feathered or the contrary, in which (jualities of material, which wc cannot case it may he acKisablc lo |>:iir two Bulls always get. The one object we may be or two ^'cllftws to counlcnict t his tcndencN" keeping steadily in view may be ra])i(lly in cither direction : and it may even be assuming its desired ])i'o])orlious ; hut found necessary to continue such treatment "we require, from the lime of laying the for one or two gcnci'ations. till the required foundation-stone, that the same [iropei'ty texture has been ohtaiiKil. which we arc seeking to dc\-elop shall be In the case of double hulling, a J5ulT ju'escnt in the /rir* birds wc ])aii-. This it can l)e selected to pair with birds that may \u>\ be so dillicull to lind. hut these have been double hiilTed. bred from \'cllo\v hirds nuist. as a. rnk'. he due liiifi and the and Biiff, if it is fdund necessary lo douhlc ntlu i- >/cll(m\ and we ha\e no guarantee bnlf more than (me season in suceessinn. that we shall lind such iii Ihe ucsis wc By this means undue sacriliee of eoloui' lia.ve reared with such sti-jet regard to the and silkiness oT texture in the feather is development of the hmey points sought. avoided. W'c ha\-e lo search for these puiuts iu two There may be othei- causes for such dilTerenl forms of bii'ds, and wc have uo pairing — as, foi' instauei'. to avoid too rule by which we can determine the \va\- to close eousauguinily ; but it |iri ducc these two fcnius with anything Difrerence ^^^^^^^ j^^. im,!,,,.,,),,,,,! that like certainlv. The success of our oin-ra- tn reather. ' the rule, as applied to /('rt/Z/rr. tions may de])end upon an even balancing is, p;iiring two Yellows intluees thinness, power in Ihe directidii ol Bulls and \'ellows 224 BREEDING THE NORWICH CANARY 225 throughout our nests ; but the result of the season's breeding may show sucli a marked difference in their respective numbers as to puzzle us how to pair them the next season without imminent risk of injury to feather, which, in the Canary, is a serious matter, because many of the fancy points sought depend entirely upon that display of feather caused by the union of Yellow and Buff. For this reason we recommend pairing a Buff bred from Yellow and Buff to a Buff bred from two Buffs, if this mating of like colours is necessary for more than one year. The balance is, we admit, pretty evenly maintained ; but the diffi- culty is at the root of nuich of the failure of some breeders through lack of thought in pairing. The pairing of Yellow and Buff also affects colour most materially. The Yellow is undoubtedly the fountain of colour, for though good Buffs The Source of Colour. frequently display it in great purity, yet the tendency of an ordinary Buff is in the opposite direction. This is sometimes a reason for pairing two Yellows, the philosophy of the thing being nothing more than a concentration into one channel of the power to jiroduce yellow. Occasion- ally it is found necessary to do this, owing to some peculiar feature in the colour of the feather, arising from too much con- centration of Buff blood at some previous stage, through which the brilliancy of the yellow has been clouded by a decided leaning towards the semi-opacity of the duller shade. Its lustre must not be dimmed by the suspicion of even the fringe of meal, shown of late years in many Yellows owing to abuse in double buffing, ^yhere such Yellows occur we have found that the pairing of " double Yellows " ■ — i.e. the offspring of two Yellows — show- ing this extra proportion of Buff blood restores the proper balance of colour. Buffs bred from loosely-feathered high- coloured Yellows similarly paired have the same effect, and the tendency to close- ness of feather is also intensified. These observations apply simi:)ly to the 29 general way in which colour can be affected by systematic pairing. The whole thing lies in a nutshell, so far as the simple principles involved are concerned. The Yellow bird represents brilliant colour, the Buff bird subdued colour ; the former fine, delicate feathering, the latter excess of feather. The elements in each case are simple, requiring nothing more than the exercise of the most ordinary common sense to control them, their mixture being almost mechanical in its action. These remarks are strictly general in their bear- ing ; and when we refer to the pairing of two Yellows or two Buffs, or the uniting of these opposites, the question of the degree of colour in either is not taken into account in laying down a rule applicable not only to the Norwich variety, but to all Canaries, and which is intended to do nothing more than indicate what is required in the first place, whatever may be the quality of the birds so put up for breeding, whether as regards colour, distinctive plum- age, shape, size, or any other feature. The distinctions which are peculiar to Buff and Yellow birds respectively are possibly entirely the result of selection in breeding, and are not native to birds in a wild state, though there are different degrees of colour in some of these. They are, therefore, properties which can be retained or lost, improved and made thoroughly distinct in character, or allowed to deteriorate by neglect. The necessity which exists for working with two sets of birds, if we may so express it, may make the business of breeding some- times rather complicated ; but the pairing of the two produces each in its beauty, and even here the principles of pedigree breeding can assist a thoughtful breeder in directing the course of the channel in which he may wish any stream to flow. We will assume that to produce Clear Norwichs is the aim of the breeder, and the " question is how to do it. The Value pg^j^. q^^^^.^ Jj^ ^.j^g ^^ of Greens. . ■' have mentioned, and Clear offspring will be the result. There may, perhaps, be one here and there not quite 226 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS clciir. but the tendency is dcciilcd, iind the direction oi' each succeeding- season will ))e towards perfect and complete uniforniity of colour if everything of a contrary character be excluded. But, with this ])lan, depth of colour will certainly decline. This then, evidently, is not what we want to be at, and the inference is plain that we have begun at the wrong end. We have selected parents in which are con- centrated the tendencies of generations of families all bred and selected for the one purpose of getting rid of the native green, Avhich is, perhaps, only one form of the paler colour we call yellow ; and we have been pushing this tendency still further, and paling our birds still more. In fact, we have begun just whci-e we ought to have left ofT ; our colours have been care- fully blended and toned down till the re- quired shade has been obtained, and to maintain this we cannot dilute further w'ithout loss, which must be replenished from some source or other. We will go to the fountain for it, and remark that it may be laid down as a maxim worth remembering that a breeder of high-class Norwichs should never be without a good Green bird in his I'oom : not a dull, flat, smoky-looking Bulf, but a brilliant Green, in itself a beautiful bird, which we will for our present purpose consider in its character of a colour-fountain. \\c do not say to beginners, commence with Greens and plod on ])atiently till they break ; that might never be — though never is a longtime — but it would certainly be a tedious ])rocess, and more especially if llic (Jreens coine from a fixed strain not nuich gix'cn to sporting. It is. therefore, eminently desirable thai sonictliiiig should he known of llic eonstit- ucnl elements of the mateii:il Knowledge ^^.j,,, „.,,i , j^ ■ p,.,,,,,,^^.^ ,„ of Pedigree. ' ' work. A good (Jreen will often Ijc thrown by parents Ihemselvcsvery lightly variegated, and well advanced in the journe\- u]) the Hill Dilllcully. It is natural that such a bird should occasionally present itself, as the eradication of the dark self-colour is not accomplished without an elToi't and a struggle on both sides ; and such are \aluc(l aceoi'dingly as Ihcy emanate from a branch of a family more or less remote from a known starting-point. Greens bred inmie- diately from Greens may, as we have indicated, be reluctant to produce anything else, and may hesitate before they unlock the door of the warehouse containing their wealth of colour ; but a Green thrown by comparatively light parents is, in most cases, almost running over with colour, which seems only seeking an outlet to dilTuse itself through many channels, all of which it will tinge with something of its own brilliancy. Mixed with itself, it probably would have a tendency to become more fixed, but poured out upon the rich yellow or equally rich buff of a Clear strain, it adds to their lustre, and infuses fresh, vigorous, colour-blood. This is called " taking a dip into the Greens," and the benefits to be derived are in proportion as we dip into the right kind of green at the right time and in the right ivai/. Of course a Variegated bird (providing it possesses the necessary rich Ijrilliant colour) will answer equally well to pair with a strain that have been Clear bred for generations, 7iot descendants of Greens of the j)revi()us year. This fact must never be lost sight of, as a Ticked bird, or even a Clear not far removed from the Green, is more suitable to pair with a bird of immediate Green descent that yet lacks depth of colour, which the breeder wishes to strengthen. Every breeder should know the nature of the material in his ]K)ssession, for every bird in his room should represent to him sonutliing more than it would to a casual observer. lie knows what it is made of and \\hat it holds as plainly as if it were a glass |)hial (liil\- labelled ^vith the registered slringlh of its contcnls. It is to an inlclligcnt mail ol this kind that we should apjily for our [list |)air of birds ; and, whatever else we got, \vc would take care that at any lalc we did our best to i)e supplicfl with tubes from which pure colour could be extracted by careful manipulation, rather than with empty ones which had been s(pKc/.cd dry. BREEDING THE NORWICH CANARY 227 The late I\Ir. W. A. Blakston, in writing on tiie breeding of Norwichs, cited an excellent illustration ol' this. Breeding .. q^^^ ^j y^^ ^^^^^ birds," Said Clears. he, " of this kind we ever sa^v was a Clear Yellow exhibited by ]\Ir. Edward Bemrose, of Derby ; it was in the last show held in the Tropical Department at the Crystal Palace, and was claimed by Mr. John Young, of Sunderland. In those days we, perhaps, didn't know so much about Greens as we do now, but we had a glinmiering of the truth. This bird was paired with a Clear Buff hen. as was then our wont in our endeavours to produce high-class Clears ; but the produce was a marked preponderance of Heavily-Varie- gated birds. Among the offspring were one or two Clears, which were fully up to the standard of the day, and, notably, a Buff. The hens were, most of them, very heavily marked, some of them being only slightly broken, but all could be relied upon for producing first-class Clears when mated with Clear cocks ; and one cock, a Varie- gated Yellow, was equally reliable for producing pure Clears when paired with Clear hens. Clears from this strain were also ]3retty sure to throw one or two birds more or less marked, the balance of Green blood being such that by careful mating, so as not to harp too long on one string, it could be diverted into certain channels with a degree of certainty we never knew surpassed by any strain which came rmder our observation." This clearly shows the value of careful selection and pairing. The immense number of birds of the variegated form which find their way into our exhibitions cannot be ac- The Use of counted for by any supposi- Variegated . . . , . . , "^ / , -^ Vu 4- Birds. "-'^^ that they are bred m that direction from any desire to produce the infinite variety of marking which we find in them, for the sake of any value which may attach to them on account of such irregular variegation. They are in reality the exhibition of so many inter- mediate links in the long chain, the value of each link being in exact proportion' to its known tendency towards jJi'ogression or retrogression ; and all goes to prove the existence of a recognised system by which the peerless beauty of the Clear bird is developed. It is important, then, in selecting breed- ing-stock, that the Variegated birds chosen should be taken from the upper branches of the tree and not from too near the root ; and so long as they are of known jDedigree, and can be relied on not to play unaccount- able pranks as regards colour, it is not of much moment on which side, male or female, the green is found present or latent — for it is possible that it may not always be present, though very near the siu'face. Some breeders prefer to pair Variegated cocks with Clear hens, and others the reverse ; but in actual practice it is foimd necessary to mate them, not as one Avould wish, but as they are to be obtained ; for with all the care in the world they cannot be bred to order, though the experienced breeder can, with a fair amount of certainty, anticipate what he will get from a carefully selected pair of birds. Some breeders recommend the pairing of two Variegated birds together ; but this defeats our object of transferring the rich colour of the dark to the surface of the Clear. We could understand such pairing if our object were to breed a few dark-coloured stock birds or Greens, and it should only be adopted in such a case. A breeder who wishes to work with his own stock must take it as he finds it. JMuch has been said about the Risks of danger attending the introducing Blood " ^^ fresh blood into a strain through the admixture of blood of which the constituent parts are not known ; and a breeder who may find himself short of Clear or Variegated cocks or hens, may have some of his carefully- arranged measures completely uj^set by the introduction of a foreign cross which appears to be what it is not — viz. an established Clear, when it may in reality be nothing more than the chance issue of an obstinate dark sti'ain. Whilst this risk is not very great, there are few good birds that are not the result of previous careful 228 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS breeding, and good Clears are not so easily bred as to be the frequent produce of dark pairs ; yet we must emphasise the fact that indiscriminate buying at shows of birds of imknown pedigree, unless the desired points are very pronounced, is not 25 i^oints are given for it, combined with beak and neck, out of the total of 1(K) points allowed for the whole bird. The head should not only be l)old, l)ut nicely arched, and free from browiness over the eyes. We must have a gofxl full eye THE NORWICH PLAINHEAD TO-DAY. (.-1 'I interesting continst i^'itli the biiil poyttayeit on puf^e 233.) free from risk, and is not the best road to success. In oui- chaijlcr on Pedigree Breeding we ])ointc(l out that four points |)ractically summarised all those which Cardinal j^.^. j|j^ breeder real dilli- Poinfs. " culty in most varieties. W'c have now shown the importance of colour. and its effects even on feather, as to whether this (its the body closely or otherwise. Another diniculty in I he Xorwich is the maintenance of a, bnld and neatly moulded head, hannonising wilh tlic sinut body of the modern Norwich, for nothing looUs worse than a small, puny head on a standard sized l)ody. We need no stronger proof ol' the importance of head than to .say that brow, but no loose feather or resemblance to the Crest-bi'cd. Shape is another im portaiit |)()int. .•iiid it iiicliides sevci'al minor points which arc easily controllable as we proceed in the breeding of good birds. Our I'ourth |)oint . and one not so easy of control, is com])aetness of wings and tail. These should harmonise with the build of the biidy, and the wings be carried close to the body and just meet at their tips. If we keep all these characteristic points well in hand, those which naturally follow in llieii- train art- not dillic-iilt ^V""/ t,, handle. We can include Points. under this lieadmg such as coarse bea.k : a tendency to browiness giving the head a coarse ap|)earauee ; BREEDING THE NORWICH CANARY 229 untidy waists, that is, feather hanging loosely just behind the legs, marring the neat finish of a bird ; standing a little too high on leg, and too erect caiTiage, are all faults that can be eradicated by pairing birds free from s>ich blemishes to those possessing them. Large hens are not, as a rule, so finely movilded and nicely cut away as medium and smaller hens, and where this is the case a medium-sized cock is a suitable mate for such a hen, for generalh'^ such a bird is active and smartly moulded, and will thus correct in the progeny the points which the hen lacks. On the other hand, most breeders kno^v that it is desirable to jJaii" up a large cock to the medium or smaller hens. In the gradual building up of the modern varieties breeders have had to introduce certain out - crosses, and Out=crosses. ,, n • .• c «-i thus all varieties 01 the Canary owe something to each other. This crossing would seem at the outset to strike directly at the root of the theory of " pure " breeds of any kind ; but fanciers generally know how extremely difiicvilt it is to maintain what is under- stood by purity of breed, or to refute the truth which seems to speak out occasionally in the persons of their different specialities, hinting at a remote impuritj-, imported for useful ends, which has not quite died out. That, we take it, is the purest breed in which the most desirable properties are most securely rooted, and perpetuate them- selves with the most constant fixity ; and we might almost go so far as to say that, in some fancies, the demand for ultra- excellence has induced systems of breeding which would make a reversion to some of the " old," " original," " pure " (?) types anything but satisfactory, few of them having reached our day without having been vastly improved upon and materially altered, to their manifest advantage. In the early days, when the Norwich was a much smaller bird than now, the Lizard cross frequently gave good results, for the Lizard possessed the sought-for colour in an eminent degree, and its shape and texture of feather harmonised well with the Norwich of those days. In the effort to get colour in our stock we must never overlook the fact that no plan is more surely fatal to future prospects than a persistent endeavour to make colour feeding super- sede breeding for colour production. It is here that the careful breeder for colour will always leave the fancier behind who trusts to the colour pot to make up that which he forgets when pairing his birds. The Lizard cross is not now the most suitable for our purpose, since the Norwich of to-day is a much larger bird. This difference in size is due to tiie Introduction introduction of Crest blood gj^jj^ through the Crest-bred — a cross which we have used with success. At that time the Crest Canary was much closer in feather and nearer in type to the Norwich, but larger, and of better colour, as Crests were then paired Yellow to Buff, like Norwich Plainheads. This cross was at first much bewailed, and yet, but for its introduction, we should not possess the present-day grand type of Norwich. The desire was for more size, and this the Crest possessed, and, moreover, it was the nearest approach in type. Wliat then could be more natural than to use it to introduce the desired size, and after- wards, by careful selection, to retain this increased size, and get rid of the other properties not desired in the Norwich ? The real trouble was that breeders were in too great a hurry to put the changed type on the show bench before the birds were properly fined down, and had got rid of all Crest-bred characteristics. This impatience gave the opponents of the introduction of any foreign blood their opportunity, and crossing with the Crest was given the credit of every evil, and particularly of loss of colour. This latter was true to a certain extent, for double buffing had been much resorted to with the view of further increasing size, trusting to the colour-food pot to make up for the colour thus lost by the abuse of double buffing. To double buff occasionally is an advantage when it assists to complete some work or point desired, but excessive 230 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS duiil)lc biifling generation after ocneration is ruinous both to colour and quality ol' feather. In tlic end. however, all things came right, aiul we now have a noble bird, and j)lcnty ot material for Type of ^1,^, breeding-room. If there Crest=bred t { e ,-1 ■ 1 1 i for Crossing. ^^'^'^ «">• ''^^k of this we should not hesitate even now to use a Crest-bred cock to make stock or building material, provided we could get hold of the right type of bird. Such a Crest-bred should have a large broad head, a bxdky body, with feather as tight as possible, that is, too sparse for crest-breeding. We should also endeav^our to get one with short tail and wings, and as near as possible to Norwich type, and a Yellow for preference, though we should not hesitate to use a Buff of the same des- cription. Such a bird we should pair to one of the tightest and richest op[)osite- coloured, short, chid:)by-buiit l)irds Me could select. The young from these we shoidd pair back to pure Norwichs, and also the following season, when, having gained the desired size, we could by selection refine the stock and develop standard ]iro)ierties. We have .seen many birds exhibited as Norwich Avhich cairied more feather than the type of Crcst-bicd we lia\c described as suitable for crossing ; but just now liicre is no need to use this cross, as there are |)lenty of large stock Norwiclis available, tiic chief faults of wliicli arc a. iillic conrscncss in head, and excessive lengtii in body, wing. and tail. JJirds of this class should he mated to others of chubby, neat, good all- round ])ropcrties. \Vc have also an ample supi)ly of large, rich-coloured Norwich type (Jreen and Green Marked hiicK. fi'om which to draw for colour as necessity demands. without having to resort to the J.i/.ard. The first nests from a CJrccn and a Clear Norwich will be. for tlic most |i,irl. more or less I'ied, showing in a ^^.?^^l^^ marked wav a combination with Greens. of tlic disi inct i\c fcatui'cs of each variety ; but by judicious mating of these Pied birds with others from Clear strains — selecting for the ])urpose those most lightly variegated — the dark mark- ings will soon vanish, and Clear birds of good feather and rich colour appear. Its departure will be characterised, as the Clear blood sets stronger hold, bv slight markings of grizzly appearance on the feathers, the whole having a faint, un- decided character about it suggestive of its inability to stand before the continued infusion of Clear blood. The use of the Green is not so much in vogue in some breeding centres as in others, but its intro- duction cannot be dispensed with for long in any methodical breeder's room, though it should be kept under proper control, so that a good number of Clears are always produced in the progeny. While enunciating the theory of the inti- mate connection between the Clear Yellow and the Self-coloured Green, we do Mating j^y^ mean to say that verv pleasing Clears. • 1 4. • 1 c results may not lie ol)tauie(l Irom mating Clear pairs, especially siu'h as are nearly allied to the Cireens, but in such pairing nuich " sporting " jiower is left on both sides, and whilst some very beautiful Clears are bred in this way, many darks often verging on Self-Greens are also ])ro- duced, both j^arents being Clear. The breeder has more control over this (Jreen tendency where he pairs Clears of this sort to othci's tha,t have been CIcar-brcd for a sencration oi' two. Qui- theory is that the natural high orniige colour is but (Hic I'orui nf the luirmal green ))lumagc arrested at a certain stage of its decadence, when at its greatest beauty, and the art of niaiutaiuing it at this |)oiut consists in a careful selection and pairing of birds showing the least Icudcncy towards retrogression, and in checking aii\' decline of colour, when it sets in uumislakahly, by use of (Jrecn blood as indica.led. I'ix|)cricucc of the hiccding-room and kuowkdgc of the stock must be our guide in pairing, and whether it be Clear with Clear, or ('lca.r willi \'ariegated. there should be a reason for each mating, ami this .should be coupled to an accurate BREEDING THE NORWICH CANARY 231 noticing of results each season, and a ■weeding out oi' such birds as show no progress. It is the attention to such details, and the surmounting of the obstacles met with, which yield the chief pleasures of the breeding-room. Northampton has long been a strong- hold of Norwich breeders, and Mr. T. Irons of that town has Mr. Irons on y^^.^^^ .^^^^^ exhibited the Breeding. Norwich Canarj' success- fully for over forty years. Writing of his breeding experience, this fancier says : — ' " I have tried various ways of pairing, double bufTing and double yellowing, but not to excess. In the early days before Cayenne feeding was in vogue I bred for colour, and the best that I ever produced was when I took a cross from the I^ondon Fancy with my Norwich. The colour of the young was simply marvellous. I bred one real good Norwich from two Buffs about tliirteen or fourteen years ago. It was a ' topper,' but unfortunately for me the bird was stolen from a show. NMien pairing up I always study size. I like a bit of this in my breeding stock, both in cocks and hens, and I also like them light in feather. From such pairing I usually have good results, and have bred most good birds from Bull cocks and Yellow hens. 1 have not tried a Cinnamon cross with my Norwich ; I prefer a good Green for improving colour, and like a bronze shade of green, as from this I have got rich Yellows, and the Buffs have been beautifully mealed over a rich under colour." I\Ir. E. Baker, of Cowes, Isle of Wight, another well-known breeder and exhibitor, writes : — " When selecting my Mr. E. BaRer's Stock for breeding I always Experience. try to pick out the best. I do not believe in putting a big, indifferent cock to a little, good hen, or vice versa, for, depend upon it, tfie bad points of the big, indifferent cock will predominate over the good points of the little hen. Experi- ence lias taught me tliat the more perfect the stock birds are the better the results. Many fanciers say that show birds do not always produce show yoiuigsters. True ; but f venture to say that the progeny of two reafly good show birds will produce a far greater percentage of sfiow specimens than of those f have previously mentioned. I like birds of good medium size. the nearer perfection in tyi)e, quality, and colour the better. If a good Yellow lightly Variegated cock, with a good head, short flights and tail, with a good bold front, teeming, if possible, with colour, be paired to a good bold, lively Buff hen, with type and quality, the former must be especially conspicuous if good results are to be attained. If the hen be a Clear, or if the cock is only very lightly marked a Clear BufI lien, bred from tightly marked parents, can be used with good result. " I like colour in stock. Many say that colour should not count too much, but it docs, and will count. Let three birds of equal merit for type and quality be placed side by side for judging, and let one be of good colour, and the other two indifferent in colour, and it would be a poor judge who would not put the best coloured one first, and rightly so, as in many cases colour means quality. Try how you will you cannot get colour in a harsh, coarse- teatliered bird. " My reason for selecting good medium- sized birds is, that as a rule they are more lively. I like to see them go from perch to perch, full of life and energy, and these pro- perties are not frequentiy found in big, lieavy birds. Nothing pleases the judge's eye more than to see a ' tip top ' specimen looking the very essence of health and activity. liqually good results can be obtained by pairing Buff cocks to Yellow hens in the same way as 1 have described for Yellow cocks and Buff hens. Whatever you breed from let the stock be the best. Should colour be lacking, select the best heavily-marked Yellow cock, and pair to a Buff hen bred from Variegated parents ; the progeny from these should be either very heavily marked or quite Green, what the Norwich breeder calls stock birds, for the breeding-room. By Greens I mean a rich Bronze Green, not what is called ' Liverpool Green.' Almost all fanciers know what is meant by a Bronze Green. Pair the young from the Variegated pair to Clears that have been bred from Clear birds ; should there be very Lightly-marked birds from the Variegated pairs, put tliem to Lightly-marked mates, in this way one can intensify colour to a very marked degree. " We are living in an age when size seems in great demand, and suggestions for obtaining such are given by many fanciers. Of these doubtless the most popular is double bufhng. This can be resorted to at times with good results, but I should strongly advise novices not to try it. The experienced breeder can select a good Lightly-marked Buff cock of good medium size, with good soft, sifky feather ; the hen also should be of good medium size, well mealed, but very tight in feather. In no 232 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS circuiuslanci's sliould cillicr a cock or a lien be put up for double buffing which sliows a superabundance of feather, especially al the thighs. For double yellowing I ahvays select the largest-sized, Heavily-marked cock — one with a good head and very short, thick neck, ;iiid ])lenty of fibre in feather. The hen must also be of good size, not marked so heavily as the cock, and she, too, must be very thick and shorl ill neck and liody. Double yellowing has a tendency to produce young that will look thin and weak in neck unless great care is taken in selecting the stock. From such a pair I once bred a Clear Buff of the best quality I ever saw, and this bird sired some of my best youngsters. " Whilst ailmilliiig that good resiills can be obtained by double bulling and double yellowing, yet I am certain thai until a breeder has had a great deal of experience, more certain and better results will be obtained by pairing Buff and Yellow or Yellow and Buff. It is true that freaks will sometimes cro]) uj), and a fair speci- men apjicar from a poor pair ; but to be success- ful always select the best. If good medium- sized birds are paired together, there will be no occasion to double buff to get good bold birds. Weakly or delicate l)irds should never be paired iij), for disa])pointiiieiil is sure to follow." ]Mr. S. (iill, of Plymouth, anotlicr old Norwich breeder and successful exhibitor, I'lirnishes us with these in- teresting notes : — ■ Mr. S. Gill's Advice. " In selecting birds for breeding size is not my only consideration ; one must have lype and cpiality. 1 always select birds with good round heads, short neck, full chest, well-lilled- in back, good wing carriage, short legs and tail, as near llie liulllinch tyjic as possible. I believe in pairing \ellow cock and BulT hen, or vice versa, jireferring plenty of substance and colour on the cock's side. I have always found that size and colour arc lietter conveyed fi-oni the cock's side than tile hens. 1 like bens of medium size, but they unisl be full of (jualily and type. As regards inbreeding 1 am a firm believer in it, bearing in mind that the birds used for in-breeding are strong and healthy, and as near jicrfeclion as possible. I should not recommend the in-breeding of birds with faulty points, as I fear it would only help to li\ llie bad points. I have practised in- breeding for years with good results, and Ibis year (1910) have jiaired a Ticked Bull brotlur and Clear Yellow sister together, both show specimens. 1 have never found careful in- breeding weaken the birds in any way." It sliould be elearly noted by those who adopt in-breeding that Mr. (iill only recommends it as a means to an end — i.e. for fixing points obtained, and that he would not in-breed with raiilty birds. The ease of elose in-breeding which he cites, of pairing brother and sister, was of two birds most perfect in points — in fact, two show birds, which had both won — and this pairing was with a view to fixing these good all-round properties. From these two birds he bred five young, three Yellows and two Buffs, which promised to be quite as good as their parents ; be\-ond this, further description of them could not be given at the time of getting our notes, as they were then dcc]i in moult. Mr. Gill writes further : — - " I have paired Yellow to Yellow with very good results, I have also double butled with good results, and my partner, Mr. Pethick, has on more than one occasion bred winners from double Buffs. At the same time I do not believe in double buffing, as it tends to shorten the number of Yellows. My past experience has taught me that the best results arc obtained from pairing Yellow to BulT, or vice versa. ,\s regards Cinnamon blood for the improvement of quality of feather I have never tried it, and I feiu- it would be a step in the wrong direction. I have never seen a Cinnamon in this part wilh a head good enough for a Norwich. Be- sides, I .'n simply to slw.j viaih-tngi-, unci not as types of any raruty. CHAPTER XIX BREEDING EVENLY-MARKED CANARIES It was natural that tlie varied fdrnis of marking shonld arrest faneicrs' attention, and that jwrtitnlar shapes shonld be fixed on liotli lor bcanty and diflicnlty of attainment. Tliis has been the case with all lioht colonred varieties except Belgian, Scotch Fancy, Lancasliirc. Dutch Frill and Roller t'anaries, wiiosc hreedci's as \'et have ])lacc(l Httlc \ahic on exact markings. Onr object is to endeavour to sliow how to pi-oduce the highest form of nKiriity that the Yorkshire Canary does not hold the proud position to-day it did thirty to forty years ago for good Even Marks, and we hope that some of its admirers may yet be induced to follow those old breeders who made this branch a special study, and bring the Evenly- marked Yorkshire back to the proud position it once held. There is ]ilenty of material to select from, for in this \ariety there are some of the most beautiful of Uneven Marks, both Green and Cimiamon. We know that fi'audvdcnt ])ractiees were much indulged in by some in the old days to make birds appear Even-marked wb.ieh really were not, and that such was not elevating to the hobby, but that is no reason Avhy we should cease to stri\e to breed Evenly-marked bii-ds in a, legitimate way, and at the same time stamp o\d any attempt otherwise with a strong hand. In cnunci.'tting a few general i)iineiples which nuisl he observed in living to pro- duce these beautiful birds. T^^^ W'c nnist direct the attention Necessary ,. . , , i r ]^2^j.|^g o! Ilie l)reeder to the lact that there are some things he wa.ids and nnisl haxc, ami other things he does not want and ninst ciuleaxour to ei'adicatc. lie wants chiclly well loiniid and decided eye-marks. I'lvery fancier knows the \ahie of these, though it would be ei|ually eori'ect to say he does not know Iheii- \ahie. for theii' worth cannot. be o\ cr-estimatc'd. lie also wants light I \' and exactly-marked wings, and he who has h.id any experience knows he can brecil a hundred good wings ioi' one good eye. If we add a correspondingly exact marking BREEDING EVENLY-MARKED CANARIES 239 ill the tail to the extent ol' a feather or two on each side — which, by the way, owing to their not adding much to his beauty, the bird is as well without — we have indicated the necessaries. Then he does not want, and must not on any account have, any body-marks, which are the great bugbear to be exorcised. The great difficulty, indeed the difficulty, will be in making a beginning, because, select what stock he ma\', and let it look ever so promising, the probability is that, luiless it really has been bred for some length of time with due regard to the principles of selection and rejection, the offspring will show surprisingly little of the points desired. In commencing, there- fore, the first thing we should insist on is that the birds chosen should be entirely free from body-marks of any kind, except those desired, because when it is remem- bered how intimately these are connected with irregular variegation, liable at any time to make its appearance in the most provoking way, it will be plain that any trace of this should be studiously eschewed. The accompaniments of this sort of thing, also, and the indications of its presence not far beneath the surface, such as any considerable amount of dark flue, dark legs, or dark beak, must be considered as dangerous concomitants to an otherwise promising-looking bird, and will represent shoals and quicksands the dangers of which will be patent to those who have read carefully our remarks on development of clear colour from the normal green in breeding the Norwich Plainhead. Fully satisfied as we are, both from practical experience and extensive observation, that our theory on this point is correct, and based on sound premises, we should select birds which, as regards the body, fulfilled ail the requirements of Clear birds, although the bona fide marking on them was not strictly even, but was really marking, as technically understood, and nothing more — that is to say, we should not hesitate to breed from birds having nothing further than one good eye-mark, or good eyes and only one wing, or any similar defective arrangement of the feathers we do want, provided only there were the entire absence of those we do not want. Birds having ej'e-marks only, or wing-marks unsupported, we should regard as valuable material so long as they were clear in the body ; and even these will, when paired together or with absolute Clears, throw quite sufficient irregularly-pied birds severely to try the patience of the most patient breeder at first. We need scarcely say that birds showing all the desired points in a high degree of perfection would of course be valuable allies ; but it may be accepted as a fact that the greater the amount of the marking, the greater the risk of reverting to the variegated form ; and we know that this risk is so great that we would, in be- ginning, prefer breeding from the lesser degree of marking and take our chance of getting it reproduced in an improved form, to breeding from birds in which the heavier marking, if not established, would be almost certain to land us in a wilderness of blotches and irregular patches. That is, instead of putting two such birds together marked on eyes and wings, pair one such up to a bird marked on both eyes, and the rest of the body clear or even one marked on one eye only, and the rest of the body clear, or a Clear bred from Even Marks. The strength of dark blood is thus reduced, the tendency to variegation averted. Unevenh'-marked birds, such as we have referred to, are not difficult to find; they frequently occur in large stocks. Mow to ^^^^^ some, not being exhibition Proceed. " birds, are not generally much valued, and the breeder who is on the look- out for them will be able, in the course of a season, to pick up many such. These opportunities should not be neglected, always having due regard to the quality or character of the marking, and not gathering up indiscriminate rubbish, but neat birds, free from objectionable features and showing some one desirable point clearly developed. This, wc think, will show the description of raw material we should select, and our reasons for so doing ; and anyone who has qo CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND RRITISH BIRDS iMislied into breeding ]\I:ii'k((l hirds in :i blind faith in the liive-prochieing-iike creed will admit that we have not one whit exagoerated its diilicidties, nor made one mole-hill into a mountain. \\c know only too well what it means and how it is usually set about : and though a slice ot luck may occasionally accompany a turn of the wheel of fortune, or nearly the whole hand turn up trumps, yet we know how hit-or-miss breeding ends in the long-run. This carefully-selected stock will require equally careful pairing ; and in doing so we should, at starting, make colour a secondary consideration — that is, we should not for one moment allow any rule as to pairing Yellow and Buff, or vice iwrsn. to interfere with our main olijcct. which is marking. If we found the necessary corn- binations existing in the o])]iositc forms of colour, well and gofxl. Init we should not be diverted from our purpose for the sake of keeping up perfection of colom- or feather. We fully recognise the truth that " extremes arc dangerous," and woidd certainly do our utmost to maintain these desirable requisites : but it is marking we want, and marking we must have — note the " nuist '"- with colour, if ])ossil)ie, but mai'king at all events. And licaring in mind that wiiilc wc arc endeavouring, liy mating marks, to concentrate in one channel the tendency to produci' tiuni, as we are, at the same time, concentrating two forms of d(\cl()|)mcnt of native Green or C'imiainon, we siiould l)e very careful to avoid |)airing two IIca\ ily-mai'kid birds, lest the combinnt ion of two shcams of (irecn or Cinnamon blootl, as the ease might be, should cause an overllow on the body ; wc would male a Ileavily-niarkcd hen with a Clear cock, and vicf rcr-'<(i.. Ilu- Clear being bred from the technically or I'ivcnh-markcd slock. This is an cxccllcnl ])lan with birds from an estaijlished stock when there is a tciKlency to gel too hca\v markings; the Clcai' bird reduces the weight of marking in the (>ITsi)rini;. Here wc could mate \'cllow and HnlT. and main t:iin colour and fcallicr. Very lightly- marked birds wc would pair : but not ir both had dark legs, or wi' should not be astonished to find a speedy rivcrsiim to heavy variegation. Birds with eye-nuirks only wc would couple occasionally, as they require more nursing to maintain than wing-marks. We woidd also ]iair an only eye-marked ]nrd to one with wing marks. You tlun have in the two birds the cond>ination of a desirable Even ]Mark. An odd wing is very apt to be repeated. l)\it knowing how certainly hea%y wings will j)rodnce wluit we do not want, we woidd prefer one wing, if containing only three or four dark feathers, and run the chnnee of getting a neat Y by pairing it to a bird with the opposite wing marked in a similar manner and the eyes marked on one or bt)th birds. We should not be disappointed if we obtained a lot of odd wings, piovided they were neat : on the contrary, wc should be |)leased, as it would indicate some tendency towards fixity, and we would wnit patiently for duplicate marks, ^^■e should never expect to produce accurate marking in any quantity, aiul should be more than satisfied if we sini|)ly hchl our groimd. To do tli:it would be \irtually to advance, for one step uuidc good means protecting om- icai'. and security from retrogression. The illusl r:i.l ion on i)age 2~H rej)rescnts an expanded wing, in which the six inner llights alone are dark, the larger and smaller covci'ts. :is well as the bastard llights altiH'hed to Ihc Ihunil), ;dl being clear. 'I'his may be accei)lcd as a perfect wing from a laneicr's point of \ii-w. There are one or two Icalures in the formation of llu' wing wcniliy of nole. \\'lu'n expanded to its full exteid it will be seen that the marginal outline formed by the extremities of the feathers is pi'actieally a straight line : (lie sl.alk or inidiab of Ihc onlcr llights is close lo the oulcr edge of the feather, and Ihc ends of Ihesc feathers are i)ointed : but as wc |)roe(-'cd towards Ihc iinici' |)orli(in of the winii the midrib is loiind nearer and neai'cr the centre of llie web. the dark fealhcrs are fringed with a lighter margin, and Ihc exirc-mit i(.s alter in shape from Wing MarKs. BREEDING EVENLY-MARKED CANARIES 24T pointed to round, becoming squarer and squarer in each succeeding feather till the tip is merely rounded off at the corners, the inner flights or concluding portion of the secondary feathers, however, again becoming more ovate and less substantial in their structure. Allien the wing is folded and at rest the marginal line is entirely changed, being almost as irregular as is that of the human hand when the fingers are extended and consequently at rest. Close the hand, as when in the act serious blemishes which it must be sought to eliminate. The breeder will have to content him- self with very slow progress on the journey, and even approximations to what he desires must be accepted and made the most of. Where we found that any particular pairing had the direct effect of fixing the point aimed at. we shoidd again pair the birds so bred, either among themselves, by select- ing cocks and hens from the same nest, or A PERFECTLY-MARKED WING. (.The six inner (lights alone are dark.) A WING SHOWING SEVERAL DEFECTS WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE PRODUCED EITHER SEPARATELY OR COMBINED. of grasping, and the tips of the fingers will be found to be as much in a straight line as is the margin of the wing when in action. The second illustration on this page represents a type of wing to which we made reference on page 219. We insert the cut here to show the breeder in one view several defects that he will be sure to produce either separately or combined. There is the otherwise perfect wing, but that the larger coverts corresponding to the dark flights are dark also. Note, this is not exacth^ a blemish, but the wing is better without them, for we have just shown how apt the green or cinnamon colour is to ntn over, and the next steji would probably be a few green or cinnamon feathers in the margin of the saddle. There is also the mixed wing, an unfortunate white feather intruding itself among the dark ones, or vice versa. Observe, also, that the bastard quills are dark, and that the first row of small coverts is also dark — 31 with their own father or mother, for once, if the stock was tolerably robust and free from any weakly tendencies, or with others from nests in which similar results had been obtained, and so endeavour still further to unite the various streams and concentrate the same tendencies in one channel. This would, it is obvious, necessitate some departure from the regular beaten tracks of everj'day practice, but it must not be forgotten there is a specific object for doing so. We have known of an Evenly-marked bird being produced from a Green and a Clear. We have also produced a really good Even Green marked bird from an almost Self-Cinnamon cock, having only a light feather in one wing and the tail, paired to a Clear hen. It is only reasonable, then, with a force of dark colour imme- diately behind such even-marked birds, to anticipate much sporting in their offspring luitil the dark colour is gradually reduced to its proper strength and place by careful ■ v- GANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS sclfctioii :uul juilicious puiriiin- ol' not only one, but several generations, even tlien continuing to select, as deseribed in CiiaijUr XVI., in the direction Iroin whicli one is getting the desired results. It would also be lolly to pair two birds together so bred, l)oth marked eyes and wings : smh woidd be preferable jjaired to Clear birds bred Ironi marked stock, and then select the best marked birds ol' their ])rogeny to pair back to marked l)irds as desi'ribed in our lirst selection. The question may naturally arise : Arc there any other reliable sources I'roin which to draw in breeding ^ ^ Evcnlv - marked Canaries ? "' Cinnamon • „ Cross. i lie reply IS :" \ es. We have rcl'crrcd to ciuuainon colour, but not to its virtues, aiul whether it be owing to its well-known tenacious character- istics when crossed with birds of coloin- other than its own, and the sexual influence necessary to rc))r(jduee this eolour, it is quite unneccssiirv here to discuss. But suflicc it to say no bird has or dues Jilay a more iiupoi'tant part in breeding Even- niai'ked Canaries than the Cinnamon, and we ha\-e little hesitation in saying that nineteen out of every twenty E^•euly- markcd Canaries, be they green marked or cinnamon mnrked. ai'c bred from ilie introduction oT Cinnamon blood eilher directly or indirccl ly. lis tendency to fix eye and wing marks are indispnlal)lc. and a little of this blond should alwiivs be ke|)l ill I he strain c\cn when l)recdiug green I'i\(n ^I;U'ks. It is nol neccss;ir\' to intnMluce a pure ScH'-colourcd Cinnamon, for a cinnamon-marked l)ird answers c(|ualiy well, or a, cle:ir |)ink-eyed bird which, though clear, is l)rcd fi-om Cinna- luon l)lo()d. There ni'c ])lcnty of these and Cimiamon-mnrked birds to select fi-om, either in Norwich or \'orkshircs or ]}ordcr Fancies. In I'at'l. cinnamon-marked birds arc to be met with in almost all \arieties, excejjt pci'haps the I-i/.ard and London Fancy. ]?ut the three \:u'ielics previously mentioned are the chief ones in which Even Marks arc bred. 'I'licrcfore scleclinn can be made without dillienlU' trom the type of bii'd one is breeding, and it rests entirely with breeders to make even marks as permanent a characteristic of our canaries, either in the green or cinnamon colour, as other points already lixed by selection. ScAMi oi- Points for JeDoiNG nvi;Ni.v-MAKKi;i> Canaries (») f.venlv-maiuckd norwich I'uiiils III Merit Miirhinij Mcivimiim Eyes. — For neatness and re.^^ularity of outline — Anlerior mark, lu : Posterior, li) ; Ijitire ....... '25 Wings. — l-'or exactness, (leereasin.n in v.iliie as tlie markins^ e.Ktemls beyond tlie secondary nights or encroaches on the wing-coverls 15 Tail. — If nol accompanied by discoloured tail- coverts — for exactness .... 5 Shape and Size. — That of tlie reco^niseil .Xorwieli Standard. .... 1,5 Feather. - l-'cjr coinpaelness nf body-teatlier and earria.ge of win.tis and tail . . 15 Saddle. — For width and clear iiiaruiii 5 Colour. — For depth and piirily of bod\ -colour 10 Condition . . . . to Total, 100 Xrijiitii'i- PropiTlirs .\ii I'venly-inaiked .Ncjrwicli Canary should not have broken or ragged eye-marks or irregular patches oii I he side of the head, niir marks runuinL; towards the lop or front of the heail over the beak, nor should il liave a tiark cap, however syinmelrical. II sliould nol show au\ lii;lil llight-feathers mixed with the dark, nor any markiuj; cm the greater or lesser wing-coverts, nor on Uie still smaller coverts fringing the up|)er margin of the wing, which, when the bird is at rest, are hi stock, properly malchcd, will produce Mr. John ""' ^'O'ks to be of i^ood size and birds very much lieller Mian Ihemselves. 1 Abbott's colour, with sjood dark lees ;;nd myself have bred some ot luy best birds from Notes on beak, about 7 ins, in leULjIh. bii'ds for which I could (juIv get sonf^ster ])ricc. Yorkshire and smart carriafie. The hens lo 1 like in pairiiii^ one ot Ibe birfls to be a ' foul' Greens. |,e of iiood tyjie anil quality — thai is. one wilh a lii;lil paUh on Ihe Ixidy or wilh a bil of l)reed and slyle light feather in the wiuf^s or tail of an olherwisc about Ihem, as near the slandai-d length green bird — because by this means we are able as it is possible lo get them. I i)air a to keep a brighlei- yet rich shade of green. I mellow Green cock with a Bulf (licen hen or prefer the cock lo l)i' a Self (Ireen, because there vice versa. I like to pair a Self wilh a foul or is then a belter chance of getting Selfs in Ihe marked bird, if the Self is a Utile loo dark. pi-ogeiiy, which is Ihe iileal at which we arc liul if Ihe Self (Ireens arc nol loo dark I i)air aiming. To ]U-odni'e size. I ha\ e al]-eady said I two Selfs with good results, if they are suitable usually like big cocks. Ihe exception being when for one another — that is, where one fails the I want l)ig hens ; I then use medium size cocks other must have the required points. wilh big liens. I lia\e nol yet bred a liig ben "Wilh regard to crosses, T always introduce from a small (inc. fresh blood from the hen's side. I ha\e used " l'"'"' colom' I insist njion the cocks being both Cinnamon and green-marked birds when hvel in colour, and of the correct shade, which the Greens were getting a bit loo dark, but I is a rich deep grass green, wilh no foul Ihroal gel the besi resulls from green-marked York- •"' fo^' i":""k of any kind on the body; Ihe shires, as I lind by introducing Cinnamon pencilling lo be dislincl, and. if possible, the blood I gel the greens loo smoky, or mouse- hv:\k. legs, and feel dark. coloured; whereas by using the green-marked " b'or ly|)e I look to the hen. She luusl be Yorkshire hen I gel better colour, type, and as near lo Ihc ' ideal' as possible. .\l the same fiiialil\-." time (he cock must not be o\iTlooked in this respect, and he must lui no acconnl lie weak \Vc arc also indebted to Mr. John in 'I'^i'l- " -Matching for feather or balancing the feather wlu'U pairing is the most inq)orlant Mr. John •^'^>">-' "■■<• >. --..iii'/iv^.i ^.i i.iv point of all. It is here that Ihc iioxices sadly Walker on ^'"I'^^K'll ('recil. for the follow- |.,j| . |i„,y ^^jii |,.|i,. i,j,.,i^ lo.uetlier which look Norwich ing' notes : — big. due only lo the amount of feather they Greens. carry, when Ihe resulting progeny will be small " 1 know of no other \ariety fi'amed biids. Then again two line' fealhered of Ihe Canary Ib.at h:is made gi'eatei' strides liir])C and colour [ purciiascd a \cllow Self (annanion hen wliicli in I iiose (lays were a |oiif> way ill lidnl ol wlial they arc even now. Tills hen I pal up lo a lUiir Green cock h-oni the old pair and bred some very nice yomiH Greens, one of which won several firsts. The next seascai 1 paired a ^'^■llo\v (ircin ((icl< -.ini] hrn tofjcllur. Iiolli \cry low scl liirds. 1 lircd from them what was reckoned one of (lie Ins! coldurrd Yellow Green cocks in the .Xortli. and one extra 1,'ood coloured Yellow Cinnamon hen; holh these hii'ds did a lot of winniii.u. .Xfler this 1 pain-d u]) Yellow and Hull in the usual way. "I always (le|)end on llie lien for fjelliuf; type, quality and peneilliuf,', and the hens wliieli lirec(l llu' liest younj^ arc those that are \frv dark on hack wilh good sound (■ohnir down the front running right into (he veni, wilh |ilenl\- of pencilling on the flanks. .\ hen such as this paired to a HidV Green cock even failing in colour down front oi- rather scarce in pencilling with 1(1 per cent, light hlood, and 5 per cent. Cinnamon, will he almost certain lo ])roduce young which will he a credit to any fancier, f never use a Yellow cock that is smutty in colour, as they always seem inclined to get dark, and whenever I see my hirds getting dark iir lironzed on the hack I pair them with a (annamon hen bred from Greens. I find I always have the best and finest pencilling ofT this cross, and fine pencilling goes a long way to improve the ground colour, because there is much more green feather left than there is when too heavy pencilling is olifained. " .\s for arguments put forwaril regarding Cinnamon blood being the cause of light feet, legs, and bill, well, my experience is that age alone causes the feet and legs lo become light, and I never have had occasion lo try to improve my stock in tliat respect. Some people seem to think that dark feel and legs are the only sure signs of their being Green-bred. I have a young bellow (h'een cock that is double-green bred Ihal was bred from stock doubli'-green bred for this lasl ten years, and it has light feet and legs, while ils sisler's are nearly black. These people wcjiibl turn round and say there is .'lb or 10 per cent, (annamon blood in the cock, and Ilie hen Green-bred. Time alone is what is wanted lo learn about Gi'eeiis. As I said befoi'e. I'ely on Ihe hen for colour and pencilling, and ne\cr use a cock Ihal has a smully oi' bron/ed back. "(If coursi'. Ihe first coiisideralion in Gi'een Horders is type and fjualily, the same as in oilier colours of the Border l-'ancy : only one has somelimes lo temporarily o\erlook lype for Ifie sake of gellin.L; colour, whii'li is wliv. as a mil'. Gri'eiis do iiol come up to Ihe slandard of Clears; although there is a great im])rovc- ment amongst Greens and Cinnamons this few years liack. and in lime iki dortiohs of the .loufjue. This is miisl noticeable on the breast, whieli, in the JiulT, is remarkal^h' licr\', contrasting strongly with I he polished walnut hue of the breast of the Jonque when placed side by side. On the top of the liead. too, tliis is observable, despilc the intcnscK' deep brown, and also on I he scapular fe.-dhers. where I lie pl.'iy of colour, assisted by the meal, is \ cry pleasing, 'i'his feature is doubtless an iinniediale result of the sti'ong infusion of N'orwieh l)loo(l. An\ disposi- tion to nm light in coloni- in the waist or in the region (jI' the \'ent or undei' tail- coverts is, as in the .Joii(|ue. a weak poinl. and a single bona lifle light fealhei' i.e. white in the siiaft. Hue. and web is a fatal defect in either form of bird. The level back, which, in the J^ulT, shows less of the streaky marking before referred to. and also the closest feathering, is indispensa- ble. In order to explain the elassilieat ion of v'innamons it is necessary that we slmuld assinnc tluil the old form, the \ crit.-ible I'un. is, for all ])raetical ])ur|ioscs, )f)H est. ha\ing been entirely supplanted by the type of bird we have dcs- Trueness cTibed in dct;iil. now so lirmlv to Colour. established aiul so uni\i'rsally recognised as the bird, that no other form is tolerated in the show-room excc]it the IJorder Fancy. And a fancier of the variety, in referriug to it Ijy its generic name, has no other ideal in his mind — albeit the very bird he accepts as a ty])e of the purest form is only one of the many crosses which have resulted from grafting Cinnamon scions on other stocks ; and no llower of tiie show-room has been worked on so many l:)ottoms. Hut colour being the primary feature, it will at once ho understood why, in the ])ursuit of a fancier's fancy, that stem should be selected in which flowed tiie strongest sap. l^nlike tlie dark Self-coloured Cireen Xorwieh, with its inborn disposition to sjiort and change to brilliant yellow, the Cinnaiuon is l)oru a Cinnamon, and, like tlu' mi'inhers of the estimable society whose name it once bore, its children follow in tlie footsteps of their fathers, dressing in the same quiet garb with but slight variation. Tliere is occa- sionally found. e\'en in the ohU-st and, therefore, we infer, jiiu'cst strains most remote from foreign taint, some slight tendency to break into a colour which, so far as it niav be regarded worthy to be called e