^, IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.25 1^ us us 1^ 11^ 2.2 11^ 2.0 1.8 U ill 1.6 V] <^ /i ^;. "^^. '^ c/^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y, 14580 (716) 872-4503 m \ c\ \ ^ # '9) CIHM ICIMH Microfiche Collection de Series microfiches (Monograplis) (monographies) iV Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques vC) Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. n Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur Covers damaged/ Couverture endommag^ □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restauree et/ou pelliculie □ n H Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion al Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps/ Caites giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Relie avec d'autres documents D D along interior margin/ L.■ ^^'«'^^^'"t 'Icalers have ssued books treatn.g on cage birds, and have drawn large yon both these works, but have not though fi to Kive the credit where it was due Only fragments of time in a busy business life have been devoted to this work, and no claim is ma,le to generally-and perhaps some of the more experienced b rd fancers may fi„d it useful-we will conskler ha our labour has not been in vain. Toronto, Canada. NICHOLSON & BROCK. '/ INDEX. How index leariiiiiK Vet holds the eel of Ants' Kkks 5, Asthma g Aviulnvnt, The. ...'.".;'"..■.■ jJ Hath, The 'l* Hare Places 1} HeUrian Canary :;; /^ Hed Time o, Heak. The „' Bird Puffed Up ;;■■' ^ Hird Treat....... . ^ ^i Bird Gravel f; Mlackcap, The ■.;;;■ ,ii Hlackbird.The . ' « Hobolink. The X Bluebird, The ,Z Hone, Cuttle Ki.sh .' c? Brazilian Cardinal r?6 '^'•'^'•:;''nS:; s6 Broken Legs\ " Buff Canary ?3 Bullfinch, The .".■;■■• /J Cages for Breedinir q? ,9*K''«-. 70 Canaries, Cla.s.ses of ,, Canaries, Colour Fed. 7a Canaries, Washing '. J, Canary, The *■ *^ Canary, Buff .? ;: Heigian .:; 4 Crested Norwich 2isea.ses of Parrots .hI I-eet, Sore . °Z Keet. Swollen ] '.;■■■ ?? KR>,'Food ■■ II KRgsofAnts ■■ „ Kfig-bound " ?„ Kits ^ Fla.xSeed °Z Knglish Robin, The".:.';;.' ,4° roods ' Food, i^gg. ;:::;;;:;::;;; \i Live Insect ,„ „ Mocking Bird . to Food for Parrots '." A\ Epilepsy ■ oi Exhibitions °^ 89 52 34 Eyes, Sore Ciall, Yellow " H Gentles Oerman Canary..'.",".'.'.' Gold Spangled Lizard ... 27 Goldfinch, The „J Gravel for Birds " „ Gray Parrot, The '.'. i8q Oreen Parrot, The ,g^ INDKX. (liosbfiik, The ,6^ Hard (iiowt i... ' Hyuuis.... ..;.:.; To Insects ♦'' loiia Seed .■.■'.■ '^'' Jaixinesf Nuns, The..'."" ,Vg japiincso Robin ' ,,,' ."vii Simrrow '• ^l\ /"'')snnK • ,/j ivancashiru Coppy ' ,, r"ilk-,TheSky .%, J"iik, The WW ■■ \i\ I-innct, The ;:""" ^.^ Jvlve Insect Food.... ' c" Lizard Canary.... " !" " i,'.V''-'''^l""'Klfd.'.'; ^7 '^'Ivi-'rSpanLrled.. 27 London Fancy Canary I Lossot Voice ^ ii Maw Seed ,1 Mealworms.... f MeatMaRjrots....:::;:::: ^ Mice ' Millet seed:;.v.;:.'. 'W Minor, The Talkinj,/;::;; A\ Mockinjf Hird.....^...;. |^^ ,, , . " l"'ood iCu MockinjjT liird Food.... ^. MouitinL' ;; Mules...*: f' Nails, The '.: f'*! NJKi'rSeed ::;:;- ^i Ni>,-htinKale,The ,":; KT .. ' "^ Viri'inia 161; Nonpareil, The .*'..' 68 Norwich Canary 1, Norwich Canary, Crested A Norwich Crest-bred Can- . - ary ,^ Nun.s, The Japane.se ,,r, paddk'".':':".'-:':.''"'"'^'''- '" Parrots.... ''^ Parrot, The Gray .'.■.■ ,sr Parrot, The Green....'.;: {Z, Pip, The § Plainhead Lancashire ■..'." ,1 Poppy Seed ^6 I Position g P'.illinK the Feathers.'.:; .„ Ku^h.:'.'.:: ,ii xiiifse 173 , 53 -unary a, 53 43 K'tpt 44 44 47 ; 47 "I'py 46 43 17 ', 47 I,-: t7 Kloc. 47 Liziirtl.. .7 ■■'* "3 '33 '38 qo ')7 ^^■a 173 t-l'liroat r75 aiiioiul.. 17=; S-' isr "" '74 47 8,j lUiiijf... 7S '111-' 153 '77 8u >4S 48 •■; '55 Kulc... i6,5 8s "* ned. any other variety," Besides which the following classes are found in another Canary and Cage Bird Society's schedule, viz.: Lancashire Coppies. Lanca.'^hire Hlainheads. London Fancy. Kir.st Cro.ss Fancy, a.v. Common Canary, a.v. German, a.v. (Jreen Canarie.s, a.v. We now turn to a description of the different varieties of the Canary. The entire canary family is divided into two colour classes, yellcw and buff, which are syn- onymous with the terms jonque and mealy ; but inasmuch as these terms do not expre.ss the real colour, they must be regarded as purely technical. For example we speak of a yellow green or a buff green, a yellow cinnamon or a buff cinnamon, when it is easily seen that neither green nor cinnamon can be either yellow or buff really, and the words, therefore, taken in their general application are technicalities. The explanation is simple, whatever is the body colour of the canary, whether it be liter- ally green, yellow, or cinnamon, or whether it be a lizard, it has two forms in which it mani- fests Itself. One is bright and for want of a better term, we will say luminous, polished and glittering ; the other dull and flat, and is by comparison what frosted silver or dead gold is to the burnished metal. The first is the yellow form and the other buff ; and one or the other presents itself in every canary or canary hybrid 14 THK CANARY. THE BKLGIAN CANARY. The Belgian canary, so called because origin- ally from Belgium. The head is singularly neat and is an evidence of careful breeding in one direction. To a casual observer, the head of one canary may appear pretty much like that of another ; but the eye of the fancier at once detects a marked difference. It is smaller in the Belgian, in proportion to the size of the bird, than in any other variety— the Scotch Fancy, which is an offshoot from this tribe, only excepted— and is much flatter on the crown, causing the bird to be what is known as " snake- headed." The neck appears to be formed on a telescopic plan being capable of a remarkable degree of extension or elongation when the bird is in what is known as " position." At present we are speaking of the bird being " at ease," the body assuming nearly the same posture as when "in position," but the head and neck an entirely different one. When " at ea.se " the head projects from the body as nearly as possible at a right angle, the rummit of the crown and tips of the shoulders being about the same level. The shoulders themselves are very high and prominent, and in a good specimen should be broad and massive. The breast itself should be prominent, but not full or broad. The wings are long and cannot be carried in too THR BELGIAN. 15 LRY. because origiu- l is singularly ful breeding in ierver, the head etty much like the fancier at . It is smaller the size of the ty— the Scotch this tribe, only on the crown, )wn as " snake- be formed on a f a remarkable I when the bird ." At present ing " at ease," ime postiire as I and neck an " at ease " the as nearly as ummit of the )eing about the selves are very ?ood specimen lie breast itself full cr broad, i carried in too HELGIAN : SHAPE AND POSITION i6 THE CANARY. compact a form, their apparent length depends a great deal on how a bird is standing, bnt in a good specimen they will frequently reach to a point below the junction of the feet with the legs, and consequently below the surface of the perch on which the bird is standing. The body from the breast downwards should gradually taper, the feathers of the vent and lower regions merging in those of the under tail coverts in a regular way. The tail is long and narrow and should appear like a continuation of the taper arrangement of the body rather than of a fish- tail form. The shape and arrangement of the tail feathers necessitate the formation of a small fork at the extremity, but the more compact the tail, the smaller will be this fork, and the nearer will the tail approach to the standard which requires to be piped as opposed to expanded. Thighs and legs should be long and straight, the former well covered and hidden for the greater portion of their length in the feathers of the body. The feathers throughout should be fine in quality and compact, but shape and position cover a multitude of sins in a Belgian. Such is the Belgian canary in his formation, the peculiarities of which are not presented to the eye until in a state of nervous excitement he braces himself together and shows what the little frame is capable of doing in the way of "position." On entering a room in which a THE BELGIAN. 17 t length depends landing, but in a lently reach to a le feet with the lie surface of the ding. The body should gradually nd lower regions tail coverts in a and narrow and tion of the taper ;r than of a fish- angement of the nation of a small nore compact the k, and the nearer standard which led to expanded, ng and straight, hidden for the 1 in the feathers iroughout should t, but shape and ins in a Belgian, in his formation, not presented to rvous excitement d shows what the ig in the way of ■oom in which a number of Belgians may be caged singly or in numbers in flight cages, we are not at first struck with the peculiar merit of any one speci- men. The very best of them which when put in po.sition may exhibit the most remarkable conformation is .seen hopping about in the most slovenly manner from one perch to another or sitting apparently in meditation. His legs are certainly too long and set too far back, he can- not, when on the bottom of the cage, keep his tail off the ground, and when pecking at a grain of seed stiffens his legs into two splinters, straightens his tail into the same line with the body and looks eminently uncomfortable. This is one of those extraordinary Belgians we have heard so much about. No wonder his beauties have no charm for the vulgar crowd and well may it require an educated eye to discover them. Wait awhile. He hops on a low perch, and from that to a higher, drops his tail, which was never intended to be dragged about on the ground, pulls himself together a little, stretches an inch or two and is already different to what he was a moment ago. You pass him into an open show cage, and possibly one or two others hop in at the same time. Let them remain ; there may be something in them, for surely those ungainly frames and apparently badly-proportioned forms were made for some purpose not yet evident. But we must get them on even terms, for one is i8 THK CANARY. Standing turned in an opposite direction to the rest. They may look a little alarmed and may be not very steady, but a few minutes will set them to rights. Our well-bred Belgian is not a bird to be jostled about roughly, he is accus- tomed to polite society. Hang the cage a little higher about the level of the eye in a corner of the room where the birds will not be distracted by the bu.stle and twitter in the other cages. Do not lift the cage by the top, or the birds will perhaps cower and become frightened ; take it by the bottom and keep the hand out of sight. They are altogether different birds to what we saw. They are .standing in an erect attitude with their legs .straightened, their wings tucked up clo.sely, tails .so near in a line with the back that it can be called .straight. The .straighter the line the better although some breeders pre- scribe as the correct line a form having an appreciable curve. See the illustration of the model ca.st in bronze of one of the Flemi.sh so- cieties. This formation is not depicted in the previous illustration, but it is nevertheless a life study of a bird which could do almost anything in regard to position. Having our birds nicely steadied and approaching them quietly, first di- vesting ourselves of our tall hat, an object of dislike to a sen.sible Belgian, an evidence of its superior intelligence and good ta.ste— we gently scratch the underneath part of the cage with the ^- THK BRI^GIAN. e direction to the alarmed and may minutes will set I Belgian is not a ily, he is accus- ;; the cajre a little ■ye in a corner of not be distracted the other cages. , or the birds will ghtened ; take it and out of sight, birds to what we an erect attitude eir wings tucked ine with the back The straighter me breeders pre- form having an lustration of the f the Flemish so- depicted in the levertheless a life almost anything our birds nicely quietly, first di- lat, an object of II evidence of its taste — we gently :he cage with the 19 UELGIAN : URONZB MODEL. 20 THK CANARY. fingers or a little wand. Sometimes a mere tick or gentle tap will do, and wheyi it will do, the less nibhing and scrubbing and chirping! the better. Just a faint tap and a little scratch to attract attention, and they draw themselves uj) farther and farther till their legs are perfectly straight and rigid, showing a portion of the thigh ; a little more and an encouraging chirp and the shoulders are raised, higher and higher and .still higher yet, as if the bird were trying tci reach a point which, once touched, .still caiuiot be maintained without continued exertion, con- sisting not in an undignified straining but sin- gularly graceful action. I a this .straining with the shoulders the head is depres.sed and the neck stretched to its extreme limit, not with any distre.ssing exertion, but with the mo.st consum- mate ea.se and grace ; and in that po.sture it will stand, occasionally turning its head on one side and looking up with a soft pensive grace, with nothing defiant about it, but simply an air of thoroughbred gentility and quiet dignity. And now note the direction of the head and beak when the bird is thus extended, as con- trasted with their position when "at ease." When at rest, that is, when .standing in a fairly erect attitude without being in any way excited, at which time we have said the top of the head and .shoulders are about in the same straight line, then and only the^i is the head in a hori- zont; extei term* press point extrc previ U])pe head is " I, for if be no to be Undo show iiotic( in ma restle Thi Glas<> be de of on head gian'.s neitlu back, accon been ! {Y, run SCOTCH rANCY. 21 iietimes a mere tick c/ieH it will do, the : and chirping, the 1 a little scratch to raw themselves u]) legs are perfectly a portion of the encouraging chirp higher and higher, bird were trying to Itched, still cannot lued exertion, con- straining but sin- :his straining with lepressed and the limit, not with any the most consum- :hat posture it will s head on one side ensive grace, with simply an air of liet dignity. ■ of the head and extended, as con- when "at ease." anding in a fairly any way excited, e top of the head he same straight : head in a hori- zontal po.sition. The moment a bird begins to extetid its neck or to " reach " as it is technically termed, and the head is correspondingly de- pressed, its direction is altered and it begins to point doicn-i'anh continuing to do so till, at the extreme point of extension and depression, the previously concave or beautifully hollowed ui)per line of the neck becomes arched and the head is bent until the beak points imvards. This is " i)osition." It is not a question of training for if it be in the l)ird it will come out, but if it be not there, all the training that can be brought to bear will not develop what does not exist. Undoubtedly a bird placed the first time in a show and asked to do his best at five minutes notice will not do so well as one that has been in many shows before. The one is agitated and restless, the other cool and equal to the occasion. THK SCOTCH FANCY CANARY. The Scotch Fancy Canary is known also as the Glasgow Fancy and the Glasgow Don, and may be defined as a- Belgian 1)uilt on a curve instead of on the ordinary rectangular scaffolding. The head of a good specimen is flatter than a liel- gian's, and set on a long neck which .should neither be thick nor clumsy, the head, neck, back, and tail should form one continuous arc. according to .some authorities. Yet birds have been seen in Glasgow keenly contesting prizes 22 THI.; CANARY, '» Which the junction of the neck vvi.I.H , , IS more aiK-iihr fi,^.. ,. ^^ '^'' ^''t-' '>ack ".e Cham"; ,f K '■•""■'""--■ I'Ut whau-ver •^li oil 1(1 or. Tht '>-»ck is Ions: and ^'""vex. the wings ^<"'R and carried close to the body, • , , , , •'^''"^vinKr plenty of •^le to help to define the con- «"r of the bird. The tail o"ff and compact, broad at ^e base and tapering, any- ^''">«l.ke a fish tail being out character, it must not be :kcd under the perch as if tlie bird was frightened, but line as the body'^T ''"''''^"^ •^' "» the same feature in . B^iJ.^^r' '''''' '' ^ I^-incy. An otherwise • " '" '" ^"^^^^ over S.cause. l"r ••:.:" '"^ '\^^^" P--d the spokeshave It is , ^ ^'"'-Mt requires ance that the I rd be ^^^'f^ '^^ /"r^^ ""l-^" tl^ese are strong k, nts s „'": "' ''""^^' proportionate ami " k^K nf '' ''""'^^ '^ strong point ^ ^' Pl"n,age is net a col gei th( SCOl'CH FANCY I 1 Can idea whe TIIK NORWICH CANARY. The Norwich Canary stands at the licad of the most extensively bred both in JCn^Iand and '^'"^X mm:' NARY. THIC NORWICH. 2j tlic neck with tlie back ■vilinear. but whatever 'tour, the broad back , tlie Mel^ian must eivt ^*^'""'' >^'''''"P canaries, and is perhaps the most '-^"'1 iiarruu eontom ^'•'"'^'■''' f.'ivonrite of the entire tribe. eertainlN sliouidcr. The ''■'ck is loug and \ con\-ex, the win>rs /' 5 ''J'lK and carried ch)se to the body, showin^r pie„ty ^^^ ^^Ip to define the con- tlie bird. Tlie tail I compact. Inroad at 'Tid taperin^^ any- ■ a fisli tail being out ■ter, it must not be ider the perch as if was frightened, but icefuily in the same 'li'ient breast is a 'ot so in a Scotch l^irxi is often passed ' ^rk, it requires f so much import- e and slim, though that it should be plnmage is net a •■■,■■■•■■ ^vfi;^' iHi^.$ : ^m^^f. >?W^i'fv /;V-;i^^<^^ V CLEAR YELLOW NORWICH HEN. Canada, being the embodiment of the popular idea of the bird, and the chief source from whence springs three-fourths of the home cage 24 THK CANARY. .generations been cultivated It is \ ? small narrow head shows to poor adval; L' las a curious expression when ficin^ .-T ing one the idea r^f k • ^ ^ ^^"' ST'^' r,VT,« r 1 ^^'"^ °"t of drawing The richest colour is found on the crown tad T larger the surface the better the effect No id °" K i'^'' ""' ^^^^ °"^- 'I^J^e eye is darl full, bright, and sparkling- thebe-ik n ni , i«h white and free from Hi ''^"''^ the whole or half 7.' """''""' ^^^^"^^' -;etinies darkllf ,l,:^-,f -^^e i. qualification yet evervtliin^ .f i ''"" clear beak wo'uM v Tlfe Teul'^l""'','"^' "e .ho„, tae „„aer pan U^- ^ ^'t^t 'a" P s s: b a d^ ft o] fe fii ai si of w cl: CO sil lej fe( ab siz an ve ( aiK wli "ti ^NARY. It is easily recognize; ed edition of the yellow ^kes its name from tik id, in which it has f<„ 'ated. It is a phni.p tolengthandslimn ■■ d carriage ; quick and and lusty in its song, at an angle of about Tom a base line drawn The head should be id inclined to be flat inid. A bird with ; to poor advantage anc' ivhen facing you, giv out of drawing. The 1 the crown, and the '■r the effect. No idea -h to it, but neatness feathering should bt feathering and over- a cross in the direc- • The eye is dark, the beak a clear pink- •scolouration, thougli upper mandible is ugh this is no dis- else being equal, the ueck is inclined to arming in profile a THE CRESTED NORWICH. 25 perfect line of beauty with the breast which should be broad and full and feathered as smoothly as it is possible to conceive. The back is broad, rising very slightly immediately after the juncture with the neck, forming a very delicate curve, and must show most compact feathering without the slightest disposition to open in the middle, which is not an uncommon feature in some varieties. The wings must be firmly closed without a symptom of drooping and tucked in close to the body. The shoulders should be well covered and show no projection of any kind, the feathering throughout the whole of this part being of the closest possible character, compactness being most necessary conditions for the exhibition of colour. The thighs should be well covered with silky " fluff " r- .t down to the hocks. The legs, toes, and claws should be free from all de- fects. The Norwich canary is a jolly, comfort- able sort of bird and is not a large one, though size has its value when combined with colour and quality displayed in excess, a combination very rare. CRESTED NORWICH. Crested Norwich is an offshoot of the Norwich, and takes its name from the topping or crest which adorns its head, it used to be called the " turncrown " but the word is now exploded } 26 THK CANARY. fl P II OJ All the properties which become the Norwich canary should be found in the crested variety of the same family in as great de-ree as possible always remembering tliere must l)e good crest. In shape it should as nearly as possible be cir- cular in form, though such are rare, most of them being elliptical. In size it should extend in front over the greater portion of the i... ik, the circumference passing round to the back of' the head in the plane of the eyes, which should be almost, if not entirely hidden, giving the bird an arch expression. The chief thing about a crest is its size and shape— colour is an after consideration. Size depends upon the length of feather, shape upon its distribution. A small \ crest will make any head look mean and spare, ' but a small head can carry a large crest. The mo.st beautiful forms of cre.st are the long, wide, flat, silky feather type. (See frontispiece.) CRKST BRKD NORWICH. Crest bred Norwich is a bird bred from one parent that is crested and the other plain- headed, but with crested blood in it. The same col. should be large and bold with an abundance of bod long feathers. If a .show .specimen, it should ricl have a large head, and the feathers, although cok smooth on the top, should be long ; such, of of t cour.se, commands a fair price, although nothing and like the crested. „m; 1 JARY. become the Norwich 1 tlie crested variety of ^-vt de^^'ree as possible e must be good crest, rly as possible be cir- ich are rare, most of size it should extend ortion of the 1:, ik, the nd to the back of the yes, which should be Iden, giving the bird chief thing about a >e— colour is an after ds upon the length of istribution. A small look mean and spare, y a large crest. The ist are the long, wide, see frontispiece.) ORWICH. . bird bred from one id the other plain- ood in it. The same vith an abundance of specimen, it should le feathers, although be long; such, of ce, although nothing TlIK rjZARI). 27 THK IJZARD CANARY. The Lizard Canary has been named we think from the striking resemblance its glittering plumage bears to the back of its scaly prototype. In size It is rather smaller than the average run of Norwich birds. There are the Golden Spangled and Silver vSpangled I.izards. The golden bird is not really of a yellow or gold Ci:ii;AR CAI'I'KU LIZARD. colour, but is rather as regards what is called its body-colour a rich dark bronzy yellow, and the richer, warmer, and purer the tone of this body- colour the more valuable it is. The head is one of the most important features of a good Lizard and while having extreme neatness and finish must also have a good width of skull in order 28 THE CANARY. that it may show to the greatest advantage, what is held by many fanciers to be the greatest orna- ment of the bird, viz., the cap, which in a Golden Lizard is a patch of pure yellow, and in a Silver pure buff, covering the crown. The general appearance of a Lizard is dark and he- belongs to a dark-flue school ; light points arc as a matter of contrast objectionable ; as a matter of breeding still more so. Dark beak, dark legs, and ebony claws are the correct thinj; for a Lizard ; they are his hat, glover;, and boots — things some people do not care about — we do. He should be a perfect gentleman in all the details of his dress. There is a fitness in things: sheep-skin kid gloves, sizes too large, and seditious looking boots spoil the best cos- tume. In breeding, pair gold with silver al- ways, and as a rule, one should be clear-capped and the other broken-capped. The gain from mating the golds may be set down as compris ing improvement in colour and in brilliancy of spangle ; the loss, falling off in size, want of compactness of feather and consequent lack of regularity in arrangement of spangle. As far as possible mate dark birds. Remember that dark feather means dark spangling and that the Lizard will deteriorate in this respect quickly i encouraged. White beak, white legs, and whitt claws are frequently followed by white .some thing el.se. The Lizard possesses its .show plum ag pi; In bii th( ori sp; sh( rer Th del an( res wit I gol cle; boi bea to t ret I mu: the line sior surl cap. the3 rARY. eatest advantage, what o be the greatest orna- the cap, which in a )f pure yellow, and in ing the crown. The wizard is dark and he lool ; light points are objectionable ; as a II ore so. Dark beak, s are the correct thing his hat, glove.s, and e do not care about — irfect gentleman in all There is a fitness in oves, sizes too large, )ts spoil the best cos- gold with silver al- hould be clear-capped iped. The gain from set down as compris r and in brilliancy of off in size, want of :1 consequent lack of of spangle. As far "ds. Remember that pangling and that the his respect quickly i: white legs, and white •wed by white some sses.ses its show plum THK IJZARD. 29 age for one year only. The changes which take place at the first and .second moults are these : In common with all others of the family, the bird ca.sts its entire suit at the fir.st moult except the flights and tail feathers, which retain their original dark hue while the body puts on its spangle, and it is then as we have .said in its show dress. At the second moult the whole is renewed with a great alteration in character. The body-feathers become much lighter, the delicate marginal fringe turns paler in the gold, and whiter in the silver, and a general fading results. This takes place with all Lizards, but with some more than others. Lizards for .show purpo.ses are divided into gold and silver spangled, and the.se again into clear and broken caps. A perfect cap should be bounded by a line commencing at the top of the beak and passing over the top of the eye round to the back of the head in the same plane and returning the .same way on the other side. It must not come lower than the top of the eye, and the boundary line at this part .should be a hair line of clearly defined feathers; any intru- sion of the surrounding feathers on the clear surface constituting what is known as a broken cap. Some Lizards are very fair .songsters but they cannot be recommended as first class ones. 30 THK CANARY. THK YORKSHIRK CANARY, til ai The Yorkshire canary is a smart, bold, defiant bird. Ihe head should be round, of niedimn'^' th lo br wl sh po th. of COl dn< bui (vv mo Gn are tO] ver uni aga THE YOKKSHIKK. T Size, and narrow skull. The neck long anc ^^^ straight, between the neck and shoulders there ^ ^^ must not be the .slightest hollow of any kind i» ^ '■% CANARY. Tin<; r.A.xcAsiirKK coppy. 31 tiRR CANARY. the shouklers beautifully rounded, well filled in ^' is a smart, bold, defiant^"^^ narrow ; lonj? taper wings, the long flijrlits I be round, of niediuiii*"^^^'^^ "^ closely and stowed away tip to tip at the end of a long narrow- back ; the tail must be long, perfectly straight, narrow, and flat The breast must be narrow and perfectly round which taken in conjunction with the narrow shoulders means small girth, another important point. The Yorkshire is the " genteel " bird of the canary .species and is a good hardy variety. THK CINNAMON CANARY. The cinnamon canary is .so called on account of Its colour, re.sembling the ordinary cinnamon commerce. There are two types, the Norwich and York.shire, and there are both yellows and buffs. A good specimen should have no foul (white) feathers in it. There is al.so the Cinna- mon Green canary ; /.e. a desirable cress with a Green canary and a Cinnamon canary. These , are useful for again crossing with a Cinnamon ^ to produce depth of colour. To improve si/e a very close-feathered crested-bred is occasionally united to, and then cro.s.sed with Cinnamons again and again. THK LANCASHIRK COPPY. The Lancashire Coppy is the largest of all of xi.^- iiccK long anc,***^ canary tribe. The word "Coppy" signifies : and shoulders there f ^^^^^ or topping, and this bird is bred chiefly hollow of any kind ^^ Ivancashire, a county in England that has four SHIRK. The neck long li'iin 1 1 THE CANARY. millions of people. In the county of Lancaster ;^ Coppy 'eigl.» conjointly with it» -npatnon the Plainhead, and though one of '"- ""^ uteresting birds of the whole canary fannb " rXt trfvels outside its own -""t^S a«> 1'- tically cannot be bought .n Canada ^ ' ^ » bred here, and very rarely nnpor;ed I" "'''""^ het the giant of the family, ^tand.ng a^K. a full head and shoulders above ^^^^f^^^i Length and .nassive proportions, a large crest, a,!d a bold, defiant, erect stand are .ts character^ itt traits The Plainhead is the non-eres ed tm o the bird and in no way differs from the Wrd in contour, its head only reqmrmg special des^r ption. A Plainhead skull should be large t:^Z. and very broad with l>eavy ove„.g evebrows ; and in place of the neat, short featuer, whth gives finish to the head of all other can- Ir^ s the presence of a redundant crop, as .f «th verv'lttle encouragement it would grow nrto a crest is a desirable feature. The neck ,s moder- atey lo^g and also straight. The shotUder hroad anf well filled, but not promtnent. The back i« broad, long, and the straighter the better but the tendency of all long canar.es .s m the d recdon of a curve. When fully developed, a b d of this variety will meastue as much as eiV inches long, from tip of beak to end of but such birds are more often talked about than seen People often ask for a very large Lanca- i THE tONDON FANCY. 33 y of Lancaster its companion, e of the most anary family it lunty, and prac- da, for it is not led. In stature xnding almost a ;e his fellows. s, a large crest, ire its character- the non-crested differs from the requiring special 1 should be large :avy overhanging eat, short feather, of all other can- nt crop, as if with ould grow into a he neck is moder- The shoulders : prominent. The ■aighter the better, canaries is in the fully developed, a ;asure as much as beak to end of tail, i talked about than very large Lanca- shire at the same time stating it must be ayomi^ l)ird. It is impossible to have a young Lanca- shire its full size the first year ; like large varieties of dogs, etc., it takes time. One does not expect a St. Bernard dog to get its full growth so quickly as a fox terrier. The second year sees a good healthy bird of this kind much stouter in body. TIIK LONDON FANCY CANARY. The London Fancy canary is the dearest and rarest of the canary family. A well known authority said some years ago, "The breed was never popular, and cannot easily become so." In the adult bird the body-colour is of the richest hue. It is .seen in the richest profusion on the crown as is usual with colour birds ; and in all the old standards considerable weight is attached to "purity and richness." Throughout the entire bird, and notably on the breast, deep golden orange should prevail. Beak, legs, feet, and claws should be black. Birds are singing round tny window Tunes the sweetest ever heard. And I hang my cage there daily. But I never catch a bird. So with thoughts my brain is peopled, And they sing there all day long; But they will not fold their pinions In the little cage of song. — Stoddard. 34 thk canary. THE SONG BIRD "e answers to my call \u,l • vv'ifi, , • ' ■""' ■'"lies V\,th voice so Io„,la„,],„errv A prisoner? No • n,.f i , .^' 'i-I'e brass ca^,e1sa^o^,,'■ •■ He loves to si„^, its ^i^,y^ Of the many varief ip« r^f "■e U„ited States i, m"' r ' '''" ""'■''"• ■""<) -"-y be divided i , o L'i""'''"- T"-« birds "'"■■ntai,, or common rl ■""'' ^ ""^ ""'z Andreasber^ort": dS:™™ -l'^.- "- St. popular b:^;;'"™;^ "r"'" ^--^ "- »°« •■"■" are prob ,3 he , ,„";' ""= """^O State., people. Tbeyareb edrtLr""'"""^- '"' ">« "'ountains of Ge „„„ ' 'P,"",'°"K "'e Hartz re»tful melody a,!d Zv Tl "'"" '"""''= '' " "•eir cheery scg mL f" ""^'"■''^'™-^ by »->'- They are^pertoK-t'"'"'''^.' ■•""' »«'™ require very littk care a,^d T' ",' ""= <^"*?^' to are free from dLsei^s '^ P"''^' ""'"d^d ! D. .siii«s erry, 'lis voice ■y ; iiie •Anon. s. undoubtedly It Britain, and These birds •«•• the Hartz I'ary ; the St. the Canipan- es called. IKS. ^^ the most nited States, tory for the "ts in ordin- ■ the Hartz ""I'Sic is a ■ni selves by and active 1 the cage, h attended I I I HARTZ MOUNTAIN. 35 In the canary breeding section of Germany almost every faniily keeps a few caj;es of birds, or has a room devoted to their breeding, breed- ing is usually begun in Iright, plump and heavy feeling seed, free from little fresh green fc.flast. If you thrust your hand into the seed too often, for it may cmd it comes back feeling dusty do not have the when there is atendenjeed. The bird owner cannot be too particular water-cress, chick-wceiUout getting good clean seed, for the great mor- e given. If lettuce iality among birds is to be charged almo.st en- 1 young lettuce, for fiJrely to the cheap trashy seed with which the Lo be harmful, especiaiaarket is flooded, root. In winter a litt ; Garden cress is ve -I^^poRTEd Mii^let Seed from Europ is the Mn cold weather, ^^^ .^"'^/'^^fest.^ That grown by the farmers saucer in the houst_ ^ „ " ■ All birds are fond of millet n. too severe for it. inter vegetable. • i i ' " ^'■ iry seed, millet seed, r'" *^'^ ^^"^^^ ^"^ ^^ is a good plan to grow a small ed in quantities suitr^'*^"^'^^ °^ ^'^ ^^ood a quality as can be grown, : about seven parts c^n^^^'-^^e the heads as soon as ripe, .':o that they t, and two German r:^*" ^^ P"^ ^" ^^^^ cage during the winter. Millet 44 FOODS, ETC. used largely in cheap mixtures The German Rape Seed must not be co,i°>°' founded with English rape. The E„g ish ra>- .3 much larger than the German with a dark> «ra.„ and is sharp and bitter to the taste! whe>. as the German rap,: is a smaller seed of a briffl,"»= maroon colour and has a mild and some r^*"' atvaTs'T"""'' ^r"^""°^ birds anlshon" " chTef Li -^T """• " »' practically thei""'^ ch.ef food m Germany where they are reareV""' keep^hl'll ''■ '"" ^°°""« "«»-«" wa"^ « w o, thu '," '"'f'™' ™"''"'°" ^ 'hough ;■»«" as if h?" '^'^,'"»'^<='>'.h= will not singas iuc "<"" as If his seed were mixed with canarv rt are in.T '^^•"^.r^^'y - this cUmate a?d ^^^ < mg the bird life and animation-is in facUo t >"'" bird what bread is to a person. Some bi d j«'" " ' dealers pnt up wild mustard seed whch'ti"", been cleaned out of flax and can beCght > '' half a cent a pound, whereas good German Sll '^'^ worth ten times that sum. ft is needW ,'^ ^^«ier that wild mustard seed is very i^jSHoWrr" ^" o™rart:rytno;r' ;rbe:Tad^'^^r nearly every soecies Wi? ^ ^'""^^ "' '^'^^^ y very species. When mixed with other fend. ETC. FOODS, KTC. 45 xfureT"^' '"^ therefor^ds. the bird never fails to scatter all the rest *^«""d the cage searching after this dainty 5EED must not be coii'"*^'"'^^^' ^"^ ^^ ^o"& as he has one seed will not pe. The English rapf^^^^^ canary, millet or rape. Thus it makes German with a darkti ^'^""^ extravagant with his food for it is tter to the taste, when^^^^^y ^^^ wasted except the hemp. This, being mailer seed of a brigh^^^ richest of all seed is very fattening and a mild and somewhr^f^^"^^ to cage birds, and will certainly ruin the implies it is grown i^^^stive organs and spoil the song of the bird. : for birds and shoulf^ "^^^ ^t all it should be fed very sparingly It is practically thei:*"*^^^^~^^ would not recommend it at all for a ■here they are reared ^°*^^^~^^^^^o"^"y a bird seems delicate and is ig nature will alway:^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ter, in such case give a few condition ; though i^^P grains, and only a few. Many people will not sing as muc;"®*^*^"^^ ^"^ eagerly the birds devour this seed, ed with canary, th;^5^ ^^^ ^^ the kindliest intention to risk the this climate and giv^*^^ °^ *^^^^^ P^ts by keeping them supplied with tion— is in fact to th:'^*^^* ^^ ^"^^ to injure them. It is no kindness son. Some bird seec?° ^ ^^"^^ to let it eat what you know will ruin tard seed which ha^ ^'® !^^^^^^ .^^^"^^ its appetite may crave for it; nd can be bought at**** ^* ^^ ^^th the bird you have undertaken to good German rape is *^®^^ ^°^' ^* ^^ to be treated with as much con- It is needless to g^y^^^'^''^^^^"- '^^ get a bird to feed from the hand, ry injurious to birds * ^^^^" °^ ^^"^P ^^^ ^^ given and it will gradu-' which ...» w ^f^V''^"''""'^ ^^^ ^'"^'^'^y ^nd take food from The be.? ^*" ^'"^- ^«^dfi"-hes will soon learn to come nd it is a r Tr ''^ ''''^' "'^'^ ^°' ^"5^ ^^^^""^^ f°«d off-red loved bv h^ ^'"^' '"^ '" ^^ "" ^^^ ^^"d o^ shoulder to loved by b,rds oi receive hemp seed, of which they are very I mixed with other fond. ^ 46 FOODS, KTC. >m ol^'^^lT'T" '"""' P°"»-' '" '""mall.,*" ot a the seeds used for birds. It i, of ""' delresrof fPTr'V "^'"^ ^'^^^ '' ^y far .1, pa, twenty-five cents per pound in the store M the b^rdsare great lovers of n.aw seed ; and it n. perch, owing to its intoxicating effect. A nin,' it a of ma„ should be given ocLion ly dS i ...oumng, and a little n.ixed with egg foo" f ' wh,ch see later. Goldfinches are qnSfond of "'' however and a little should always be „„x« ^" With their seed. of t An: Jav rice are spa I lois dav kno of t Bril Cai] it \v this Strc FI.AX S^KD is grown in Canada, and shoul be good clean seed, it is nourishing and fatte millet, and rape during cold weather. Man flour and feed dealers who sell bird seed „ flax seed with it. (and very unclean it is) but p m far too much-one pound to ten poul^; bird seed is quite sufficient in winter and summer it is better without any. Cracked Corn and Cracked Wheat -Th, rof thr;""^'""^ '" "''""'^' P^^^^*«' P-°q"et. lor e. I "^>^^ '^'"''^ cockadillos. cockatoos hou d 1 u" '"" ^""^ "^ " '^'^''-S nature should only be given in small quantities. I. , KTC. ^ poppy, is the smallcs for birds. It is of our and should have This seed is by far tli rd seeds, costing abon wild in the store. Al n aw seed; and it m us iig a powerful opiate til they drop from tli ating effect. A pine' occasionally duriii, ced with egg food, f( les are quite fond of : lid always be niixec FOODS, ETC. 47 some parts, buckwheat is fed largely to parrots and red-birds. SuNFLowKR Skkd is the principal food for parrots and cockatoos and is greatly liked by red-birds. It grows in Canada, but the best is the Russian variety. It is quite a pleasant tast- ing seed and rich and oily. It is stated that feeding this seed gives a lustre to the feathers of the bird, and poultry men feed their fowls with it a few weeks before the shows. 1 Canada, and shoul •urishing and fattei: xed with the canan old weather. Man sell bird seed mis unclean itis) but pi: id to ten pounds < It in winter and :: any. :kud Wheat.— Thi , parrots, paroquet.' kadillos, cockatoos of a heating nature lall quantities. In Padda.— Unhulled or rough rice is the ordin- ary rice of commerce before the hulls are off. This seed is fed to most of the seed-eating birds of the rice-fields of the Southern States of North America, and also those that come from China, Java, or in fact from any part of the world that rice is grown. All of the family of grosbeaks are particularly fond of it as is also the Java sparrow and rice-bird. Inga or Nigkr Seed, often in Canada called Ion A seed, grows in British India. It is a long dark seed something like thistle seed, not well known to the ordinary public, but used by many of the leading breeders and fanciers of Great Britain, and kept by leading bird food dealers in Canada. If you have any difficulty in getting it write to the largest importers of the seed in this country, Nicholson & Brock, 8i Colborne Street, Toronto. There is a great difference of 48 POOns. KTC. opinion as to its v-ili,n = wo„ld not he without,'™; „f;r " '"""^'^'-k. ff'vea iittle to their bir,^ * """"■ •"""' ">"ca and bu.,fi„c,„., : . e r;,Tr '"','^' «"'«-'-' <>""« of i„^a to one po J 7""-^"^ ""■- ••>« others only Li,e a litt,n ordinary food- •ifirain who do not be 1! • "" "" ""'«■» , f'*<'-rebet.:r'X'r'i:"'""''''''"^T. doctors dilfering. One of M,, ''""'•■'*"' T .snccessfn, exhibitors a, hi Ssh"'^"' '"" "•"^' •»' ^-ves a little to his (inche al ,7" '" ^•'"'""" "r m.xn.gitwi,,, their ordhwv ' ^' y^^r ronnd, ,ea « -' for giving , good br g,, e,- "' ""'""» «^' P'"n..-.ge it has no equal ' °" ' ™"'P"« rou ,-.p;-tr:ra^trbei:g\-T breeders Who give canari a 'f,,!7- ^™"^* '^ ' then, any at breeding time as t . f "°' ^'"" ''■■•< ""endency .o n.ake tl e hen b ^ "'' '"""^ "gl whereas, as we have a IL ''■'' ^es-^ound, i, ers believe ...at it relps:1fj'^'«'-.;'''- »-="' we ' ■ng that period, '' considerably dur- bou tors Bird Trijat is something «« ^^^ be without at any time fo"l .. '""'"^ '^^^"^^ ^"^ and incubation, sharpens td hf ^ ^" "^°"^*'"^ ^^^ . stimulates the gi^^ar'd br ghtens j; ''' '^^'- ^^"'^ the plumage, clarifies thfvo" ' ""^^^^^^ '^^ - --tson,...uards\;SZ:i.^^ J^ !. KTC. f ) FOODS, RTC. 45 '» anj^aLum^amlTiT''''^^^^^ bird in proper tone as nothing else '. especially Lroklfinn "^ ^ ^'''"''''^' ^^'"^^^^^''•' «f t^'e Hart/. Moun- earround--.t,y ,„"f "**'"'^ "' Germany use a paste that keeps their "d of ordinary food- JJ:*^ ^z^ ^'''"'^'' '" ^'''''''^'' '''"'^ ^""S- '^'■ing the breeding and ^KSli /jM^ '''"'^ ''"'"^■'' "^'''''^^ """ '^'^■ hen there are others EnH f HB '^^''^^^' ''^"^ *'^^ ^'''^ ^''^^^ '"itatall, and think ImHt wV ''""■'' ^"^ ''"""'^ ^^'^ ''^'^'"^ "^ ^t. It is a case of W*^ "^^ properties and is widely ' the largest and nm , v known, its merits having >-d shows in c'r; ^r 'T^' ^''^ ''^^^^ '' ^«""^ "^ ^-^ e-sall the year roun T^ P^''^''*'' ^""^ ^^ '" '''^•'^^ '^^^ ^^ 'tself by ary food. He thini . "^ seedsmen, druggists and grocers, (see ">ht, close commr.' advertisement) it is put up in cakes, each in a ' ^^'"P'^^t round tin holder that has clips at the back of it """chasgoldfinohes ^1^''" '! '^ the wires of the cage. The '^ei»g ample Son^ ^ '' ''^'''^^' "" '^""^ ^"^' ^^^ '^l^etch, if it ^ b-ttle. do not Zi' % ''^"''''^ °' ^"^' ^^^^^' •'^^^^^■P^ ^t is not Bird -;;;ey think iti:: ri^^^Vticlf ''"' '" '"' ""' '^^^""^ *'^ "tatedl^hfr'teld ■ " '^' pf^^ ^^'^'^ "^^^^ tried Bird Treat it is d considerably du, u r^"' ! °'"^ '"' '"^^ """ ^° "° ^^^"» ^"d i^ ^y clur- bound to be enjoyed by the bird. The proprie- tors of Bird Treat have received many testi- "o canary should Ta'^^^ °^ u' """""^ disorders of cage birds, t -ids in mouh^^^^^ T T"'''^ ^''^' '^ '^"^ '^^^ ^^^^ been silent hardens the h!lT ^ "^ ''"''~^" ^""* ^° Patent and invigor- -ns and Lof ' T^ '' ^"' '^^^^^ ^^^^ '' "^» ^^-^"-"tly carry ^cal orgari'v? ^^^^^"^ --^ler through the critical period o^ «'«ease. and ,s especially valuable during the breeding 50 I'OODS, KTC. •season a.s tlic old birds viM f , • young, and a Wonderfu in '^ '^ '" ^''^'^ g^reat percentage of '^, T'' '''''''''^' ^"'^^ t'' I <^'lopp«| very fi„e n!| !, , , •'""' "fenvanl. of cayenne pepper all „ ,, '. ^'"^ '^ «pnnkli„. 3'ou have not ^v '1 ''"" "^'-^^^^ together, i ^-at in itf St ad iT "f' f '^^^^ ^ ^'^tle Bin 7-a regular iet^t'V^^^^"""^''' tl»c best daily food to b. i J T" P''^''^ ''^'"•" and also ^o/n^^^^'J;^^:^^^ ^nUU.. ordinary purpose a JittJe n . ^'"^•'^- ^'"^ ■'-n.p,e.-..i',,,,J'--»-^^^^^^^ '■"t"'" C" ^r rdT: - - <>■' n P tl t( T* Jl O tc P h; hi Ol ill fl< er ci ai w w a Sll in fo th eg CO eit th^ Tl -dmt i' ^J« vvill feed it to th. '"^^rease i„ the ^^ro^ , 'It once noticed, and (1, ^^^vhichissuchadrau very niiich lessened. "tritious and .trenKtl, -riy made. TJie e.n hard and afterwanl- lie bread crumbs find) ;^ecl. and a sprinkli,,; '1 mixed together, i -etl, grate a h'ttle Bin food is too .stimulat t 't will prove aboiu lad during moultin-^ Id weak birds. F„r •out twice a week wii: ir ordinary .seed. insectivorous or .soft il-vvorms are in the bird-keeping, verv arp knife is in tlu ' a"d is almost sure ident. ely fattening and o no harm, and if are very good, but birds forsake thci. e a young brood <,t FOODS, KTC. 51 j^ mocking birds, cardinals, etc., by feeding the parents too liberally, ill-success will often result, the reason being that meal-worms are .so very tempting that the old birds find it impossible to resi.st swallowing a good many by mi.stake ; neglect of the young brood follows, whilst the old birds arc .so much stimulated that they want to build a fresh nest and lay again before their proper time. To get a good supply you only have to tip the miller's boy, who will sacrifice half his diinier hour for your benefit— and his own—in hunting for ^ai. If you would be independent, buy a pint from some miller or Hour and feed dealer. Put them into a deep earthen pan or tin with a lot of bran, pea meal, cru.shed oats, mix in also a bit of old .sacking and a piece ot old new.spaper, and a little cotton- wool, etc. In a .short time these meal-worms will change into beetles, lay their eggs and start a big family in a small way. Be sure that the supply of food is adequate to the support of the inhabitants. Keep in a moderately warm place for frost will destroy them, hence the need of the cotton-wool. Ants' Eggs are, as is well known, not the eggs but the larvae of the ant. They are largely collected in Germany and Ru.ssia, and dried either in kilns or bakers' oven.s. Properly dried, the ants' eggs remain good for a year or more! The dried ants' eggs should be soaked for a couple 'ff 52 FOODS, ETC. of hours in water anri fT, being used, ZntL^Z^'T"^ P'^^-o^s to themselves or el^e ,„L ^ > '''' ^"her l,v Soodauthoritysays fr 7'"' '"'«='• food. ., better to breJSon I'd"';'-'' '''' "" »-" "■^ fell to my lot in bree;,i """^ ""^b '"<=«« 'o the substLtLn o,T,:f J-'ivorous bird, -^ "ot difficult to iind an anrnr 7™^- " ' one 1 put bodily-earth »,?,,' ""'' "'* a„ " bag.gi™ ,h^^ bTrdl ; T'.f ™ ""'' ^"-i" 'b«e or fou^r hou^l'^Th/: d"b°d '^^ ''">■ plenty to do i„ eollectinttt '''' "" ""'I Spiders.-A few given fn • omnivorous birds an? , u '"''^^tivorous or sometin.es restore a s Pv !f ^'''"^' ^"^ -^^ strength again. """^ ^° ^^^alth and ve?;:;^,: t:z^'T^' - -etimes -es they ioZoTt^Tlttl- k"' '" ■'°- who will try to breef !L ""= '""^'' but he "■■«« arm himsdf ^Ih f :" ■™" 'o"" b-ds and make up his mid ,"'"''""'= P^"^"«. ■•epeated failure! P""'^™''^ « ^Pite of "^-roTsorf^oTr/"'' '-^s for insee. the Mocking Bird '' '"" "'^ '^b^Pter on W( sh to CO be fo( wc foe dit aih bei she all for linj qut stn usu be in 1 boo C Stan Mec bom The ,;: four the i ETC. en strained previous to ^ay be fed either bv I with other food \ ih ants' eggs are mud, i"d I owe such success »g insectivorous birds - for meal-worms it ant-hill, and such an Its, larvae and all— i„ landful or two every - °^^ birds will find lie ants, and scratch- t of the earth." FOODS, ETC. 53 to insectivorous or healthful, and will ^ird to health and 'OTs are sometimes ting, but in some ' the birds, but he »?? soft food birds fiaustible patience, fsevere in spite of foods for insec- e the chapter on Gravei, is very essential to the health and well-being of birds. The bottom of the cage should be kept covered with gravel for it tends to keep the birds feet in good condition, and is conducive to health and cleanliness, besides being essential to enable the bird to digest its food properly, for having no teeth, that necessary work is performed by the gizzard, where the food is ground and reduced to a nutritious con- dition. The gravel should be sharp, screened and purified by oxygen in order to be the most beneficial. That which is taken from the sea phore is the best, as it is the purest, and possesses fell the requisite qualities. Birds thus provided for seldom lay soft-shelled eggs. Fine sand is unsuitable, it noi being sharp enough and fre- quently not clean. Gravel obtained from the streets, pits, etc., cannot be safely used as it usually contains clay, soil, etc., and is liable to be noxious, from various gases and impurities, in their effects. See advertisement at end of book. CuTTi^E Fish Bone is a white chalky sub- stance, the backbone of a fish found in the Mediterranean Sea, the bone which is pure car- bonate of lime is imported from Trieste, Austria The pieces are of elongated elliptical shape, from four to ten inches in length, and it is used for the comfort of the happy little captive, being 54 FOODS, :eTc. |i in fastened in his caee so that I,, beak upon it, and alsfeaf '„« e „" t"^"""<>i My. Almost all birds deliiht i,f „ "'""''"'"•se for it helps digestion ~^ tLT 'r' ''l> somewhat salty the old its ll^":^'"'^ good effect upon hisgeneral health " "" "- Although such a simple thing, yet >t appears to be diflicnit to fasten . Some t,e it with cotton or string and some put it between the wires of the cage, only to fall down. The only w,ay is to buy it from thedrugg,storgrocerwithafaste„. er let .nto the bone and that ciLs «je wtres of the cage as shown • • • I position until ev^ry v ' ^oTe"!' bT " '''"' '" - gone. If you one": bnyTe emtle ■""" " "" holder you will never go back to th mT "*'' b" ed way, for it cost^ „„ , ''°''' '■'"'''>o"- and is old by drnLT,, '"V"" "*""y """'^^ ^ uy uruggLsts and grocers nn^ ,-f n relieve you from all trouble and n! '"" Nice large pieces withf . '^""«yance. to cage five cenfT! u fastening for attaching tainef sTerr^^irr^^^^^^^^^ a great Gennan authority. (kug^t^Tw:;:::; I ETC. FOODS, ETC. 55 that he can sharpen lii^ '] It a little of it occasion P^^"^^^^- ^ ^^"le mawseed, more or less hemp delight in pecking at f^^^ crushed in a coffee mill, mixed with a small — quantity of treacle (molasses), and a little lard, -atly. The bone beiu / '^"'"'"'^ "^ ireacie (^molasses), and a little lard, likes it, and it has a ^^ ^^^°^^ ^^"^^ gently heated in an earthenware .1 v.«„i4^i- ' vessel and continually stirred until hot, when it is spread in a paper or cloth and allowed to cool. This preparation will keep weeks and to make or buy • :k's supply at onetime is quite safe. Anotht . , *..ipe is one pint of fresh peameal and two or three ounces of maw seed, add two new laid eggs, previously well beaten, and mix all thoroughly together; then add about two ounces of treacle, or what is far better, honey, and sufficient beef dripping to just moisten the whole; when thoroughly mixed and free from lumps, place it over the fire in a frying pan or kettle, stirring briskly until the food is thor- oughly .scalded, taking care that it does not tcktotheoldfashi "" ^"™ '''' ^^""""'^ smoked. When done, run it ^ than ordinarv^bone" ^n'""^^' "" ^"^ '^''^ '^^"^^ ^"^° ^ '^^^^ «^ P^P^^' y uiit, allownig It to remain untouched as it falls from the sieve until cold; then put it lightly, as looselj- as possible, into a glass bottle, and it will keep for months. This is highly nutritious, and an excellent food for insectivorous birds. ral health thing, yet to fasten, or string the wires 11 down. it from a fasten- ^at clips shown. the bird can reacli •one, which is held in i of eatable matter is he cuttle bone witli d grocers, and it will and annoyance. itening for attachint,^ prepaid, can be oh- ught readily and of •s. It consists, sa\s ^uguste F. Weiner) I an tbi sai BREEDING. ha Thou,,, oreak my heart, thou bo„„ie bird ^""^ That sings beside thy mate Tr For sae I sat, and sae I sang bir Andw,st„ao-myfate.-^«^«,. j^j fa 'S^:^p~^^^ 7- ^-resting a,.'; S me natching and da ly growth ^f fi Sel the moult ngseaso? T """'' ""' ''^^^'^ ""'" the .4th Februa v^-; '"'"'',P«'P'"°-'«ie i» oI„„ ^ -Jesamoug the you g bwf TT"'""'^ ■-•nd a light colour female „r h ^''"™ '""'' ( «me yellow birds ff '^ """ """""y ha"'! o yellow birds, let d«n veir "'■'''" ^'^" <'-!' o be ,„ated. A goM c„t ' ■" "'""arked bird- "; same colour A toM •""' ""'" P^^uce tl,. I female „fte,-produ'e"c™nr'' """ "^'P «-" P^ ?-e„ pairs usLlty";^:^~ ™'-- Soli.l I some cases, unless the same c' ^^'T ' ■"" " "■ bred for several eeueratil ..■"■' ''^™ ^eet ., show colours tSe™"^^""''^ "'''»"'»-' grand-pareutsorK ta ''! 7''""' ''"' "'^^ "■' ■"?, si^e and colour L' of frT""'' ^" ''^=«' song is seldom or Cer fo h .l'"' '"^ '^=^' b' "irds or fancy coloj^ BW of":,", "", '"«^" '" great size usually have strot he f '''°" "' «" are not good songsters if fh T^ T"^ "'"' «th -e the UncashiL are the tst " t^ ™"'' both plainheads and crests Th; k ^ ^'^ ""' tioned before are verJ! ''"'^''' as men- would have t; be ' , jr' '" '''"''''■ ^bev To breed good^Cree'Zb'' <'^^'-- f-,earegoodoerm^anbi;::r::;'t:to:.: a n( a] K tl: lie ca th so th U^i^ BREEDING. 59 ned with cotton-wool o * t, ones hear only the male bird sing or some other ays: "The male shoi ,,,^"''^"^ ^°^^^ German, and you will have reason old, and the better a "' **^ ^^ proud of some choice songsters. e female niav h« ^5.^ '^ "^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ should be good clean .seed, bird.s. A yellow m.l. e produce usually h ''^^ aavertisement ) each packet contaii one wishes clear d" ^^ Bird Treat, and for one pair of birds ( Vellow unmarked bir7 **^ ''""^^ P""'^'' ""^ '' ^'^'''^ ^°^^^^ ^^^ fin. e may be one to ink if the female is old ''^"'^^^' ""^^^^' ''^"'^ ^''^P^ ^'^^^ ""''^^- ^^^^ be a larger proportion' " ^^'^^^^^^ cannot get a better mi.xture than Brock's r bird.s. A v.^Ti^ '" !' ^'^^^ ^eed- which is put up with great care, and (see advertisement) each packet contains a cake one-third unmarked bird "' T"'" i-^^--^^ -^ "^»u uoiiea egg finely chop- r pair will produce tl ' ^ ^^'^'^ ^^^"^^^ ""'^ ''^'^^"^ *^^^ '^^"^^^ quantity of male and deep er • " f"^^^^^^^ cracker and sprinkle a little cayenne inamon colours SoT 1 ^^^^^''- ^'"^ '''^^^' ^^^ ^^^ -°o^ ^^'^ry other day ICO solid green • but ' * ^'^^^ ^^"^^ "^^^^' °^ ^^^P^' ^^^^' °^ ^^ °^*^" ^'"^ ^'^ me colours haU be " 9^^"^^^ *° ^^^P ^^^ bowels open. Give a little IS, the young birds m!'' 1?^^^ '''' ^ ^'"^^ ^""^^^ ^'''''^ "^''^'^ °^^^' ^''^y- parents, but like f I ' ^ ^^^"^^ °^ ^^^^^^ ^^''^'^^ ^""^ ^ ^""^^ ^o"*^ i» .ri , .-^ ' ^ , "'^' the cage, ^ents. In breed oi i- Lleanhness is e.specially necessary during the breeding season, but try to disturb the birds as Kittle as possible— always move slowly around the birds. Lice are particularly annoying at this time and they breed very rapidly in the nest ; it is therefore well to dust the nest and cage frequently with in.sect powder. After the birds have been cared for, and had their bath twice a week if they wish, unless some ailment requires attention, leave them to their own pleasures. Too close attention and frequent taking down the cage to show the pair nd- ten be had, but the best ound with the larger Tds of high colour „r ong heavy voices and V ^^^ ^^eeder wants the best. There are This breed, as meii- ce in Canada. The}' some bird dealer. ^ that both male and is,andlettheyoun^ ' 6o 'liiiMiii ! ! h •m BREJSDING. occ^.-when the pair ^1^ ?'"-'"'='"<'"«i,.al if hard and contfnTed !h! ?' "'«^"'"' "^'^ back in hi, own cage1™-:r ;'™" "' "" '-en they n,ay try ll.rZllZlT'' """ ■nen. ,s brief, but some femaS fak. '"'"^'' aversion to a narhV,.!, ", " ^^ '^ »«'"•'"" pair with him"^ r noh" ' '"" "'" ""'■« female. '"'^'' " ^-^^ change tl„Pi waX„^r:Ce::r:irrM."^ ■'-- •- in the morning onlTtn V ''''"« ""^ "^^^ afternoon with an "!„ ."■ " '" ^'""'' '" "«* of the fem^e ,o"rr '/"™P'°" ""^Panno has not real ; It'd „ .'"' ""^' '"^ P" »« i" condition.'' S^frer^e::!""''''^''-!^ early afternoon, for wher^ II ^^ "'' '" ""'"■' 'here will i„ aimos eve ; c se TeT T "'""''" '"' and later et .'s Th» « . P"'^' "atiii.., ca; colour, is itidon the lieh.?; ""f ^^^"8-- and one egg is laid each day u'h^ ,f" "'^""^ . ' from four to seven eggs is co:;Se.f ^ '''"'' "' t 'i-nes it wm h:p;rfhaT^h^"r' "r '"'"'■ "' female lays, she wfl. be si .n thf '"'°" ' '"" .he «.ost complete hea,th,re"rfrh:rrcrL: to" ,i'^'-. f CEDING. I BREEDING. 6l that eaT '^^^^''' '• -^"'P^^^' ''''''S^ tucked up, nothing to indicate tiily On ^!'°'"'''^ °^ '^^ presence of any disarrangement, but in the ire first n. ^ometin::afternoon there is evidently something wrong the n iJ" ;^08^ether, nrfor she seeks a corner of the cage panting gain frl'/ "^ ^' ].tviolentIy. and squats on the ground with wings n llZZt^LV-'"'' ''^' '^"tstretched, feathers ruffled, head thrown back, e"fem2 ; , ^ ^^^^'■'^^^' '^^^"^^ ^"^ apparently prostrated, the pic- ar male nn". ^,/^^^'^'"^^ °f "^^^^^y- ^ext morning if she should ^ male and will neveoot have laid her egg, action must be taken -^ case change thtPut some hot water in a narrow-necked jug backward . ^ °'' ^°"^^ """"^ ^""P"^^ ^^'' ^^"* ^^^^^y to the s' timn., -M '^^"' ''^'^''"'' ^"^ afterward put two or three drops of time buildmg the nestsweet oil on the vent. Gently replace her in onal 111 K'^""^^ '" ^^'^'^^ "^'^ ^"'^ ^^^ ^SS ^^" «oon be laid, if it be ^na^i^attemptonthepaniiot dropped when the oil is applied. Early - or ti,«M'"'^' ^^^ pa attention to a case, when the bird is egg-bound e frV ^ "^^ ^"'"^^^ ^^ *^^ "tmost importance. If the egg is e thtr ^^^ ^"'"'^ '" tlu'broken inside the bird, according to most author- case h^T r ^"^''"^^ '*'"' ^^ ^'^^' ^^'^ ^''^' ^'though we have heard of ^ De perfect mating, cases where it has not done so Qgg, a small sea-green Tnt7ul'^\ """'"'^ . ^''''' ^""^^^ Removed with a spoon each comn et ^^'"^ °^ f'^ ''^'" ^^^^' °' ^"^* ^" *^^ "^^t. They should P^ete. be removed when either bird inclines to throw f^H , ;u *^^"' *""* '''■ ^^stroy them. If removed they ^^bo^md ?f '"' *^"J^ .^' '''"'"'^ '" '^^ "^^^ ^" the afternoon gg bound, but some- of the day the third one is laid ; the female ^n irT .u ^^^""'^ ' *^^" ^""^^ ^° *^^ "^"* ^t night, lays her fourth ler fe^fh! ""T"'"^ '" !^^ "' '^^ "'°'"^"^' ^"^ generally commences leathers close and to sit so closely that the date of hatching may 62 BREEDING. eggs should not hatch a, expected let , re...ai„ „„disturbed three or „ ^' " ," « remove the eggs and nest, and i a few give a new nest. '" ''■"•«' Eating the eggs as soon as laid is usuallv, ]l becanse the pair has not been fed r el,k " Mated birds require rich fnoH * <'''°"^<>'m< Bird Treat, and ^he: I^ldt'^^en''::;-;?.'::' an^Ute^ottn^eniXr^^^^^^ ^e^aitrrirrtrtfr''^^ disposition to disturb ol ', I *°"" = "> female fron. the'S.eta X-pn:!;'?;™;'" f' young ones a: trruld~ondtr '"' ''°" in the same cage with tl,. I "' "* '"" ?"* second laying^goi 1 t"^^""^ b.rd.,. and the th. cij^nig goes on while the> fr,t^u ^ ■ i '^ teeds the young until the;t, L/t^^ '"' i^" selves. But if the nini« f ^ ^^''""- 3>'°^ " "'^ "'^^e g^ets quarrelsome or (he -tlie ii'''uajj GDING. _ BRPCKDINC. 63 days nil] '"°"""^- '"^''Tair i» Retting too anxious to mate again neglect :^ cad. day tunrn '^'" T'-^'^' " "'" '" ''^''''' '''''''' ^"^^'"^ ree or f f ^"^ ^"'^" ^""^ ^''' ''^^^'"'^elves and fly on the perch, iest and "-""^ ?''' ^'"'^^>' '"^>' ^'^^^^ ^^ removed and the male re- in a few dayturned to his mate, and another brood raised. )n a«; ln,M ; „ ^' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^'^'^^ *^^^^ >'"""J? '^•"^'^ will grow under been fed '"^ "^^"^'^'•'"tlie eye almost hourly, but it maj- be that the ch food ' ''"''"•^''°»°^'^e^ will refuse to feed them at all, or at such lould be' ^^^ ^T-^ '""long intervals and in such a half-hearted way, he oair •^'^^" ^ '"'*^^* *^^^ experienced breeder can tell at the end . nr. fi '■' ^"1^ JoS^^therof a day or two what are the future prospects at the seT ' ^'^^^^^ oi the nest. If in place of full crops, plump -emnh. ^'!l' ^ breasts and heavy abdomen, he finds every :„.," '!J"' *^^ •'^^"'''^ M«re dwarfed, it is then time for the breeder . ^u It he shows ;; to step in and assist by artificial feeding The n.v h! 7- '^l'""^ ^'" ^•'^^ '"^^ ^^' "> ^^''^^"^g ''''^^' breedi.ig hens, to m be put in his o^^ leave well alone, even if that well is just to Ijgj. °" ^ ^^^^ whci keep the young birds moving. But for them to stand still is equal to retrograding, and then I u^ ., ,. ,. ^^^^ i"o^^c of proceeding is this: Cut a hard ^^oy tne old birds with loiled egg in halves, and having moistened the e given fresh tw( yolk with saliva, visit every nest, particularly some cases, where the the doubtful ones, and when empty crops are parents and feed ti.e found, scrape up some egg with a little flat .second nest is put ^tick, making it very moist, not much thicker young birds, and the ,than cream in fact, and give the young birds a "lie the father bird |good feed. There is no difficulty in making ■y can eat for them- jyoung canaries open their mouth, it is almost ts quarrelsome or the the first thing they do in this world and they 64 BRKKDINO. i "" moles, „„ ,ooki„„ , ', '^'' "'''• "»'' "s l»nl fi"" l.ns beg,,,; ,„ .. ;;; ■;:" -dicatio,, ,ha, ,„„s by sitting o„ then, vl^'clo t k"' " T" 1""'"^'^' the nest. The l,est thi.L ^f ■' " ''^"■"'*<: -nt where' he can e ; , " l^'Tf -'P-- wires, he will incessanth A, " ' "'""S'' ""« feed and in aceeptl,: , ' ' '"■'■■ '" "^""'e a«il S« right again "^'^ "" "n„ation,,, she wi'the Keep the yoiiiiP- hirrlc ^^ c , ^a\ ""til they are th4 ^4s-",d"1 '° *'" "^'^"^ which ti,ne they can use the ^^^if 7T'' ''' ' hen bird is inclined to null H /V ''" ^'""'^^ young may be put i„ o ^''^"^^'■•''- ^''^^^t bird.and he Wilfred h.^ 'T ""'''' '^^ ^^^tla-rmu: «-y- The yoi'rcr :^^^^^^^^^ - ^^ is nece.s tic. rape when they ar^e six weS:, ,ld T ^^°^'^^^' *" ^ rape seed is fresh and S ^T ^^ '""^e tin lar when it is soaked A ve^v Hu/' 'T ''''' "^^^ ^^^ soaked at a time It ^ ^ ^ °"^>' ^^«"J^J ''^' lo«' supply birds in the int ^ ^"T^ advantage t.) bird ground seed. Canary e^S^^ stage .,th pie, of life, but a variety of !!t ^"""''^ *^^^ "^taff jle, variety of other seeds can be used ind ^imi ■ BRKKDING. 65 ■ toS tlf^'^^!^^^ ^""'^ "'^*'^ benefit. The coffee mill will come into use, leirlect^^J ^^ ^'^""S ^^I'l can be set to grind fine or r.r^ly crush, doing :ilomr nl"" ,^"P^'""'"* f'^^'^ little else than cracU the l.ask, a feat the fiveda I'l'^ '''"'' ^''0«"K bird cannot as yet a x^nipliM for itself or U tl ^^^ "^"' and as fanly with some difficulty. A 'nixtir.eof canary, , or tTn 7' 1 '"""""'"^^ '' Kttle millet, linseed, and ew a pinch of hemp s an i ' r -^"^^ '"''it^eed can all he passed through the mill and put at '' theii 'T°" ^^'""^ ""**''^'' ^^'"^ ''''^''- ^""^^ ^''''''"" ""^ "" ^"""^ '"^ •'"^■ ' closer"' I'r^^ "'^^'^' <'"^"ient, and until they learn to eat their seed they ' to ] ^' ■'^'^ '" Jeaxi,„hould not have to go far to find it. A week of n an iV' ^° ''^'""^'^ ''' Wh kind of treatment will go a long way toward the f •'''""'f <^"»ipartnaturing the birds ; and if a little whole seed y call r ''^^' ^'"^ ^^^^^^d' ^"^ it is seen that they can hull it =^se ij ^r -^^ *^°'"^ ail without trouble it is time to think of transferring ivitations, she wi.them to a large flight cage, where they will , (,^j -, have room to exercise their wings. The larger ks' ol 1" 7 ^° *-^^ "e.'and roomier it is the better for the birds, for it he n *^'i ^^"'^•'^i^^^*-'' bis here they do their growing, and for the first pull H f ^^ then tliieight weeks of their lives they ought to have caffe • , J^^'"''' ^''^nothing else to think about. Overcrowding 1 as I ^ ^ fatlarmu.st be avoided and ample perch accommoda- rack°"^ T ^* '"^ "^'^*"'' '**^" provided. It is the want of this that leads ■eks' Id ^^^ •'^oakt' to quarrelling, for birds have their own particu- l fo^-t ^^ '^"^^ ^''^ ^*^ corners and places to sit and roost in. Keep 'littl 7" ^^^•'^ •'^^"^ *^^ flight cage, whether large or small, .scrupu a er ^fl ""^'"^"^'^ ''"' ^®"''^^' ''^^^"' ^^^^"g^ the perches so that the -med^^ ^avantage to birds cannot soil each other when roosting— give is^ f^^^ ^^^^^ ^^'^'' P^^"ty of good sound seed, whole and crushed ; er s 7^''''^ *^^ ■''^''^ ^^^"*'' °^ ''^^^-' ^""^^^ ^°°'^' ''^^^"' ^^^^P ^^^ ^^"d- eeds can be used ind clean drinking water, with the addition of a J, li 66 BRKEDING. bath every morning. Do not give much soft food, and what you do give, scatter rather than allow it to stand and become sour, and everything will be done to promote a hardy constitution and a good growth. If you wish the birds to sing well they must be taught by a good singer. The father bird cannot devote himself to raising a second brood and give the first brood the best instruction. The instructor may be a choice canary, a Vir- ginia Nightingale, or an European Nightingale, the Virginia Nightingale being less desirable than either of the others. Young birds moult their body feathers only the first year, the moulting beginning when they get into full feather at the age of six or eight weeks. The larger feathers, the wing and tail feathers, are not shed until the second season when the bird is about a year old. In adult birds moulting begins about the month of July, but the time varies greatly according to circumstances, the whole period extending >ver the next three months. The breeder notes the presence of a few feathers in the bottom of his cages as sure indications of the beginning of the end of his breeding season. We are referring now entirely to adult birds, and may say here that the first sign of incipient moult, the shedding of one or two quill feathers, 4is to be breeding if it is eggs at remove haust h( duties a One V throats weeks' ( J more, mined." more n cnerget bustles anxious that he cage al( I and de action ( hen, is cately 1 neater demon! in a ca a quid head o and e: birds seems. BREEDING. 67 enuich soft food, ither tliaii allow . everything will constitution and well they must The father bird J a second brood )est instruction. ; canary, a Vir- ;an Nightingale, f less desirable y feathers only eginning when e age of six or -s, the wing and itil the second year old. 2^ins about the varies greatly i whole period months. The few feathers in : indications of his breeding to adult birds, ign of incipient 3 quill feathers, is to be regarded as the signal to discontinue breeding with such birds as show it ; and even if it is found that the hen is sitting on full eggs at the time the moult begins it is best to remove them at once and not allow her to ex- haust herself in endeavouring to discharge two duties at once. One writer says, "young males swell out their throats in attempts to warble when about eight weeks' old, and with increasing age try to sing more. By this action the sex may be deter- mined." The male bird is, as a rule, larger and more massive than the hen, bolder and more energetic in his movements, and in the flight bustles about in a commanding sort of way as if anxious to impress the looker-on with the idea that he is the superior animal. Put him in a cage alone for a minute, and his carriage is bold and defiant, his chirp clear and ringing, his action quick and decisive, and full of fire. The hen, is on the contrary, smaller and more deli- cately built, is shorter and more chubby, has a neater head and a softer and quieter eye, is less demonstrative in her movements and when put in a cage alone, hops backwards and forwards in a quiet way with a soft, plaintive chirp. The head of the male is longer and looks narrower, and experienced breeders can tell the sex of birds in the nest at a glance. This probably seems, to the uninitiated, distinctions without a 68 BREEDING. difference, but such distinctions are subtil, aiKi|gj. ti„, such as only experience and accurate observa^^j jj y tion can determine, and in mastering them lifc^nky ' the difference between judge and no judge. 2^^ jj. There is no way of determining the age of ajL^^ canary, but after the first year the scales on tlicfgy m: legs become larger and coarser. ^yjgg ^ :onditi( Hybrids or Mules. — When mating finchesg^es with canaries, it is usually the male finch andLgin hen canary that are put together, the rea.souA-d ^o being that the female canary, is more domesti-Jme iti cated, therefore is likely to be a better mother. ^ hen As the finches do not mate until early in May,|grsing the hen canary can be used up to that time for^nner breeding canaries only, some authorities hold^tried that such use is beneficial. The great charm oi, mule breeding is its uncertainty, the larger, moiti stylish, and richer in colour the hen, the morej likely is it that corresponding good points will. be found in the mule. Sput 1 It is well to procure finches early in the year |vs w< so that they may be tamed and thoroughlyjlie br domesticated by breeding time— a matter oiJhat i some consequence. The month of May is quit^ bird soon enough for "Goldie" to .show such signs a.^l nest are required. To get him into condition he niu.sii^. i be fed on a stimulating diet : a little egg, mavin| gok seed, German rape, hemp seed, together with i f here little inga seed if you can get some. When th(Q(|iagei ly pn insid( ido so d. am BREEDING. 69 ions are subtil, aiKl|st tinge of black has disappeared from his beak, i accurate observa-^^ti it begins to assume that delicate transparent nastering them Ik^^y white colour, the admiration of 1 iling and no judge. ^j^^^ it ig time to think of putting him with his nining the age of a|ate. If there are several finches at command ar the scales on tlk|ey may be mated with hens precisely as can- '^^- iries, but if not a bird in the bloom of high condition may be "run" through a number of hen mating finche.|ges. He need not of necessity be allowed to the male finch and|main long with his hens. A more tractable )gether, the reasonA-^ does not exist, nor one more amenable to y, is more domesti-|me influences. If allowed to settle down with e a better mother. ^ hen he will m.ake the most attentive mate, until early in May,j|i.sing and feeding in the most exemplary up to that time for^„ner. There is some risk in leaving an le authorities hold|tried bird with the hen after she lays for he The great charm oi^y prove inquisitive, and try to find out what ity, the larger, morci|i„side the eggs. If he shows any disposition the hen, the more^clo so he must be removed before the egg is g good points wil!^, and after it ts taken from the nest he can iCjput back. :s early in the year As we have before stated, the great charm of d and thoroughly Jie breeding is its uncertainty ; the probability time— a matter ofjithat all the mules will be dark ordinary look- birds ; the possibility is, there may be among nest of fledglings a single brilliant-coloured To obtain a bird with wealth of white gold is worth years of experiments. Inhere is nothing fresh to offer in the general ith of May is quit show such signs a^ 3 condition he musij a little egg, niavv ed, together with t some. When tlitaatiagement of young mules, which in no respect I ■''iff; 70 BREEDING. I Ret It is differs from that observed in the rearing of youii canaries. Cayenne feeding and every oIIk move being applied with telling effect. Bullfinches mate with canaries, and sometiiii a handsome bird is obtained. Speaking gem ally, all mules are dark and bear a stro resembla. - :o the parent finch, and are n unless the latent canary elements are broug out under the magic influence of cayenne, jx'sto li ticularly showy birds. :c^sid L,innets, Siskins, and Greenfinches may mated with hen canaries, and also some Aniei can birds such as the Bob-o-link, Yellowbird, ai; Nonpareil. In adduun to the common Mules, viz., t offspring or a finch and a canary, there are, b^ far rarer, Finch and Finch Mules, by which meant the Hybrids produced by pairing varieti| of Finches. Chief among these is the Goldfiii and Bullfinch (the latter a hen) Mule, beyo comparison the most beautiful example of t^ whole class. A Hybrid more common is f Goldfinch and Greenfinch (the latter a he Mule, and the Linnet and Bullfinch (the hit*'' a hen) Mule, others could be added but they' not come within our province. Of course, as is well known. Mules themse!'*^^ i' are not reproductive. "^*'^*^- (ai||e c riftse robability get out of its occupant. He will hiiik more of skipping and jumping about than imon Mules, viz., t'ipging, in short he will pay more attention to canary, there are, bi§ own amusement than to yours. A well h Mules, by which ciiown writer says, "If there is one place more sd by pairing varict Iia" another in which we like to see hand.sonie these is the Goldfiii»g<-'«, it is in a working man's cottage. They a hen) Mule, be\()ii*?^P to cover his walls and represent something, utiful example of t^n^Pb' repaying the pains bestowed in making more common is t^" and in keeping them clean." h (the latter a he f he old style was to make bird cages of soft 1 Bullfinch (the lati*'w>fl. but wooden cages are more liable to har- be added but they^^r insects than metal ones, ince. ^ot many years ago the painted wire cages )wn. Mules themsel^a^ae into use, and they are still sold largely in 20^itry towns and by the departmental stores of lar|e cities, where people go to look for bargains. rfegse cages are far better than the old fashioned I wooden ones, and some of them are quite pitlt Tli but unless the cage is thoroughly jap,.nned aiitior dried in a hii'Jt heat, this paint scalei> off and wood apt to be eaten by the bird v/lth injuriciaiich effect. go a The most popular and handsome cages abeing now made of brass wire, thoroughly lacqucrquen to prevent tarnishin.T. The cost is not niiithat, more than that charged for an ordinary paint Ca; wire cage. There are hundreds of differ^l , styles and sizes, well known to the public. T;^an best improvement vvhicli has been added to t^ b cage during the past few years is the wire scret^e around the bottom which is intended to preve eed being scattered. To clean a brass, silver or gold-plated ca always wash with a sponge or piece of old tou using clear cold water and wipe dry. Nei use soap. The surface of these cages bei varnished, if hot water is used, they will li- the appearance of being spattered with mi which can never be removed. If they scoured, the same as brass-ware ordinarily is, t varnish will be removed, and the cage begins corrode, and unless polished very frequentl: will produce verdigris, which is very injur- to any bird. If necessary, silver ed and brass cages be refinished a -" m ;. in appearance equa new. 11 y - S( i F( T] i Di I H i Ai iii ■M ' at various shows all over England. At Sund^^^i^^ l^ COLOUR FED CANARIES. 75 CANARIES. ;r spreads around ng of the snow, silence bound ds of joy o'erflow, it and hear c ringing clear, vithin 1 know. land the judges were satisfied with them, but the 70111 in ittee in their zeal tested them in a way tllat was unjustifiable, literally scrubbing off the Web of the feathers in one bird's tail, and leaving it with twelve almost naked quills, and .shortly after charged the exhibitor formally with hav- ing shown painted birds, at the same time pro- ducing as evidence, a handkerchief which was alleged to be stained with colouring matter from this mutilated tail. On examination by an an- alytical chemist he gave the following certificate : ^ 226 High St., Sundkri,and. |rhere is not the least trace of a pigment or foreign :«ouring matter of any kind on any of the feathers [?f>ok from the birds numbered respectively 1, 2 and 3. f John J. NICHOI.SON, F.C.S. le window swings full of glee ; all and sings nelody, r again :ross the main, ^hessaly. -IV. IV. Calcine: |jj^ February, 1873, one of the keenest fanciers to give to their birds^i the day, Mr. Ed. Benirose, of Derby, brought ^ht red plumage, otho# two specimens for the Cry.stal Palace Show, ;hem. For many yea«V#ich he declared owed their colour to nothing pt a profound secr^3^ the peculiar diet they were fed on, and de- imendable selfishne.J^ered a promise that next season he would Dwledge private frc^^ig out not two, but a string of birds which ed the secret jealoush^^ would send to every show in England, and ar 1 87 1 rumours wiwlpi which he would take every prize from Y birds bred at Suttf^^itby, in September, round to the Crystal Pal- ley carried away t^c^show again in 1874, and then he would give liant plumage, in th^ij secret to the world. And he kept his pro- ey were th.... exhibil^^. for next st i son he was invincible, and the England. At Sunde3«i|ibitors of tl e colour section of the canary Mil 76 COLOUR FED CANARIES. family lay at ins feet. Some accepted their tk pj, feat like men, others writhed and wriggled lik(„g(,g worms. On December nth, 1873, Mr. Bem-oHf^^jj published to the world the grand secret of th ^^^j extraordinary colour of the birds, and the aKei^^^^j] used was nothing more than Cayenne Pepper. ^ Young birds should be put i^^ ' feed" early, ^^^ , tiie age of seven or eight weeks old, becau gj^^^,, it is necessary that the colour process shoii^j^^j, commence while the feathers are yet in cmbryQigjQ Ar I wliat is "feed"? Perhr-os half a doM^clo breeders would give as many different ^ecipL^ j^q, but the active agent in each would be cayenii^ ^ pepper, which can be mixed with chopped eg and sweet biscuit or crumbs or any of the so composition which birds are fc.nd of. Regan, ing the amount of cayenne to be given, a we known Authority from whom we have qun or in a kitchen or laundry where there is stfUPP^ or damp air, and avoid sudden changes of ti^rly perature. Beware of stove gas, etc., as no l^^i^i rT AND DISEASES. CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. 83 ing all draughts throni;^^ ^l^rive in a vitiated atmosphere. Such places towel arranged pait'^uj^g birds to moult at unseasonable periods, ; open near the bott^ij^i^j^ ^^.^^t is known as "soft moult," often gh the cage and al)o,si,j^ tl^e^r song. lan no covering. W Ik Jjo^^j giye f[g^^ sugar, candy, grapes or any ige should be put m-^^^ luxuries. ove the bird from a co j^^t^ ^^^^ mustard seed or hemp seed to the and in moving the cc- » position to another j^^,^ ^^^ ^,^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ .^ dly. ou want his best song. :ept in song all throu j^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ frequently asserted that birds in •ight through the moi^^.^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^,^^ ^.^^^ ^^^ ^j^.^ ^^^.^^ uc care is rig 1 . ,^ unfounded, as there are many instances which .out buying a cheap l^j.^ ^^^ ^^,^^^ authenticated to admit of doubt, but and a cheap bird cc j^^ ^U ^^^^^ animals, birds that are kept in con ■ a good one. nement are exposed to more maladies than .r gravel ; they cost }^q^ ^^^t live at large. This trouble is caused bird than three times ^j.^^^. ^^ ^^,^„^. ^f cleanliness, by lack of gravel Buy seeds and gruj ^j^g cages, and by hanging the cage in such a y house. (See adyt-i^Ge that the bird is in a draught of air, thus lUSing it to be affected by cold, loss of voice, in the window or sthma, etc. These maladies are greatly in- atmosphere is more reased by giving birds various kinds of delica- to the ceiling. jes, such as candy, sugar, pastry, etc. In this in the sunshine exconnection we want to say that a bird's health iw minutes. nd song depend largely upon the selection of kvhere there is a draueed or other food for it. If properly fed and ry where there is stc^Ppli^d with pure fresh water, the cage regu- sudden changes of tt^riy cleaned and kept free from insects, disease ove gas, etc., as no I -'ill seldom make its appearance. One very 84 CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. u frequent cause of trouble is h mging the hiay close to the top of the witiQuw with the sa)ck lowered about a foot thus causing a strcatc draught of air or putting the cage in a roddt which is kept very warm during the day ;'iec( very cold at night. his When a bird is in good health his appeara is usually sleek and smooth with the featl lying closely to his body. When you perct him sitting dull and stupid and all hunc up, something is out of order. In this cha] we refer specially to the diseases of canaries other seed-eating birds. For Parrots and Mc ing Birds .see their respective headings. All remedies which we refer to are common he remedies which will be found in almost household, and can be used at once without w ing to send to any dealer for medicines. Tl are many special or proprietory medicines by dealers for the various diseases, and it is \ to keep some of them for emergencies. A« y 1^ ird U ver ure nd ftei aco oic< aus 2as< ast< 3 sii or's I ca Diseases. — Colds, poor and improper f( and impure water are the cause of most disea A bird with a cold is puffed up, feathers rufff sometimes remaining still on the perch breathing hard, and at other times hopping al on the bottom of the cage and constantly eat|, Do not let the cold "run " for it will likely away with the bird. Give the egg paste n tioned on page 50, with as much cayenne as atcl 1 a Vhe otic reat 4W NT AND DISEASES. CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. 85 ble is h mgiiig the biay on a ten cent piece. A teaspoonful each of e winauw with the sa)c^ candy and glycerine dissolved in a gill of thus causing a strr-ater with ten or fifteen drops of paregoric ;ing the cage in a redded makes a good cough mixture. Hang a irm during the day ;'iece of raw fat pork in the cage and let him eat his and put in a new piece every other day. od health his appeara _ r ,, . ata, • mooth with the featl ^ °^ Voice.-This is usually caused by ly. When you percJ^"^""^;"^' «v^^f/"gi"g or a cold. A little stupid and all i^inc ^f "^'^^ ^^"^>' ^^"^°1^'^^ "^ the drinking water • order. In this chaj"^ *^^ 1^^'^^ "^^^^^' ^' ^^^^'^ ^^' ^ ^^^d, will diseases of canaries ften effect a cure. Hang a piece of raw fat For Parrots and Mc-"".^ ^ ^^^^- ^^^^' moulting, a loss of ective headings. All °'^^ l-V'"""^'"''^' ^^'^^^^'^d, and this is usually -r to £.re common hc^"^"^ ^^ ^ ^°^'^ contracted during the moulting oe found in almost r^^"" ,^^'^^ '^ ^^'^ ^"^^"^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^'^^^ ^Sg ised at once without ^^^'*^ ^"d cover the cage so the bird will not try er for medicines Tl^ ®*°^- treatment should be continued oprietory medicines ,°r' «ome days^ until the hoarseness disappears, us diseases, and it is ^' *=^" of Bird Treat should always be in the age at this period especially, or emergencies. r t- j J • r Afthma. — This fearful disease is srenerallv or and improper f( , , gcuciduy he cause of most disea'^f ^J. ^^^P^'^''^ ^o wet or cold, but sometimes iffed up, feathers rufl^^t"! '"''^'''T ' I "'''•'"''' ^^ ^^"'"^^ ^ .still on the perch '^^^ l>^tween a door and a window where it will .ther times hopping al"*"^ '" ^^""^^^' ""' ^^ P^^^"^^ ^ ^''^ t«° ^'^Sh up , ^ ], /^ a room above the level of the gas burners ge and constantly eat,« ^1 1 • 1 • «• , ., *' uuinci.",. un " for it will likely ^ '"^ '' ''^^''^^^ '"''^^ ''"'^^'"'^ ^^^ ^^''" ,, ^ 'Otice it opening its beak as if to gasp for air short rive the egg paste n ., /^ . , r^ „ ' ^'^ ^ reath, wheezing and puffing out of feathers until as much cavenne as © r & v-i.^ umu aeon in the 86 CARK, TKEATMKNT AND DISKASKS. 1 i : ! the bird has the appearance of a ball. Give (;^i paste same as for a cold. Put from two to ^ drops of whiskey in the drinking water wli^j should be given warm, that is from five to ten ti|(] cent, of whiskey in the water. Keep the bircigi^ a warm place and cut a piece of raw fat salt iireii into bits like seeds and \',ell sprinkle with xe p enne pepper. A teaspoonful of quite ^ (*^ milk with bread in it is good, and a bit of sp( cake soaked in sherry wine may be put All these remedies sliouk IStOI 3ply separate dish. All these remedies shouky^j^^ given fresh two or three times a day. Withl^^ _ the canary seed and moisten the rape see-.^^ |^ that the dust will be removed and the hulls ^^^^ be made soft ; this should be made fresh a 1;^^ at a time for the rape moistened will sooi*^^ sour. s^( Diarrhoea, — Many birds suffer from this8g''tii m ease which is frequently fatal and is caused cold, foul drinking water, musty seed or^ suitable food, such as sour egg food. ^y^^Pt'^jj^ The evacuations, frequent and v/atery, which ^^,^ soon causes the extreme weakening of the j^ji Cure the cold if it has one ; change the w^ and seed or food and put a rusty nail "'3 water. A piece of common chalk shoulc^ ^ placed between the wires of the cage oi^^j some powdered chalk in the bottom of the^ with the gravel. Two to live drops of parego: its drinking water, or the same amount of br.^^ INT AND DI.SKASKS. I CARK, TkKATMKNT AND DI.SKASKS. 87 ranee of a ball. Give; t^metimes helps to cure severe ca.ses. Feed d. Put from two to ^e egg food without the cayenne. Examine le drinking water wlielittle patient and should the excrements have that is from five toten ued the feathers together so as to obstruct the ; water. Keep the birtisgage, it is well to cut the adhering feathers I piece of raw fat salt Urefully away with a pair of scissors and anoint I v.ell sprinkle with le parts with sweet oil. spoonful of quite '.• Constipation.- From four to six drops of . good, and a bit of sp,^^,^^ ^.^ ^^^^^^^ .,^ ^^^^ ^.^^^,^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ , wme may be put ^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^,^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^.^ ^^ lese remedies Bhouky^^^^^ p^^^^p^ ^^j.^^ p^^^^^j^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ J_ 2e times a day. Witn.^ powdered over with sugar is greatly relished noisten the rape see- ^ ^^^^ ^ppj^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^'_ rmoyed and the hulls ^^^^ ^^^^^ p^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^.^^^ .^^ ^ uld be made fresh a l^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^,^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ' "^^^-^tened will soor.^.^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^p^ ^^.^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^.^^ second injection if needed may be given in a )irds suffer from this w ininutes. ly fatal and is caused -r,, « i?,^ at., . . \ ^ ^ , , ^lilepsy and Fits -This is caused by too rich vater, musty .seed 01 , , . ^ . . , -^ r / a 4^ ^"^ ^^^ ^^^ frequent mating, either one of Dur egg food. Sympt( . . ^ .. , . 1 ^ i,;Ii, ^^^^ "^^y ^^^"^^ ^ partial suspension of the ent and watery, which „., . . -^ , , , 1 • f fi.o^"'' ''iction; or it maybe cau.sed by fright, lie weakening of the , ^,, ,, , . , . ., 1 , , , , , ^ *= hen tlie bird is attacked hold the catje n the s one ; change the \v , s tut ' * ., • -sa air and sprinkle a few drops ot ice cold 1 put a ru.sty nail n..^ ^. , . ,, , , ^,. ^.. ommon chalk shoulf f,"^ ''''^''^' ^-^- ^^ P^-^^^ ^^^-over vires of the cage ot"^^^"^- ^""^"^^ ^^^^^^^^ "^ ^^^^ hot sun • .1 1 M- o ,i_n^^"»es causes fits; in this case smelling .salts in the boaom of the ^ ^^^^^.^^^ .^^ ^^^^.^.^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ tohvedropsofparego be carefully regulated. Add more rape he same amount of br.^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ ^ 1 li! 88 CARK, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. Inflammation of the Bowels. — This is a veilwsed common disease with cage birds and nwding be caused either by faulty feeding, a chill oryiter. sudden change in the weather. No time should' nei be lost in applying a remedy. Symptoiii^'^t cu Fullness in the lower part of the body ; a dJ and heavy appearance, feathers disarranged, cJThe tinual drinking, but little appetite. The bile bin rarely stands up on his feet as he should, Wenin^ rests his body on the perch and does not sipittle If the invalid is examined the lower part of abdomen will be found to be a colour varyijlSurfe; from rich red to a dark red. The food shomiptioi be changed and the cage well cleaned. K™ the 1 the bird warm and quiet in a cage by itself anoint the vent with olive oil. A small canu ains c hair brush is be.st to anoint with, but if r ?ce o obtainable a small feather will answer very wt irrlioe Open the bowels if there is constipation. T dc se( food should be of the lightest description, lig ;nt biscuit or bread soaked in milk and given fre every three hours should be the main di From fi\-e to ten drops of brandy may be add to the drinking water if the bird seems qii '^ has irishi ' usually aflectc-d by it. In appearauce aba ,11 be perfectly healthy aud s,ng, and ye tl . r ase U in hi^ system -d results^ a a, „„less speedy means are taken to check we, he disease appears among a s,nal r„,v„,g . num er of birds, it ,nay result fro,n unclean u , „ar,n ■;: onousdri,,Uing water and is shown by -u , a,,„, .^,1^ ulcers on the head and body. In othc|used b :"" iced by the short gasps of the birlhe get, as ttongh in great distress. As soon as „ot,cc|c affec all ales in the roon, should be thoronghllree or I c eansrf and disinfected, and the seed, water a„|ys, ge, bath cups thoroughly cleansed. Keep the b.rcige o, ta the purest atmosphere possible; sunsh,ne fcak th, also good. Feed such birds on pla.u seeds, w, a little maw seed in the mixture. Green foe and egg-mixture shov.ld not be given dunngtl run of The disease. Add to the dr,nk,ng watj a teaspoonful of brandy and a few drops paregoric ; float this .nixture with a ""K^ ^^^'I'lthe or pepper. The above remedy has resulted m tlf ^^ Lnplete recovery when the disease was prompf ly attended to. If allowed to run w,tho,| checking, the result will be surely fatal. Sore Feet are the result usual'y of iiltl. cages. Very often the perch is placed d,rectli tved a I s and ed ai used 1 lich pi I or ( .rrhcea •are I k or DLSKASKS. I CAKE, TRKATMKNT AND DISKASKS. ()I arise from over«ver another so that the droppings from tiie bird the air becomcAn the perch above falls on the pctch below, 4y be the resultli which their feet become clogged. vSometimes few birds are no I is caused by the perch ])eingtoo small and the ipearance a birclird's claws meet, often crippling the bird and sing and yet tliAuising the ends of the claws to strike the id results fatalhliiderside of the foot. It is also caused from in- cen to check itlttcntion to the legs and feet while the bird is ; among a smallrowing old. Cleanse dirty feet by soaking them t from unclean oil warm water, removing all particles of dirt, i is shown by niilid anoint with glycerine. If the soreness is d body. In othclused by scales which grow on the bird's legs t gasps of the bir(« he gets older, take the bird in hand and anoint As soon as noticecMc* affected parts \\ ith cold cream, and after lid be thoroughlMree or four applications daily for three or four the seed, water aiiMys, gently remove the .scales with the back ge of a penknife blade, being careful not to ak the underskin. When the scales are re- ved as much as possible, anoint daily until s and feet are healed. d. Keep the bird jsible; sunshine Ml plain seeds, wi '^\. ^\ Wk\ Ti^-.W -s^v y. % z. ,2 CARE, TRKATMHNT AND DISEASKS. hearty diet. Treat the same way a. for red a,»l swollen feet. PuUinethe Feathers from the body is gener. aUv ""sed by bad blood. Give a pla.n d,. A n, r a little salt with the egg past. Treat Ime as for bare places, etc., descr.b. above. A Hard Growth which forms just above l, beau may be touched daily 'f^^^'^ ^ ^ . tiii.e the core will drop off. This is a dio :ro:ble put more rape iu the food aud gu ^•'?L1etrcryis,.'Mybirdwill„oteatt, rape" On enquiry you will generally find 1 ,..^ rnni. i= only wild mustard seed m S:dtf tuX -' on having good wholesome seed for your leathered pets. (See advertisement at end of »ook.) i The Nails often grow long and hook-shaped |jid need to be cut. Hold the bird up to a strong iglit so the vein in each nail may be seen, then iiit each nail avoiding the vein. This operation 11 just the same as cutting your own nails, the ||hite part can be safely cut, but the red part ^nnot without injury. If the claws get too long tey sometimes get entangled in the wires of e cage and injure the bird, perhaps breaking 4 leg. I The Beak sometimes grows so that the bird s difficulty in eating. Cut the overgrown rts with sharp scissors and scrape them into rrect shape carefully with the edge of a pen- ife blade or a very fine file. Broken Legs may be set if broken between [e joints. Shear the feathers off around the reak, and draw the leg carefully away from the [)dy, so that the ends of the bone may be press- into place. Then place strips of court faster a sixteenth of an inch wide, inside and itside the leg, and extending one-third inch, if jssible, past the break. Other narrow .strips lay be put around the leg in three or four laces to hold the lengthwise court plaster Mints in position. Some people get a small I 94 CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. quill and split it down one side so that it will -jr around the bird's leg and act as a splint, a;;(n then secure it tightly with thread. Afterwan Jw place the bird in a small cage without percli; j on some soft hay, etc., and put food, seeds, ]!ir^- Treat, and water inside the cage, on the bottot:; * so the bird will not have to struggle to get tlici^j, and thus dislocate the break. A Bird is Puffed Up when he has diarrhniK when constipated, when he has been neglectc in food or water, when he has a cold, when mouse gets in his cage at night, when in.sccttm are devouring him, or generally when he :>f t disea.sed. f t Mice are a source of torture to canaries aii. oftentimes succeed in frigh* g healthy bir(i\ into sickness and even to dea. ■.. You will soiiu times perceive your canary drooping and sickl in appearance from no apparent cause, and th'l is provoking considering the care you h;iv^. given him. If there are mice in the house aiilL any chance of getting at the seed, rest assure^ they will get there. Bird seeds are as delicioi;^ as the best brands of cheese, and they will eiit^X the cage in the dark, and make your bird sic' enouj '^ to satisfy the most ambitious bird docto The ly remedy is to hang them out of a! possible reach, beware of curtains, etc., for mouse will think nothing of creeping up tha NT AND DISEASES. CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. 95 one side so that it will 3T even a hard surface if it is not exactly vertical, and act as a splint, ar.fo case of the breeding-room, to effectually bar vith thread. After\van;Jsem out, use zinc. all cage without perdu ?„„„„*. „ ^i . ,. , \ c 1 1 ,. Insects are worse even than mice for they and put food, seeds, liir^ ,„„_ <. ui j j . , , ,, \, . ' # "lore stealthy and do not leave such traces : the cage, on he botton|t,^,i, visits, but succeed in so completely tor- :eJcKstruggle to get thc-„f ^^^^ ,^^ bird that life becomes a burden and le gradually consumes away. The symptoms when he has diarrha:^ a puffed appearance, alternating with a 1 he has been neglect(.f<^atching, shaking, and fr'iquent pecking at the n he has a cold, when *wly. Put a white cloth over his cage at night s at night, when inscctHfd in the morning you will probably find many r generally when he :>f^he tiny red insects. It sometimes seems as f they came out of the air and ^et on the bird A torture to canaries an'^*^^^''^^^'' ^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^n^ attention. -igh> g healthy bin'*^''""^^ ^^"^^^^ ^^ j"^^ around the screw which o deu: You will sonu^^"''' ^^'^ ^'"""^ ^'^ ""^ ^^ *^'^ ^''^g^- t^'s is often ary drooping and sicklff "^".^"^ ^^ ^ P^^^^ °f ^^'«°^' ^"^ around these apparent cause, and th^ ""^' ^'^'^°"'" "^ ^^'^ ^^^ t^"^^' ^"d descend ing the care you luu'l^'f ^^'^ ^^ '"'S^^' ^^^'"^^ ^^'^ bird no sleep, e mice in the house an'^i '' ^^'^'""^^ '"°''^ important than food, t the seed, rest assure f,\^'°"' ^^^^ thoroughly, being especially rd seeds are as delici,.,3f ^"^ ^° '^"'°''^ ^^^ ^^P «^ ^^^"^1^, as the in- eese, and they will ent.^' ."^"^ ""^^^ ^^^^^ cap. After washing. Id make your bird mc"'\^* thoroughly with the best bird in.sect xst ambitious bird doctoi'^'^'^f ^}'^^ >'«" ^^" "^^^i"' (•'^^e advertisement > hang them out of .^^''^/f book) take the bird in your hand and of curtains, etc., for ^l ^^'^ '^"^^ P°^'^^^ thoroughly through his ig of creeping up thaif /^^''' "'"!^, >'«"^ fi"g^^-^' ^"^ .see that all •atts of the bird receive plenty of the powder. 96 CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. It will be necessary to make another applican-ni of the insect powder three or four days later «s the nits or eggs will be hatched out in the UKsin dme. If you use a wooden cage it will necessary to scald it thoroughly and varni>li oil the woodwork. Dry the varnish to a In condition before using it again. The bird uw powder is harmless to the bird but will kill t mites. Young in.sects are black. One experienced bird fancier gives the folln ing advice: "Bake the cage in the donk>,. oven, if it will go in, that is better than scaldiiv.^ tti 1rd T re ec en ut S If the cage hangs against the wall see that tlif: are no mites under the paper." The Moulting: Season with birds a year or more, is regularly in some parts of Au.m September or October and generally lasts sci six to eight weeks, or with very old birds, soi times longer. It is a perfectly natural operati and still it is often attended with illness ua 4Cl ad atl lit Jird various kinds, as it is a very weakening proc. * and this is why the bird should then have ex' ^ strengthening food and be in a comfortal^? warm place, say 70°, out of all draughts, a'^ with the cage covered at 6 p. m. Give egg to daily, and be sure it has a cake of Bird Treat the cage. A bird in good health should mo only once a year and at this period ; birds nioi| ing at other times have colds or have been ENT AND DISEASES. CARE, TREATMENT AND DISEASES. 97 > make another applicat.apure atmosphere, where there has been stove hree or four days later, «g. etc. The cause should be removed and the e hatched out in the in. ird treated for a cold, wooden cage it will - . . horoughly and varniM, .^f""^ t,yes — Ihe jmce of a red beet given the ry the varnish to a \u '"^^"^''^"y ^"^1 ^^^o a wash for the eyes it again. The bird inxy^''' '^^''''■^^•' '^"•'^ ^'•'^°''^^^^- Gold-finches are the bird but will kill t;f "^"^'^' ''^^''^''^ ^'y '^ ^^'J^en fed too much are black. *^' ''^^^- Anointing the eyes with fresh d fancier gives the folluf ^' ^'^' ^^^" ^"«^^'" ^o Rive excellent results, he cage in the don,cs.r'"^ ,^ ^^"^^^"'^ describe many other bird liat is better than .scald i,, J '''f' ''"* "^ ^^'^ ^"^ '-^dmit that they know n.st the wall see that iWr!' '''„"; ''• ^^ '"^ ^''^•'^^*^r and better to keep a , paDer " ^ ^'^" ^° ^"^^ ^^ ^^'^^en sick. To prevent diseases in birds use the best a year ^^^ ^^ ^^^'^^' P^^t up by some reputable firm, 1 some parts of Au-u^f ''^ ^'""^^'•^ ^^^^^ Seed, (see advertisement at and generally lasts s.,"^^ ^°°^^ '^^^'^" ^''^''^ ^^'''^'^^ ^°^ drinking and ■vith very old birds, soi'^J?'"^' ''°'^^''^e '^^^ Sr^^'^^h a piece of cuttle bone, ^rfectly natural operati,.J\*^l! ^''''^'' ''^"^ *l"'te fresh, and a cake of attended with illnessj*™ ^''^'^^ '"^'^^ "P i" a round tin to fasten to I very weakening proc. '^^'^- ^^ ^^^^'^^ are supplemented by light d .should then have ex:"^ ''"''"'^' where the bird may have one or two Id be in a comfortal°^7 ""^ ^^'^ "corning sunlight each day and DUt of all draughts. :C^, attention, your bird, if fairly well bred. ,t fi r^ «, /--,•„„ ^„.. f.il "e subject to few diseases. tany bird dealers handle a bird medicine or Ic which is a stimulant and invigorates the |, and in this way assists it to recover from ^y bird ills. (See advertisement at end of '■ paper. >n with birds at 6 p. m. Give egg foj s a cake of Bird Treat 3od health .should mo this period ; birds nioi i colds or have been ; 98 CAKK, TRKATiMENT AND DISKASES. % All the small seed-eating birds such as Bullfinch, the Goldfinch, the Linnet, the Ind and Nonpareil, and small Finches may be trc; in cases of sickness, just like the Canarj'. Wrapping: Birds. — There are many people \ think that a bird will smother if covered closely. Such is not the case. In park birds for removal great care should be ta. that the cage is thoroughly protected will:®' least two or three thicknesses of stout wrapp^* paper, allowing no apertures to be left thmi * which a draught might strike the bird. A\\^ ventilation necessary may be provided by y}^} turing a few very small holes in the paper C(.'®*1 ing the top of the cage, 7iever making or /' '^voollen article ; this is placed where )n & Brock, of Toro-'*^ ^'^''^ ^^'^"^ the fire can reach it. Get a wn Bird Food dealers, \ J ^^'^'^ ^"^ '^o^t cloths, be sure they are both you and give you a.hf ''^"^ ^°^^' ''^"^ S^t three good sized basins ; v% washing basins are very suitable as not ig easily overturned. The first basin or pan iftl be half filled with hike warm water solve in it a little bit of washing soda about I I lOO WASHING CANARIKS. the size of a mit, and thcMi taking in one ha piece of good white soap (shaving soap i, admirable article) and in the other a soft ^ ing brush, alternately dip in the water and over the soap till you have a basinful of suds. Half fill the other basins with u water full blood heat, but not more ; if you lui 111 tn thermometer you may keep it at 90". Thee d must be placed handy, and it is a good plird bed it in the soap dish with flannel so tlise will not slip about. With these prepar;mpt you are ready to begin. Take your firstm 1 and place it along the palm of the left hai:e|p ly (lip in the water and on have a basinfnl of ? other basins with [NG CANARIKiS. _ WASHING CANAKIKS. lOi d then taking in one ha «. ., , . i soap (shaving soap i, *^\ '' ^^'\^'^^'^ towards the wrist, and the nd in the other a soft ^ If 'f ^^ing between the thumb and forefinger, jiile the other fingers hold tlie bird lightly but mfe', the little finger securing the head, and 8 0thers shoulder or side of the wing. It will but not more; if you lul f 'f y/^"'^ ^^''''^ '" ^^"' P"'"'^'"" ^he bird ^eheld lightly yet with perfect security, and lithe position of its body can be changed at iltenience. according as the back or sides are ing done. Immerse all but just the head in i .suds for a few seconds, whilst the lather usli is being plied with telegraphic speed over e soap ; and as .soon as a good free lather is tained in the brush, lift the bird out, re-aove s thumb or .second finger out of the way, and ish well with the brush the lower part of the dy, the wing, and tail ; always working in the ^ine direction as the feathers lie, and occasion- "ly flipping the parts being washeil in the suds. 3 tiiis until the dirt seems got out ; lb n hold e bird with forefinger and thumb, and remove e ? under the little finger I Fig. 2. wards the wrist as before, and again commeni brushing the wings and tail, opening the winj as much as possible. Finish off with the thro; and belly. So far all is pretty simple. At first, mo people seem afraid to handle a canary, thinkiii something dreadful will happen. Once ove me thi It, l)ein iicral ere is ■ c body (.' i)ird < <\ with the se( lich is cular a the th litil it i.' aw th( iK<-'rs t fore pr 'led, a I and •\ed ii ul out luber, () get of t\v tionat d well t cloth ap the hand; hy th( ^o^bed : wing; lKIICS. ainst those (lelic;i >()ii cannot help most sensible hir fied that the back the hand (Kig. : the little finger t WASHI.N'c; CANAKIKS. •03 id again coninieni , opening the winj I off with the thro; le. At first, nio ; a canary, think in ippen. Once ove me this and you sini])l>' have to get the dirt it, being careful to move the brush onl\' in the iieral direction of the feathers, seeing that ere is no jiarticular ])ressure on any i)art of c body, especially on the belly. Having got c bird clean, scjUeeze the suds from the brush, ■ '"= '^T^rL wtshing the heat o( the Throughout the wasniuK ^-ii „.a r si;;«ld be kept up by jud.c.ous chang.. ^additions, and it should also be ret.ewecl^^ . f , .,. dirt or soap make it necessary. Ih^ tit wetted, so as to he aUvays ready, and to d should be kept for the sole purpose o viptng the xvet hands before taking up one „ t « r it is a great loss of drying power o w t ! cloths with anything but the xvet b.rds. H a hi 1 g s cold and shivers, it should always h. tal^u in hand and carefully wartued before t,e,.« nlaced in the drying cage. ',„ conclusion xve .nay remark that o,ie pa. tied lesson from a good practical wa.sl.er wll l«l ,„ore effectual than a cart-load of i„struct.o,>s. \s the birds get thoroughly dry, they shout be gradually moved further off from the fir,! Where there are many this is generally ..... another cage ; and it need hardly be sa.d tho WASHING CANAKIKS. j^- r^'cry cage into which a washed canary is p„t should be scrupulously clean. All being washed and cleaned up, it is best to draw a li^fen cloth over the cage and leave them for the night In ti e morning, if time can be allowed, it is a good plan to put a flannel over the bottom of the cage and g,ve them a natural bath, which is the surest and best way of getting the feathers quite right and restonng the natural bloon, always rather los by ,vashn,g. If, however, there is not time or he bmls will not bathe, the mouth is filled ^v.th cold water and blown or squirted into a spray through the compressed lips till they are again wnnging wet-or get a spray producer f.om the druggasts for twenty-five cents and perform the san.e office. In either case, when e b,,ds are drenched, remove the flannel (pu n to absorb the wet), wipe the perches, feed the bn-ds. and leave them again to dry, or they may after a drenchmg be run into a clean dry cage \ e lay great stress on clean cages, since the I His begin operations at once after a cold bath of any kind, and any du.st on wires or perches .s at once transferred to the head near the beak anf, comiiact, and carried close to the body, with tips nieetinjj evenly Tail.- [.on^, narrow, close and only slightly forked' ^ ' ' iai I-Kc.s.-LoiiK and straight with the thighs well covered.. I'KATiiKK. -Close and compact, so as not to disturb the outline of the body. Upper and lower tail coverts dense and compact, forming the vertex of an isosceles Lriansle of which the sectional diagonal line is the base | sizK ■■■'■■ i Coi.ouK.— For purity rather than depth ...'!!.....! 1 Posnio.M. ATTnui)i;.-Krect stand with quiet easy pose. The line ZE.- of the back and tail as nearly plumb as possible LKOS.-Straight and riyid ^„. Shouldkks.— Elevated Hkai). — Depressed Neck.— Length of reach and archinj,' .!!!!!'!!"!'! !eati ~OU>l Total _ONW NORWICH POINT.S OK MKKIT Colour.— Depth and purity Urilliancy ■m Uniform distribution on both body and wings Whiteness of underflue ^W FlCATllKK.-liody feathers, for compactness }^P Winjfs, for compactness and carriage Tail, for compactnes and carriage rS AND JUDGING. EXHIBITIONS AND JUDGING. 113 Af., liissive, well fiUfd in between ^otilinj,'- u considerable area tlie neck and the summit, rminded ell filled -'l' throuKh from the buck to mlly and evenly towards the e drawn diajjonally thronjch east to the back to a point s 1 carried close to the body, snly ndonly slightly forked hthethiKlis well covered.. It, so as not to disturb the -'ppcr and lower tail coverts forming the vertex of an liich the sectional diagonal Brought forward .—Head and Neck, for neatness. Hack, for width Hreast, for fulness Lkcs and Kkkt, for clear colour and freedom from blemish -Health, 65 «5 5 I'lON.- , cleanness and sound feather. Total than depth . ijsrrio.v. I quiet easy pose. The line nearly plumb as possible.. iirching. YOKKSHIRK. Points of Mkkit. .—Head, small and round, skull narrow Xeck, moderately long, straight Shoulders narrow, rounded and well filled. ........ Hack, long, straight and well filled Breast, round and smooth, the body long and gradually tapering to a neat waist Legs, long, without being stilty; thighs well clothed Wings, long and evenly carried Tail, long, straight, and closely folded For length, with corresponding symmetrical pro" portions 39^< .N AND CARRIAGE.-Attitude : erect,' wiih' fearless carriage; head, neck, back and tail in a straight line ZK, KK.— Short, close and tight K. -From pale yellow to orange, underflue white • KWICH 5 OK Mkkit bealt, legs, and feet clear _ONlti loN.-Health, cleanness, and sound feather 40 15 20 10 5 10 Total. n both body and wings. compactness.. s and carriage, nd carriage, . . . We have never heard of any canary singing aniests in Canada, but in Lancashire, England, i^e are many, but most of them appear to be luantity rather than quality of song. From :>us reports in the Live Stock Journal we l\ (^1 114 KXTIiniTlONS AND JUDGING. learn a few of the methods employed. At contest each bird was allowed six minutes, one point counted for every ten seconds a sang without a break. The winner so eighteen points. At other contests five min and ten minutes were allowed, a \x)h\t for e ten seconds of consecutive sin,^ing being all( as before ; while at others a bird has bee lowed one i)oint for every second over .seconds in each Inir.st during the prescribed i We are glad to know that this kind of coi is gradually giving place to a more careful tivation of the quality of the song. The- thrush that carols at the dawn of day I'roni the green steei)les of the piny wood' The oriole in the elm; the noisy jay, Jargoning like a foreigner at liis food; The bluebird balanced on some topmost si)r;i ^ Flooding witli melody the nei,t,dibourhooil ; S* IJnnet and meadow-lark and all the thronj.j That dwell in nest, and have the gift of son.i —Lof/o/c// p, H( 3t ca :er ;he TV )NS AND JUDGING. metluKls einplfnx'd. At las allowed six minutes, or every ten seconds a reak. The winner sci t other contests five niiii re allowed, a ])oint for e cutive sini;inj;- Ijeinj; alh others a bird has Ik'c :)r every second over t durinjj^ the i)rescribed i low that this kind of coi place to a more carefn ty of the sonji^. irols at the dawn of day steei)lc'S of the piny wo( 2lm; the noisy jay, a foieij^ner at his food; iced on some topmost si)i;i uelody the nei,t(hhourhood w-lark and all the thronj^ , and have the yjit of soni — Loi/o//'// THE GOLDFINCH. ! what is so pretty, so cunning, so gay, Idaintily busy the livelong day, is iny little Roldfinch-heautiful pet, Mth his butterfly wings, and cap of jet ? ^ far from his native bowers of bloom, [lives a prisoner, yet feels no gloom ; [or his merry glance and his sprightl'v song fells plainly as words that he fears no wrong. it to the canary this may be considered the popular cage bird, and especially is this Ne in all parts of Europe. He may not hied a high class .songster in the true sense word, but one never tires of hearing his wild .song, and it mu.st be unanimously li Ii6 THE OOLDFINCII. : . 1 i i 1 allowed that he excels in beauty of pluiii,, being the handsomest of British finches. 1, a native of Ivnj^land and most ])arts of Kiit and they have been imported and naturali/ Cuba and Africa. ^,^ The illustration, at the head of the cli.j^ .shows as well as can be done witli one e(|n the markings of the bird. • He is a really j] tocratic little ge.itleman. The '^ront of the | is of most vivid scarlet, and a broad mart; t< similar colour surrounds the ba.se of the lij a black stripe i)assing around the back o^ head una down on each side of the ni.ii)f| front of which there is a white .spot; tlicfej and back are a beautiful brown, the featliieai the wing and tail being of velvety black act whitish tips, and having a bright golden ha about an inch long on the wings. The t»n( bird is smaller and not .so handsome. j ^ Thk Goldfinch of all parlour birds i ej tainly one of the most delightful, for it-ed very sprightly, beautiful bird, and i.s very f:., tionate, docile, and intelli'''?nt T^ is very 'i ^ in an aviary, but .shou 1 \u,'. Ik confine. |^ very .small cage, as he is so restless thatd j scarcely ever .still and is continually clingl about, trying all the wires of the cagtpie twirling his beak along them. On this acye* he ought not to be kept in a bell-shapcdnK us he is apt to grow giddy, but in a squaie^j^ I t GOLDFINCH. TIIK r.OI.DFINCH, "7 .eels in beauty of pinnate, ;o ixter. .nches lon^. Dyson savs. in .St of Bru.sh nncbes l||,,,, „„ Hird-kcepin^,. "he is very e'asily tl and most parts of hwM^ anrl m n, h» ..nf..i,, ,.ii in-, » ,. PW and may be safely allowed a flijrht around 1 imported and naturalr/i -,,.,,„ „,ti,-i„ uje ^o,,^ ;.. k • i . , 1 hoUi.i \uA be confinei^il ;m tn tnl-pr,i,f f,.,^ ..4.1 , , . ^, .1 ^ ^ °"* '^^^ "^ ^'i^ee seeds at a t me. he IS so restle.ss thatdm,t them hv liic ^wt . u ,. , . .• ,, ,."§'" "^^"^ '^y "'s ^ide between the wires. I and ,s contmually cl,„^, „)„, ,„i., i„ a couple of days by fastening ;l.e wjres of the caK.p,«e of silk round the lid and gradually ong them. On th.s a„eri„g it till it was quite closed . and he kept in a bell.shap,.,!,^,, „early as soon to «raw up a little silver ■ g.ddy, but .n a squaajfc, ,,ia water, from the glass which formed le bird. -He is a really ;nian. The front of the* arlet, and a broad mari; ounds the base of the iing around the back 1 each side of the lU-i re is a white spot ; the utiful brown, the featli being of velvety black aving a bright golden on the wings. The l I '!■ I/S I'lnc f:or,i)Fijjcii. ■-> well, suspended In- wires frn.n ,. , ■•>"aclie,l to I,is case i ',1 T ' °"' ""'*" '■"le, across „, .r J ^''^f"- of this was. "■O"''. to which a , e li^"°^ ''["^^ " attached to a tinv si 7^ •'"■'' f^^te""!. '»-!<«. w-hich w'alor.h '■•"' '°'""'^ "- I drew the bucket ..nT./u""' "' •'' """'I*' fastened it wMe he , " , 1' ^"''''' "' «■■« =""i 'eHtdownaJrefitdT^'T'f""™^^^^ - ".e top, a„d I j™, a ' ;r: ' "^ '-" '»"Ser length of (he chain I J. "'''" "'"' and the bucket. The b r T" "" "'"''^^ '"■■ ■""■^t pull the clnh,."°°" '°""'' O"' "■ -1 "Sowhilhe ra^ii ",""""'" "■"^'^■''""^' "— 'y of hoidin;: ^"j;^„'^';;;.'"-'-'-''=i «... soon as this was n.adeclea to I " . ' """ "^ "■as finished ; he hauled " '"" <= o»" '""' •^• 'l""'cl,cd his thirst Th, '■'-■'""'■ '"^fore h. ""' of '■- cage, and w, 7' r''' """ "•■'"'" "'"' te bad to live in a "■'""'" "f '"ci.ai,, •^'"■ction, he poueV ,",''' "' °""""0- con- ««'.-....iy disp'ieas«' X rr'' ""' "■^■' -- course, care n„,st be t , 1 "'"' "'"'"'=■ "'' ^ enough to distress the bird. [while niaclii iahva\-, ifall in |scriou |cliain the ca liird ni pel id ill him w ^l^ing puttinj / will sc ; he get! i I'iiit^ it accomp the art they ha succeed I this di .^•"Idfiiu (^oldi their c: Iheiii, a: ceive Ik and wil vided w lar« o j, ^^ ^'^^''' quite soft'a.:d"^hrgr: !■ ;: i" 7""^ "'"'^ canary seed, they can.S rea i rcral^f ^J';; thereby tSi ;■' t;-I"r tf, ■•^''\'- "-I ;;;a«er„f„„tro„Lf„rr't:icr';!:;,; .-etotrfrir!;;;:,r'rr:rrr -.4doffor/:: —--^^ THK GOI,DPlNCII. J2i fimls, that fits and ailments ensue ; and the .rd mopes and soon dies. Not so with the Mdfineh, after his capture lie commenees to feed on maw seed, mixed in equal parts with lape and canary, frisks about the ca^^e a.ul Presses his plumage without manifestiiur the east apparent regret for the loss of companions lert3 • His beauty, melody, and speedy re- Mit-ili^ition to confinement, render him a de ^.rahle companion ; and he is captured to cheer lis with his manners and voice in airs and regions k-ery difterent from his native thistly downs and ppple blossom bowers. There are many varieties of the goldfinch ^ hou-n by the difference in markings or colours of the plumage. The highest prized of these ^•aneties are the scarlet-headed, which has the t^ntire head coloured in rich scarlet or crimson ■ ithere are no other markings to mar the brilli- lancy of colour on the head. This is a very rare land beautiful variety. The white-breasted ICheveral or King Goldfi-nch has a pure white fbreast and clear white ring around the neck I Hs variety is highly priced as a breeder of ;^l"te or handsomely marked goldfinch-canary . 'vlH^ds. The white-legged variety is esteemed or the readiness with which he mates with the fema e canary. The Black Goldfinch is a variety (winch IS obtained by keeping the bird in close 5 confinement in a darkened room. ||»if:l<- 122 THH GOI,DFINCH. l|l The goldfinch „.„e„ caged .„„g., t,,„„^,„„ "Lid. are i„te„„i ,s, u 'V o r'f ''°''' manner The i,i„i , ""'*•' cliarniiii, '■■^-on,.Ji;;;::;:t,rtL^:r:r'"r^-" -noven,en.. eon.Wned wit w; '! ' "f';:^ - may be renrprl ,•„ /"'"inecl. Goldfindu c-*.u..r„.a.„v.e:rc:;;;M:r^ "-S the dief to fch ;t :,'*'.'-'™^'=f ">' ^-".^ or any ,r„it the to v ^^ t''™^ '^' "IX* scraped beef r;M: '' "'""«»" raw juk-i withdrawiut the t ' " T' "^ '''''^ <' t""e goes o„. If put "elr t. "'^'^ '-^'^'"'''^ '' catch some of .1,^ ^T "'''^' '^ ^^''^ «f^«-^" proveitssong "'"'•^"^^- -"Gotten i.. The ( ''irds oi I for liis I are a ve m '^iit com fWrds in parts of Kiis-land liead of t I THE CHAFFINCH. Tlie low, sweet sinking of a bird The inunimr of the lireeze How soft would sflide our fleeting hours Blest as the sunshine and the flowers, And calm as summer seas. — -h)iclia. The chaffinch is one of the most handsome I Hds of the small finches, being distinguished ♦'» his bright colour and active habits They I are a very popular cage bird throughout Europe but comparatively few of them are kept as cage Ixrds in this country. He is a native of all parts ot Europe, and is not so much prized in p-iigland as in France and Germany. The fore head of the male i.s black ; the neck slate colour • 124 THK CHAKFINCH. shoulders and body a reddish brown ; back .. a , • olive green ; the wings black striped with whit ]\ They can be easily tamed and can be reart; i ''^! from the nest on soaked bread moistened witi J J!^'' water, and scalded rape seed. H . In their natural state chaffinches are partial! J '"^^ ^ insectivorous, and although they are fond , P^^ the young shoots of vegetables, and do mischit | ''^ by eating them as soon as they appear abov ''""''^ ^ ground, yet they do great service by destroyin. numbers of insects which would be far more dt structive— they are fond of the seeds of the dea^. nettle and groundsel. In the cage rape seed aiu ? canary seed in about equal quantities with aboii an ounce of inga seed to one pound of theothen and occasionally a few seeds of hemp may b, given, but too much of this seed is injurious ti them. A piece of sweet apple or a little lettucl may be given occasionally as a variety, and tlief should have an occasional meal-worm or soiii^ ' insects to aid digestion and keep them in gooi song. Ant eggs may be also given occasionally In confinement the chaffinch is generally kep in a low oblong cage ; a bell-shaped cage make hnn giddy, and he sings le.ss in a large cage a aviary. Their food should be kept outside the cage, as they waste it very much. In Germain chaffinches are highly valued. An ordinan workman will think nothing of giving foui dollars for a bird whose notes he considers good g The} drinkir ibstruc rouble above t fine net and suj Lisi 11 And N A li \\ Ath T The T: And I.i As I Ai •JCH. h brown ; back a striped with whit: md can be rearti ad moistened witl THE CHAFFINCH. nches are partial! they are fond ( is, and do mischii hey appear abov vice by destroy in jld be far more dt i seeds of the dea cage rape seed aw antities with aboiif )und of the other? of hemp may I xxl is injurious m ; or a little lettuc L variety, and the;. al-worm or som :eep them in goo iven occasionally is generally ken laped cage make n a large cage kept outside tl.; :h. In German 1. An ordinar of giving fou; le considers good 125 nd it is said he will live upon bread and water initil he can save money to purchase the desired ■"ibject. His wild notes are soft and mellow, but have ittle variety, they are heard very early in the •ear, for he seems very ambitious to begin .efore any other of the feathered musicians liave got their instruments in order. They must have water for bathing as well as drinking. They are subject to diarrhoea and to I obstruction of the oil gland. In the former trouble, the gland, a small protuberance just above the tail, must be carefully opened with a fine needle and afterwards anointed with butter and sugar mixed together as an ointment. List, to the merry shilfa! on the air It sweetly trills a morning song of praise, And flits from bough to bough, now here, now there. Not long in any spot or posture stays ; A lively bird, that in early days. When only fitful gleams of sunshine break Athwart the leaden gloqm, and misty haze, That veil the infant year, will frequent make The leafless woods re-echo to its call. Treef, treef ! a low sweet note, and then a shrill, And sharp fink, fink! upon the ear doth fall Like a speech expressive of a sentient will ; As brisk, as merry and as loved a bird. As any in the fields and woodlands heard. THE BULLFINCH. The Bullfinch is a very eiurao-ii,.. u- a ^. it is so very Innnv in ? ^ ^ '""^ ^^'^''^"^^ deyoted to tL ^ ^^ captiyity. and entirely ' grey on the back. The femile Z\T^ chocolate brown, and the gre " , tl e h I '"''" vyith brovyn. These birds hn k '''' ^"^^^'^' able ':,;d r i r/.:,:^: ^"""h"' ■•■^ °'^^«"™- >"gl..y valued, it; tverf ■"' ""' "" ^aey naye the faculty of iniita- THK BUI.LFINCH. 127 iiK the song of other birds, and also learn leachly to pipe a tune, being perhaps superior in Bus respect to any otlier l^ird, their tones being luich better when taught from a flute. It le(inires time and patience to teach the bullfinch |)ut he well repays the effort and soon becomes |lie favourite of most bird fanciers. The bird is native of Europe, the best specimens come roni Germany where they are taught to pijjc |iuies by experts. Shoemakers and tailors often |nake the training of bullfinches a profitable I ulcline, and they are taught such airs as will Jnake them saleable, those going to England §>^mg taught, " God save the Queen," and those intended for the United States, "Yankee Doodle " tc. A trained bullfinch, which can whistle a [few tunes, will bring a high price in Europe The bullfinch should be fed chieflv on canary |aiKl Cierman rape seed, mixed with a little inga Iseed, no hemp seed should be given. They require lettuce, duckweed, groundsel, and are very fond of watercress when moulting, they may have a clove or a rusty nail in the drinking water, egg food, or a few ants' eggs. When <>ver-fat, scalded rape seed and green food. A little fruit or berries may be given occasionally Thej- are very fond of bathing. If he appears (Itill and melancholy give him a little maw or P<)l)i)y seed which will, in many cases restore liiiii to his usual spirits. ffPj THE BLACKCAP. lender tlie ^reenwoofl tree ^\ l>o loves to lie with nie Aiul tune his ,„errv note ' Lnto the sweet bird's throit Ilere shall he see No enemy But winter and rough weather. canary and ni^Si ,""'*''" "«'- >«>"■ of .1. -i^aken for that of t! ' '« '" f«><1^'" 1i"<-' '"''<"" ^^^^ yellowish- white margins of the feathers a ir/A^r.' litniet ; and ill the spring of the third year, when the fore- head is blood red, the feathers on the side of the breast the same colour, and a ferruRinous tin^e prevails over the whole body, the bird conies out ill all his filory as a rose linnet. By and by when age steals on, or sickness or confinement till upon the constitution of the sweet songster he falls from his high estate, his plumage changes, and he is a brown, gray or yellow linnet, as the case may be. There is scarcely any bird perhaps, that puts on so many different dresses in the course of his life as our little linnet ; there is scarcely any telling what dianges each moult will produce ; that is in a slate of confineinent ; for in a natural state the bird will go through its regular gradations of plumage in a natural manner ; and one may safely judge of his age by his dress ; but in an artificial state it is not so. The linnet feeds on all kinds of seeds, its fondness for flax or linseed has given it its name of linnet. It is also very fond of hemp seed, but must not have much of either of these seeds, their oily nature makes the bird too fat. The best food for linnets is the same as canaries set, a little salt mixed with it is sometimes use- '3: THE LINNET. ful, and green food occasiomll,. Ti I liable to surfeit fm,„ "'"'''"""'"""y- Tltey arj too h-ttle exe ' i e Tu^ '°° '""'^ '"^ ""■<= 1" forn, great :tt,.:;;rro ""' "■"' °"™ among bird,, of theTanle sex """"" ''■"" ful as theXrir ? T "°' "''"''^ ^ beanti- prized o„ tifat acc^ m" ' ^""^ ^°"«»'-» •■""' Hy. They are! luch and takin. ifl "lilk, lettuct put into their 3r this, r. and of t\v( ill plenty ot abnndance in and a bathincr diseases arc 5nement; and ion to a bell- :Jie goldfincii )ni twelve to d will often mother even aair with the 'y so beauti- ■ and canar}-, 'iigsters and THE SISKIN. "Come little bird and live with me, You shall be happy, blithe and free, You shall be all the world to me. Come birdie, come and share j-our glee." The Siskin, sometimes called the black-headed finch, gold-wing and barley-bird, is an European bird. It has a pretty mixture of black, green, and yellow in its plumage, and is shorter and more thick-set than the goldfinch and a very active lively little bird, very amusing in a cage, because it is such a mountebank, always climb- ing about, moving along the top of the cage, swinging by one leg, head downwards and plac- ing itself in all kinds of extraordinary po.sitions. It can be taught all the accompli.shments learned l)y goldfinches, and is quite happy in captivity, besides being very useful in an aviary because its continual twittering excites the other birds ^34 THK SISKIN. I'y Lnrsh j,nrri„s note . „ ^fu" "T''"""^'' leaf,. tl,e song, of othtt'l, "«'" " "'" Sood deal, a„"tl> '^o ."to a hath. It .,ho, ,dt edX ""' *" canary, but with i HfH« ^ ''^'"'"^ ''^'^ •' >,-><>finch he i. «the'a\ ed? w'in^;'' "•.^■ ary often driving other l,il '''"■ should not be fef too „ ''^ !!^\, "'",' '- »'.o.,ld be frequently give, o if '^"".^ ''^■■"1 '-at then, shnilarly ,o ca, a fe J,' "t""" not be confined to a ,,„,all cage bu^^^f M '"'' plenty of exercise. allowed anfr?h7oS'';. ;■'". "r ™''">' -"h ",.- canary a e saM to f °m "" "*''" ^"^ ?-<=" '""les produced bv the "'t '"°"^<^'' Wrd.s, b„t sod so„g.s,er., Tl 'v nft '' "" ^"'"''■^"> linuet.s. ^ °"=" associate witli THE NIGHTINGALE. Tlioii wast not born for death, immortal bird, No liuvi^ry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown : Perhaps the self-same song that found a path Through the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home She stood in tears amid the alien corn; The same that oft-times hath Charmed magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in fairy land forlorn. — Keats. The Nightingale though possessed of so sweet a song, is in plumage exceedingly unpretentious, but its form is very graceful. Its length is about six and a half inches. The whole of the upper part of the bird is a rich chestnut brown, the wings being slightly brighter, the breast is a dull whitish grey, slightly tinged with brown. The f36 'i^HK NIGII'riNGAI,K. ch.^o,se . ,a.ge bird with a bold e^ "'■" '" favoun-te 'a-ft' ™«,!-'^- "im a gre,,, «.rpa.i,„ aIUt„n„;f ;«,;";;■'■•-> '^'-'. for him the title of tl,. i ■ , ' "'' ""^lU'reil of these bird re , " d in r ""^■^'"^- "--^ 'he St. A„drea.,b:;rro,rer;r, t ,hf'""-' masters of music '^"'ines, as they arc September, ^l u'': "T"^ ''"'" April to them are t apped to "^T" '°""'- ^''"y «' world, compt't , ^.Z' >; "" '"""^"^ <" "'^' to Canada. ^ ' ''°"'=™''' "^^ b^nKlU Hi.s food is the same ns ti,„t t , w.o„t he require.,":,:; 'rfet,'L"'7''r IS a KTeat enfpr t ., "ini— for he ".oc£n,'hrhe,^ire tn'^r/thr^'^^"'"'^ food. Yo„ n,ay „ever fear „ ''"""'" '^ "' -".uch food a^ kZnV°ZTT'^'"'^'"' and butter ,l,„,,id i.„ ""* ''""'j' l>re.id food. Vary ," Lr "'■""'■"' '""^'-S '-.I *"J> tins witli yrated p^rl-r^+ -.-terforeyeXnl:::;— -- THK NIGHTINGALE. 137 1 the male, but > is hard to elis- or a buyer to ■e. -lodious of all iderful variety ' him a great uisical talent, has acquired rsters. Many ^ for trainintr s, as they arc- id its stay in oi" April to 'i. Many of rkets of the are brought he mocking him— for he size of the quantify of nightingale laily bread eking bird •some fresh egg, ants' s and will "P his cage perches and feeding dish very clean and let him liave a bath daily and keep him well supplied with bird gravel. A gentleman who has been very successful in his treatment of nightingales, and says he has not eaten a Christmas dinner for twenty years with- out the nightingales' song, fed them as follows : 7 lbs. pea meal, 2 lbs. coarse oatmeal, i lb. moist suf^ar, il^lbs. beef dripping, i lb. honey, 2 quarts hemp seed, and i pint of maw seed. The drip- ping and honey were melted together in a sauce pan, and the meal and sugar well rubbed, so as to leave no lumps in the paste ; then the hemp seed crushed and the maw seed were added, and when cool it was put in an earthen jar. A tea cup full of paste was mixed with a hard-boiled egg all pressed through a fine wire sieve. This was sufficient for five soft billed birds vnd on this the nightingales throve well. " The merry nightingale. That crowds and hurries and precipitates. With fast, thick, warble, his delicious notes, As if he were fearful that an April night Would he too short for him to utter forth His love-chant, and disburden his full soul Of all its music." . — Coleridge. y\ THE SKYLARK. whether we observe Loart", '"", ^°"«^'"^' glassy bed, through h™fart"\r'°""""' >ikies." or as the pet of some L? """'"'K between the narrow s ree" o "f T"""'" '" >'o bird see,,., to ^pJlZ:^^^^^' ge tiie I.ark .eenis compelled to use some muscular its wings ! more f re I is most u: [three difi 'the brea,' c\sj)eciall> [ long and Skylark ^ to allow moderate' i^reen bai hoarded. floor mu^ and powi This he d He shouli ctilar fror if possibl( may be k in a sauc( side the c yolk of e^ hrcad crt day, ants linle lea: lettuce, c£ They si placed in day, so th TIIK SKYLARK. 139 wood : B >rltl a flood ivine r roam en and home. '^rdsworf/i. tiinent posi- ' songsters, his low and ht morning cramped in large cit}-. illy to Ent- ice. Even o use some muscular exercise during singing, for it flutters its wings and tramples the turf as if it were once more free. As with most songsters its plumage is most unpretending, being of a brown plumage three diflferent shades on the wings and back, the breast and neck pale brown, and the feet especially formed for walking, the hind toe being long and straighter than perching birds. The Skylark should have a roomy cage, long enough to allow him a run, the longer the better, and moderately high, the roof of the cage must be of srcen baize or cloth, and the back should be hoarded. It should be without perches and the floor must be covered with red gravelly sand and powdered chalk with old mortar bruised. This he delights to roll in and dust himself with. He should have a piece of turf placed in the cir- cular front of the cage, this should be fresh cut if possible, or at least three times a week, this may be kept fresh by watering it and putting it in a saucer. The food and water should be out- side the cage. Their food should consist of the yolk of e^g hard-boiled and mixed with grated bread crumbs varied with a meal-worm every day, ants' eggs, sponge cake, German paste, a liUle lean meat, nov/ and then, watercress, lettuce, cabbage, etc. They sing best in a cage, and this should be placed in the open air on every sunny, warm day, so that they may have plenty of fresh r.ir. • I- ' ' I.' ■ pa-, fi 140 TIIK SKYI^ARK. T ey arc n,,t to get their feet dirty and cIog„,| " ";"■■■ ;™°'. " ••"»' 'oose s„l,.,ta„ce oM claws ,f allowed to range the roon, or aviar ' and.fthe>.arenotverycaref,,,,yc,eanse ,, «.l] become lame or lose their claw.s L, - are subject to all the aihnents to which t", b.rds at-e l.able. a,„l especially to diarrhoea whtch they should have so.ne saffron p^'i, the w-ater-glass, and a little grated cheese ami dry mixed with their food ; or a ii g ouud r,ce may be give,, then,, and now a then a small spider. The Skvl,rl- , ;naladypecu,iarLit:tl,c:i-,,t,Vllr:f:;,: beak beco,nes yellow and scabby, and for thi should have cooling food, watercres., or let J and ants' eggs and meal-worms The Skylark is one of the best .songsters „f tngland a,,d English people everywhere , I^are H ■'"" ''"^'- ^' >■"" ^'^ "on t. aware, there ,s no such thing as a son^ hi,,! "atura to Australia ; there arc birds h r Ltt b rds that shriek, but no birds that sing. Am" ' the many e„„gra„ts to the Australia!, goM " store ,, the gold .sections, about two hundred m,Ies from Melbourne. He was quite pro™.^ ous, and, like a dutiful ,s„n, wrote\o,ne o ' Is' father and n,o.her ,0 con.e and live w'th , and ,f they pos.sibly could, to bring .vith ,1, ty and clog^r^,! ibstancc of tla- gle their lon,^' 'om or aviary, cleansed tliev claws. I,arks to which tame diarrhoea, for ffron put into ed cheese, old ^; or a little and now and lark has one he root of the ^nd for this it !-ss or lettuce. songsters of -ry where are ire doubtless a song bird ' that chatter, ing. Among ian gold re- ho started a wo hundred lite prosper- ome for his 2 with him, tvith them a THE SKYLARK. 141 lark. A lark was procured, and in due time, the old folks and their feathered charge took ship and departed from Kngland. The old man, however, took the voyage so much to heart that he died, but the woman and the lark arrived in sound health at Melbourne, and were speedily forwarded to Mr. Wilsted's store at the Ovens. ! It was on Tuesday, when they arrived, and the next morning the lark was hung outside the tent, and at once commenced piping up. The effect was electric, sturdy diggers, big men with hairy faces and great brown hands, paused in the mid.st of their work and listened reverently. Drunken, brutal diggers left unfinished the blas- phemous sentence, and looked bewildered and ashamed. Far ind near the news spread like lightning. "Have you heard the lark? Is it true, mate, that there is a real English lark up at Jack Wilsted's?" vSo it went for four days, and then came Sun- day morning. Such a sight had not been seen since the first spadeful of the golden was turned. From every quarter, east, west, north and south, from far off hills and creeks twenty miles away, came a steady concourse of great rough Kng- lishmen, all brushed and washed as decent as possible. The movement was by no means pre- concerted, as was evident from the half ashamed expression of every man's face. There they were, however, and their errand was to hear the i 143 THK SKYI.ARK. lark Nor were they disappointed. There perched n, his wood and iron pulpit was the l>ttle nnn.ster. and as thougli aware of the in-- ]>ortance of the task before him, he plumed Ins crest, and lifting up his voice sung them a ser- mon infinitely more effective than the bishop hnnse If could have preached. It was a wondc ' ful sight to see that three or four hundred men some reclining on the ground, some sitting with' heir arms on their knees and their heads .„ tiieir hands, some leaning against the trees with heir ej-es closed, so that they might the better ancy themselves at home and in the midst of I^nglish fie Ms once more ; but sitting, standin, orlying, all were equally quiet and attentive and when after an hour's steady preaching, the lark left off. and his audience soberly started off a ht le low spirited, perhaps, but on the whole much happier than when they came. " I say Joe," one digger was heard to say to another, " do you think that Wilsted would sell Inm the bird, you know ; Fd give as much gold dust for him as he weighs, and think him cheap," Sell him, be blowed ! " was the indignant response. " How would you like a feller to come to our village at home and make a bid for our parson?" THE WOODLARK. What time the timorous hare trips forth to feed When the scared owl skims round the grassy mead, Then high in air, and poised upon his wings Unseen the soft enamoured Woodlark sings. The 'voodlark's song is greatly prized, and by some has been assigned a rank next to the nightingale. It is a smaller bird and yellower than its rt'iative the skylark. The hen is a larger and handsomer bird than the male, and as it sings a little, is often mistaken for its mate. It is more easily tamed than the skylark and appears more happy in captivity. Most of the woodlarks perch, therefore he should have a square one put in his cage, but if he does not use it, it should be taken away. A cage similar to the skylark should be provided for him, long enough to allow of his running backwards and forwards. He should have a fresh cut turf, if possible of clover, three or four times a week, 144 THK VVOODLAKK. and plenty of gravel and chalk. His legs are- as bnttle as glass, and if he gets his feet clogged ^v'tn chrt or hair. etc.. they must be soakecfiu wann water and cleansed. He sings best when allowed to range a room or aviary, bnt requires warmth and suffers much in moulting In addition to the skylark's food, the woodlark may have sweet almonds blanched and macer- ated with hemp seed and roasted bullock's heart He IS very fond of paste made of the crust of . l^rench roll soaked in cold water for half an hour, .squeezed dry, and added tothree teaspootis- ful of wheat flour, half a tea.spoonful of brown sugar and an otmce of grated carrot ; this should be well mixed and rubbed throu-d, a sieve. All these are delicacies, the daily fo^l must be hard eggs and bread crumbs. In i^s t.atural state the woodlark eats insects, grubs and seeds of various kinds and green food, the young shoots of wheat, etc. His legs aro 4 feet clogged je soaked in fs best when but re(jiiirc> he woocllark and macer lock's heart, e crust of a ?or half an i teaspoons poonful of ted carrot ; id through : daily food bs. In i:s ects, grubs n food, the THE THRUSH. But wheti the moniiiiji broke and the j^reeii w()<< ' Were all alive with birds, with what a clear And ravishinjj sweetness sanj^ the plaintiv Thrush ; I love to hear his delicate rich voice, Chanting throuj^h all tlu- ),dooniy day, when loud Amid the trees is droppinj^ the big raiti And gray mists wrap the hills ; for a c the sweeter His song is when the day is sad and dark. — LOHfrfi'lloZV. The Thrush is deservedl} a great favotirite among European songsters. On account of its beautiful voice it is in great request as a cage bird. The male and female are so much alike in colour that it is very difficult to distinguish them, so that a purchaser of a thrush should make sure of its .sex by hearing its song. The male bird has great imitative powers, and will readily learn tunes played on wind in.struments or whistled 146 TPIE THRUSH. to him. The cage should be large, height eighteen inches, width seventeen inches, and depth twelve inches. It should have a wooden curved roof, and wooden back, wooden bars an inch apart are far preferable to wire ; the perches should be placed from front to back, one in the centre of the cage, and one other on either side- near the feeding and drinking troughs, so as to obviate the necessity for the bird standin- on the floor to feed. The cage must be kep"; dry, but supply the bird liberally with water both for drinking and bathing, but his bath' must be taken away when used, as the bird is liable to cramp. A little bird sand should be sprinkled over the floor of the cage. The food and water should be placed outside the cage if possible. They should be fed chiefly on barley meal, made into a paste with milk and water to which a little lean beef or mutton may be added three times a week, and this must be varied bv occa.sional treats of hard egg, German paste cheese, boiled potato or carrot, snails, meal- worms, etc. If a snail be put into the cage a smooth .stone must be put in with it for the thrush to crush it upon. He will live years in confinement if properly cared for and fed The two ailments to which he is most subject are constipation and atrophy. For the finst a large spider IS the best remedy, and for the other abundance of pure fresh air and a change of diet .should be given. THE BLACKBIRD. " O Blackbird ! sing nie sotnethiiig well, While all the neighbours shoot thee round, I keep smooth plats of fruitful ground, Where thou niay'st warble, eat, and dwell." — Tennyson. The English Blackbird as its name denotes, is jet black over the whole of his body, wings, and tail. The beak, which is an inch long is of a brilliant yellow, showing markedly against its sable plumage. Although not so good a song- ster as his relative the thrush, he has a very cheery mellow song, and being a lively joyous creature, is in many respects a desirable cage bird. He will learn to whistle tunes with great precision, and is said never to forget a tune 148 THE BI,ACKBIRD. once learned. He will also learn to imitate the songs of other biids, the gobble of a turkey, etc It IS not unhappy in captivity if it has a large cage, perhaps because it does not live in flocks but leads a solitary life the greater part of the year. He is fond of bathing and may have a good deep bath daily i„ the sunshine, but his cage must not be left wet as he is subject to cramps, he must have plenty of dry sand or gravel on the floor. He will live in captivity from twelve to sixteen years and sing in a loud and joyous tone the whole year, except durino the moulting season. His food and treatmen"i are snnilar to the thrush adding by way of treat a few garden worms, caterpillars, or any fruit that may be in season, which the bird will greedily devour and tend to keep him in health and song. Whenever the weather permits, place the bird out in the sun and he will repay all the care bestowed upon him by his keeper He is not dismayed, however, by damp weather, as it IS invariably after a shower that his song is blithest, and during the hottest days of summer he should be wen shaded and kept cool, as i„ very dry weather his song seems to depart He IS sometimes rather eccentric in his choice of subjects for imitation, one having been known to imitate very correctly the crowing of a cock which he would mix up in his song in rather a ludicrous manner. /■^ '^^^• THE ENGLL^xi rtOBIN. " Art thou tliehinl that man loves best, The pious bird with searlet breast— Our little ICiiKlish Robin— The l)ir(l that comes about our doors When Autumn winds arc sobbinj^ ? Art thou the Peter of Norway boors, Their Thomas in Finland And Russia far inland : The 1)ird who by some name or other All men who know thee call thee brother— The darlinj,' of children and men ?" — Wordsworth . The Robin Redbreast is known throughout Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa, and re- mains in England the whole year. He is not the same bird as the American robin, being far smaller, the head, back and tail are of a yellowish olive brown, and the upper part of the breast is an orange red. He is practically never seen in I50 THK KNGUSH ROBIN. this country, either in the open or as a cage bird, but in England it is the greatest favourite among all classes of people. And their the only hope of seeing a tame robin happy is by allowing him to come and go at pleasure, providing him with a warm habitation in winter, but not oblig- ing him to remain a prisoner. He is not happy caged unless he has been brought up from the nest, and is too restless and lively to submit to close quarters. If one is kept in a cage he requires the same care and attention as the nightingale. The cage should be eighteen inches long, twelve inches wide, and twelve inches high, with a green baize roof, and the perches coverecl with wash leather. Ants' eggs and meal-worms should be given if affected with dysentery. He may be easily taught to fly about the room, but he is of very inquisitive nature, and will hop about the table and examine everything that he sees in the room with the greatest interest. hi; ■* J M* THE STARLING. The birds around me hopped and played Their thoughts I cannot measure, But the least motion which they made It seemed a thrill of pleasure." — Wordsivort/t . The Starling is a beautiful bird with a bright glossy plumage, black varied with purple and green, reflected with great brilliancy in different lights and spotted with buff. It is a well known bird in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is common to all parts of the British Isles. The starling, in a wild state, feeds chiefly on insects, worms, grubs, and grasshoppers, and is often seen perched upon the backs of sheep, ridding them 152 THK STARLING. ■i^. of their parasites. In confinement it will eat raw and cooked beef, bread, ciicese, and any- thing that is not salt or sour. He can be fed the same as the mocking bird. His natural song is rather poor, but he has a wonderful good memory. He will learn to repeat several aixs that are played to him, with great ease; nay, more : he learns to pronounce words ver.\ distinctly, or imitate the song of other birds, or any sounds when repeatedly heard. Besides this, he becomes very tame in the house, so as to be let out of his cage, and walk about the room. He soon knows all the persons in the house, is always gay and wakeful, and as docik- and cunning as a dog. His food and treatment may be the same as that of the mocking bird. He is a very hardy bird, and will sometimes attain the age of fifteen years. THE TALKING MINOR. Then he will talk— good gods ! how he will talk. —Nathaniel Lcc. The Talking Minor, or musical grakle, is about the size of a blackbird, with deep velvet-like nlumage, glossy with metallic lustre, tinged .. .th purple and bronze green. The feathers on the head are short and glossy, and have the appearance of satin velvet. Below each eye is a small bright yellow membrane. It is very common in India, and as a talking bird is unsur- passed. He speaks plainly and can acquire and retain an unlimited number of words, which he readily forms into sentences. He is fed the same as the mocking bird, boiled egg and boiled potato is good for him, and once or twice a week 154 Tin-: TALKING MINOR. m 'fw;f* lean raw beef cliopped fine is beneficial. He i.-, fond of bathing and should have a bath every day. The bird, which has been known to lixx- for many years, should have a suitable ca,<;c twenty-four to thirty inches lo:.g and twenty inches high. A surgeon in England had two (.'f these birds that were exceedingly lively and talkative, and delighted in being noticed, chat- tering most when a number of per.sons are standing round their cage. The two birds speak in different voices, one having been apparently instructed by a youth, and the other by a deep- voiced man ; and will converse for a quarter of an hour at a time, the bird with a deep voice calling out, " Bring the boat longside ! " and the other answering, " Ho ! ha ! does anybody want the shoeblack ? " Then the first bird will speak in Hindostanee, and the other will say. " He}-, what ? ha, ha ! " upon which his companion will call out, " Bugler, sound the roll call," in a voice as clear, natural and powerful as that of a drill sergeant. They were taken over in a nian-of war, and learned to sound the roll-call with great precision. !'^i?.-C' -ial. He is bath every )wn to live- table ca,i;c lid twenty had two of livelj' and ticed, chat- srsons are )irds speak apparently by a deej)- quarter of leep voice " and the body want will speak ly. " Hey, anion will in a voice of a drill 1 nuui-of- ■call with THE TROOPIAL. The ballad singers and the troubadours, The street musicians of the heavenly city, The birds, who make sweet music for us all In our dark hours, as David did for Saul. — Loiiofcllozv. This is a South American bird and has a beautiful plumage and looks very much like the Baltimore Oriole, the chief difference being that he is much larger and the orange of the body more yellow. He has a fine ear with a most re- tentive memory, and very few birds have a song so sweet and powerful as he has. A young male can be taught to imitate the tones of the flageolet with astonishing fidelity. They are very active and graceful in their movements and require a cage similar to the mocking bird and the same kind of food and treatment. There are few wild birds which, when confined, become so thoroughly domesticated as the troopial. THE BRAZILIAN CARDINAL. "Thou hast no sorrow in thy song No winter in thy year. ' ' — John Loffau. The Brazilian, or red crested cardinal is the cardinal par excellence, and is meant whui dealers speak of cardinals without specifying wliich they refer to. This sleek bird wilh prettily marked grey back, the head, crest and cheeks and throat are bright red of an orange hue, the lower part of the body is greyish white the crest is pointed like that of a Virginian nightingale and is raised and depressed at pleasure. If fed on unhulled rice and canary seed, and given plenty of bathing water tliey will live many years in a cage. THE MOCKING BIRD. " Amid the morning's fragrant dew Amid the mists of even, They warble on as if they drew Their nmsic down from heaven , How sweetly sounds each mellow note Beneath the moon's pale raj-, When dying zephyrs rise and float Like lovers sighs away ! " According to some writers of the United States, the mocking bird is, of all cage birds, the very best songster, but this opinion is not shared by most Europeans. They prefer the nightingale, and thrush. The mocking bird has a very fine and melodious voice, and more- over a wonderful capacity for imitating the notes of any other bird and reproducing them exactly. The plumage is sober and yet prettily •5« THK MOCKING HIKI). -r • marked, the predominant colour being lij^dii grey with black and white marks. The male is distinguished from the female by having a whitf band extending over all the feathers of eacli wing, and forming when the wing is spread al most a crescent, whilst the female has a white mark on only the outer wing feathers. It powers of mimicry are so great that it continu ally deceives the other birds, sometimes calling them round it at the suppo.scd cry of their mates, sometimes driving them in alarm to the shelter of the thick bushes by imitating the cry of a fierce bird of prey. He can imitate the shrill .scream of the eagle, the mourning note of the turtle-dove, the delicate warble of the blue bird, the cackling of the domestic hen, the mel- low whistle of the cardinal, the grunt of the maternal porker searching for her young, the creaking of .some ru.sty gate, the pipe of the canary, and the cry of some lo.st puppy wailing in the midnight air, and each succeeding the other with such rapidity that the li.stener won- ders if such a variety can come from .so small an object. But he is capable of all this. He is a general favourite and .should be well cared for. Owing to its well developed powers of mimicry, the mocking bird is the easiest trained of all song.sters. The finest mocking birds come from lyouisi- ana and Texas, and they seem to be larger and THK MOCKING niRD. 159 hardier than those hatched in the north, and fre- (|iiently live to he twenty years of aj^e. They sinjj^ all the year, except during the nionltinjjf and breeding seasons. They shonld have a lar^e cage which should be kept clean and hav plenty of gravel strewed in the bottom so as .0 keep the feet in good order. They are ve y luiid of bathing and should daily be given clea:; water in a large bath dish. The mocking bird will breed in confinement, but it rarely pays, and for this reason very few of the fenmle mocking birds are sold. The young mocking birds do not develop tlieir musi- cal powers during the first year, but they usually begin when about a year old and by the end of the .second year are singing very nicely, and in the third year they reach their highest perfection. They are a very long lived bird if kept free from diseases. Care .should be taken not to neglect to feed the bird sufficient for his needs, and it is better to give him food twice a day. You will have better success in feeding a prepared mocking bird food mixed with grated carrot or sweet apple, thoiigh for a variety he may be fed occasionally a mixture of hard- boiled egg and potatoes, in proportion of two parts of potato to one of egg. They are very fond of meal-worms, giasshoppers, spiders, and insects of all kinds, and the.se .seem to strengthen the bird and prove the best medicine which can i6o THE MOCKING BIRD. |*-«i'fc be administered in case of sickness. The sea- son when insects are not obtainable, it is well to put scalded or soaked ants' eggs and soaked grocers currants with their mixed food. A meal-worm or two may be given about thret- times a week, but care should be used not to put too many in the cage, as they are very stron- food. They are also fond of huckleberries, in fact of all kinds of berries. A supply of insects should be gathered dur- ing the proper season, such as flies, grasshoppers, spiders, etc., and put loosely in a bag and hung up to dry, and when used in winter they should have boiling water poured over them, which will soften them and make them as palatable as if they were still alive. A grasshopper thus pre- pared is a thanksgiving dinner to your bird. The prepared mocking bird food can be had from any bird dealer, but it is well to buy it from some prominent dealer, so as to be sure and have it fresh and pure. If not properly made the food is liable to become rancid, and in this state it is undesirable for the bird. ' If ex- posed to the air the prepared food will also be- come full of worms or insects, and some object to feeding the food in thii condition. There are many different recipes given for making mock- ing bird food, and very good food can be made in the follovnig manner : Two beef hearts boiled until they are thoroughly cooked and THE MOCKING BIRD. I6l tender, the yolks of two dozen hard-boiled eggs ; for this purpose the eggs should be boiled for at least half an hour ; two pounds of parrot crack- ers, or if you cannot obtain these, the ordinary soda crackers will answer the purpose. The above materials should be thoroughly grated until they are fine. Add to this two pounds of split peas and two pounds of hemp seed ; both of these can be ground in an ordinary coffee mill. Thoroughly mix all of the above ingredi- ents, and add one pound of maw seed to the mixture. A .small quantity of fresh lard is fre- quently added to make it moist. This food may be put up in ordinary glass fruit jars to exclude from air and keep fresh. When fed to mocking birds it should be mixed with about the same bulk of fresh grated carrots or grated sweet apple. Another recipe is eight ounces cru.shed hemp, eight ounces pea-meal, eight ounces corn-meal, three ounces maw seed, two ounces rice flour, four ounces beef dripping, two ounces of treacle or black molasses, and eighteen ounces of pow- der crackers. Mix the dripping and molasses well into the other ingredients and it will make an excellent food. Mocking birds are subject to very few dis- eases, and these result usually from improper diet or from cold. They are more easily cured by giving proper care and food than by admin- [f 1 14 MS 4 I? , i • « 162 THE MOCKING BIRD. istering medicine. A live spicier given to a bird will cure many of its complaints ; for constip- ation feed plenty of fresh green stuff, insects or vvorms, or give a dose of three drops of castor oil daily for three days. Stale bread soaked in boiled milk, sprinkled with cayenne pepper, will generally cure diarrhoea. The pip is caused usually by a cold, and by examining the ex- ternal skin of the tongue you will notice a white horny .scale, which causes the bird to stop sing- ing; this should be carefully removed with a sharp knife or with the finger nails, as, if it is allowed to remain the bird is apt to die. The scale should be peeled off by beginning at the base and peeling toward the tip of the tongue. Apply glycerine to the tongue after removing the .scale, and feed only .soft rich food. Ivice cause great annoyance to the bird, and it is well to use insect powder in the cage fre- quently. The beak and claws of mocking birds often become too long, and need to be trimmed with a .sharp knife or sci.ssors, and as the bird grows old, the legs should be anointed with vaseline, glycerine, or some other preparation of like nature, .so ns to keep the .scales from growing coarse and hard. Experience has taught us that nine-tenths of the ailments of birds are caused by improper feeding. Bits of sugar, candy, daily green food grapes, butchers meat— all are bad for a bird' THE MOCKING BIRD. 163 Birds need plain food regularly given. The food should be mixed daily in clean vessels. A l)ath should be given the mocking bird each day and the vessel should be removed from the cage when the bird has bathed. You can soon teach any bird to batlie directly when you give him his bath, if you give it to him at the same hour each day. If irregular yourself, the bird will contract the same habit. These remarks on the mocking bird food will also apply to the thrush, starling, lark, nightin- gale, robin, blackcap, in fact all soft-billed birds. In doctoring your sick bird, ascertain as nearly as possible what his complaint is and apply the remedy, if it does not succeed, try another. Birds l.vave been known to be at the point of death with costiveness. when a small spider has been forced down their throats and a large knitting-needle, dipped into oil, inserted into the passage as an injection, and the bird caused to fly a few feet, when immediate relief followed and in a few hours the bird was again in song. tilr THE GROSBEAK. Sweet warblers of the sunny hours, Forever on the win^, I love them as I love the flowers, The sunlight and the spring. The rose-breasted Grosbeak is very little known in Canada, though few of our cage birds surpass him in sweetness of song or beauty of plumage. He sings by night as well as by day with clear mellow notes. His bright carmine breast and deep black and snowy white body forming such a rich contrast. He soon becomes tame in confinement and being contented lives many years. He keeps in good health if fed on plain canary seed. ',«*fi THE VIRGINIA NIGHTINGALE. Sounds, and sv.eet airs, that jjive dclij^dit. This bird is really the cardinal grosbeak, but some enthusiastic writers in the United States have named it the Virginia Nightingale, and have described his song as equal or superior to the European Nightingale, but then tastes differ. He is sometimes called the Virginian red-bird, and is a native of the Southern States, and one of the handsomest birds on this continent, and deserves all his popularity, being a diligent and melodious songster, but the song is more mono- tonous, louder and less sweet than the European nightingale. His colour is a brilliant red, with the exception of the throat and the part round the beak, which are black. The head is orna- mented with a tuft, which he is capable of rais- M il,f lit!'.' t%;i t66 THIC VIRGINIA NIGHTINGALK, inj-- at ])Iea,sure, which ^ives him a very com- inaiulino appearance. The female i.s not so handsome as the male. Both birds sing, the female about as well as the male, whose %'oicc is very fine and loud, and he sings all the y.'ar r(;und, except while moulting-. They are hard}- birds, and if kept out of drafts and properly fJl will preserve their health and beauty many years, often JivMig iifteen years. The cardinal, oi necessity, loses some of its brilliant colour in confinement, but this can be prevented to a considerable extent by givin,"- them roomy cages ; they are very active birds and require plenty of exercise, plenty of pure air, and a liberal .supply of pure water for both drinking and bathing purpo^^es daily. A little salt and chalk is often kept ii .heir cage ; the salt helps the bird to retain its colour, and the chalk to keep its system regular. He should be fed with a mixture of canary and hemp seed, and rough unhulled rice, to which may be added a little fresh green food, or a piece of apple occasionally. A lady who has had a pet Virginia nightingale for some years says he is still in the highest health and beauty ; .she feeds him upon canary .seed, giving him a few hemp .seeds, four or five meal-worms, or a .spider, grubs or cater- pillars everyday. He is fond of .Spanish nuts, almonds, walnut.s, and Indian corn but cannot crack the nuts. THE BOBOLINK. Merrily swinging on briar and weed, Near to the nest of his little dame ; Over the mountains, river and mead, Robert of Lincoln is telling his name. Bob-o-link, bob-o-link Spink, spank, spink. — Bryant They are found all over the United States and their song is a confused merry jingle of notes, of about the quality of the canary, but without any method whatever. They are easily domes- ticated in cage life, and, when fed on nothing but canary seed (no hemp), will sing about eight months of the year. They are hardy and will live many years. -,4 I hi It i THE NONPAREIL. "A merry welcome to thee, glittering bird ! Lover of summer flowers and sunny things ! A night hath passed since my young !,uds have hear.! The music of thy rainbow-coloured wings, Wings, that flash sparkles out where'er they quiver, Ivike sudden sunlight rushing o'er a river." The Nonpareil is a native of North America, from Canada to Mexico, but only found in the colder parts in summer ; its nests are found mostly in orange and citron trees. Buffon says that the Dutch breed these in their aviaries. They are called by American authors the "paint- ed finch" or "painted bunting," and is also spoken of by Buffon as " the Pope," he says on account of his beautiful violet hood. He is a splendid bird when in full plumage, but as he moults twice a year, and the young males do not acquire their full plumage till they are three years old, he is seldom met with in the perfec- tion of his colouring. A beautiful specimen of 1*HE NONPARElt. 169 the bird has a violet head and neck, a red circle round the eyes, the iris brown, the beak and feet brown, the upper part of the back yellow- ish green, the lower part of the back, and the throat, chest, and whole under part of the body as well as the upper tail-coverts, of a bright red ; the wing coverts are green, the quills red- dish brown tinged with green, the tail is reddish brown. He is about the size of the English robin, and very much resembles that bird in his attitudes and characteristics, and his song is a sweet low warble. He is fed upon canary and millet seed, and is exceedingly fond of flies and spiders, which he ought to have, to keep him in health. If he is offered one, he darts across the cage to seize it, and takes it from the hand fear- lessly ; and when he is allowed to fly about the room, he will catch flies for himself, either pouncing upon them in the window, or taking them on the wing in a rapid dash across the room. He is a very sociable and inquisitive bird. The female is not nearly so pretty as the male, she is a yellowish green bird with brown and green wings and tail. THE AMERICAN BLUE RC BIN. Never the song of ti , robin could make my heart so glad, When I hear the bluebird singing in spring I forget to be sad. Hear it ! a ripple of music ! sunshine changed into song ! It sets nie thinking of summer wh.-n the days and their dreams are long. —En^i R ford. This bird is found in the Unite.. States and is a great favourite with the people, who often THE AMERICAN DI.UI? ROBIN, 171 keep boxes in their gardens and close to their houses for the Bhiebird to build in, with a hole in the side for it to enter. They are very com- mon there, btit the greater number resort to the warmer parts of America, and the West Indian Islands, and even to Brazil, for warmth during the inclement season. They feed on in.set . ,, sniuers, small worms, and caterpillars, and in the autumn on .soft fruits and .seeds. The head neck, and upper part of the body of the male bluebird is of a bright azure blue, with purple reflections; the quill-feathers of the wings and tail being jet bi, ck ; the throat, breast, and .sides of a ruddy chesn it, and the lower part of the body white. The female has paler tints of the same colouring. Ti song is very livelv and pleasing. Ki' ■i i3 '. <2 VARIOUS BIRDS. To cliarni the sense, and sootlie the pensive heart. Ami hid sweet dreams and j^tntlest fancies start. We mention below a few foreiKMi birds that are .sometimes found in aviaries, although they are not common in Canada, The Japanese Robin.— This bird, a native of Japan, where they have reduced the breeding of birds to a .science, is very beautiful, about the size of a bullfinch. The head of the robin is a bronze green, beak yellow, body the colour of a mourning dove, eyes black with a rirclet of white, throat a yellow tint shading on the brea.st into orange; wing-feathers black, with stripes of gold and white : and tail feathers glo.s.sy black, barred with white so clear that the bird looks as if he had ju.st been out in an April flurry of snow. His voice compasses all the notes and semi-tones contained between low contralto and high tenor. Kvery day he delights with new and surprising combinations, as well as notes totally different from any before uttered. He whistles every month in the year. He is fed the .same as a mocking bird, and his cage should be square, about medium size. VARIOUS BIRDS. 173 The Java Sparrow conies frotii Java, where they are very common. Tlu-ir chief recom- mendation is the beauty of plumaK^e, and occa- sionally one is seen that can be called a song bird. They are contented in a ca^e and are THE JAVA Hl'AKKOW. generally fed upon canary and millet seed, although in a wild state they live chiefly 011 rice. The Orange Cheek Waxbill is a beautiful smooth little bird, always as neat as possible with every feather in its place, vermillion beak, gray head, neck and throat brown. The Cordon Blue, a native of Africa, or as some call this bird, crimson-ear waxbill, is one of great beauty. The male has a soft, pleasing song, and is usually to be heard cooing, as if for t'ii "J- i m 174 VARIOUS BIRDS. his own amusement. This little fellow has a peculiar habit of singing with a bit of twine, or something which he can hold in his bill. If' he can find a piece of cotton, or stalk of any kind, he will hop about his cage, and sing to hi.s utmost. The St Helena Waxbill— This finch comes to us from Africa, and our description will be brief. The beak is a bright red, a darker shade of THE ST. HELExNA WAXBILL AND THE AVADAVAT. same passing through each eye ; also a dash of same on under part of body. The prevailing colour of the plumage is a grayish-brown, the wings and tail being a shade darker. All the feathers have transverse blackish wavy lines all over them, giving them a very soft and silken appearance. The Avadavat, is a native of Asia, Africa, and India. Their plumage is beautiful, and VARIOUS BIRDS. 175 unlike most other birds, they change plum- age yearly until the third year. At this time, the head and under part of the body are a fiery red tinged with black, the back brown, tail black, wings a reddish brown ; all the feathers are tipped with white, giving the bird the appear- ance of being speckled witii white spots ; beak red, the upper mandible on top being almost black. THK Dl/iiMOND AND CUT-THROAT. The Cut-Throat Sparrow, a native of Africa, sometimes called " fascinated finch," is about half the size of a canary. He is of a delicate grayish-fawn colour, spangled with white spots. The Diamond Sparrow, or "spotted-sided finch " a native of Australia, is a short, stout bird, somewhat larger than the St. Helena wax- bill. The under part of the body is white and 176 VARIOUS BIRDS. i i\i the sides under the wings quite black, with ob- long white spots. They have the utmost desire to catch flies, and if allowed the liberty of a room, will rush to the window, and remain by the hour catching them. They can be made re- markably tame, and can be trusted without their cage. Japanese Nuns, are a beautiful combination of the purest white, intermingled with the much admired cinnamon colour. These pets, being bred in cages, are very tame, of a quiet disposi- tion, and sing so merrily that you would think two songs were striving for united utterance The bird family like any other is liable to domestic troubles. Sometimes a bird of certain species will become troublesome, and destroy the quiet and happiness of the entire family When such an one is found, he should be taken' from the aviary and exchanged at a first class bird store for another of his kind. By this means the aviary will become a model of quiet- ness and harmony. ,<'! («,, TAMING A BIRD. Atid nests in order raiij,''(l Of tame villatic fowl. —Milton. A siskin, goldfinch or canary can easily be tanitd by cutting away more or less of the inner web of tile pinion-feathers, care being taken that the bird shall have sufiicient power to fly from the hand without injury. The nostrils are then smeared with any essential oil- -bergamot is as good as any— which will render it insensible for a time. It should then be placed upon a finger and changed from one to another. It may fly a few times, but .should be brought back, and kept upon the hand until the effects of the oil have wholly pa.s.sed away, when the bird, finding no harm is intended, will sit quietly. A few crushed hemp seeds should be given for its good behaviour, and the above repeated from day to day until a satisfactory result is obtained. Hunger will speedily teach a bird to take food from the hand. Place it in a small cage, one that has a door large enough for the hand to pass through, then remove all food. In a few hours try putting a seed dish into the cage with your hand ; if the bird flutters wildly about, 178 TAMING A BIRD. and refuses to accept your offering, remove your dish and wait a few hours longer. You will not be compelled to remain long in suspense, for tv/o or three trials will generally effect a good result. After food has been accepted from the dish try your hand, and as soon as you have convinced your pupil that only from you can food be procured, and to you, and you only, must he look lor all his goodies, a friendship will be formed which he will not be first to break. Birds that are desired to be tame should be talked to and made much of ; they should be placed upon your writing table, and every now and again a little notice taken of them. It is surprising how soon these little fellows will learn the difference between neglect and atten- tion. Some of the best birds which have been placed on exhibition have been those owned by tailors and shoemakers, who owing to the nature of their business, could keep their feathered pupils constantly with them. The dc some spe( pronounc parrots f explain tl they wen and that I the nativ No other and so mi and none utter disi quite unb ever, mos quite forg thorough! parrots ve therefore, your will 2, for good I the have can Diily, [ship 3t to ould dbe now It is will ;ten- Deen iby ture sred PARROTS. " Fie, silly bird! I answered, tuck Your head beneath your winj;, And go to sleep; but o'er and o'er He asked the selfsame thing." "Then smiling to myself I said,— How like are men and birds ! We all are saying what he says, In action or in words. — Whittier. The docility of the Parrot and the talent of some species for imitating the human voice and pronouncing words or sentences, have made parrots favourite cage birds, and sufficiently explain that, when America was first discovered, they were found domesticated by the natives, and that tame parrots have been kept as pets by the natives of India from time immemorial. No other birds become so entirely domesticated and so much attached to their keepers as parrots, and none are so long lived, but many parrots utter distracting screams, which may become quite unbearable. It is well to know that, how- ever, most parrots only scream from fear, and quite forget this bad habit when they become thoroughly tame. Their powerful beaks render parrots very destructive, and their keeper should, therefore, provide the strongest possible cages. i8o PARROTS. Kxperience shows that the larger parrots and especially the tame ones, thrive best when kei)t singly in cages. Tame parrots are extremely jealous, and to place these in an aviary will cause them often to pine c to become exceed- ingly quarrelsome ; in the latter case they will inflict fearful injury on each other. Almost all parrots pos.sess very much individuality, and form istrong attachments and equally strong antipathies. In teaching or training a parrot, let the bird remain for two weeks after purchase, uiuioticed, further than proper care is concerned ; it will then not be so shy, and finding no harm is nitended, will incline to become friendly. It is better to u.se only gentle means for training, and avail yourself only of some knack according to the bird's inclinations. Always move slowly around the cage, and never poke your finger or anything else at the bird. If a parrot starts to bite you do not jerk your hand away, but blow ni Its face or tap its beak or claws lightly with a lead pencil ; this is sufficient to make it stop. It is needless to have a screaming parrot, as the bn-d can easily be taught that it is against the rules for to make an undue amount of noise Tapping lightly on the cage with a stick, or on the claws or bill, is usually sufficient punish- ment to stop the noise, though some bird fanciers make it a rule to cover the cage with a cloth or paper. The g As a rul( a lady's quicker 1 in the th three hot just as o: precept when till than oth several ii the cage the parrc attention few days and sente cloth ma] it if you cannot be forming- learn. L, smoothly late plaii pause bet There i chase a 1: are sure t for this r( higher pr teach thei PARROTS. l8t The gray parrot makes an excellent talker. As a rule a parrot will learn much quicker from a lady's voice, than from a man's, and still quicker from a child's. They learn more readily in the three hours next following sunrise, or the three hours before sunset, and should be taught just as one would teach a child " line upon line, precept upon precept." Parrots vary in age when they begin to talk, for some are slower than others and do not begin until they are several months or even a year old. Covering the cage with a cloth transfers the attention of the parrot from everything else, and its entire attention is fixed on what it hears, and within a few days after they begin they will repeat words and .sentences. After once commencing well the cloth may be removed, when you are talking to it if you prefer to do so. Too much attention cannot be paid to the linking together of words forming any sentence you desire the bird to learn. I^et each word glide into the next as smoothly as possible, being particular to articu- late plainly, but not to make too much of a pause between the words. There are many persons who prefer to pur- chase a bird which has begun to talk, so they are sure to obtain one which can be taught, and for this reason talking parrots always .sell at n higher price, as it is. of course, .some trouble to teach them, but we consider it better to purchase 182 PARROTS. a young bird, before it has learned any words, and teach it yourself, as it then becomes accus- tomed to your voice and learns more rapidly, and you can teach it to say just what you wish.' Those that talk appear to have a great Sense of fun, and will bring in the sentences they have learned to utter, in the most appropriate circum- stances. Probably they observe the effect of certain phrases when used by human beings, and their powers of nienory being very great, remem- ber the proper time to make use of them. The well-known story of Henry the Seventh's parrot, which on falling into the water, called out, "A boat! twenty pounds for a boat!" and on its rescue, when the waterman claimed the reward, gave order to "give the knave a groat," is only one of numbers of the same kind. Another story is told of a bird who lived in a kitchen, where the mistress was very suspicious of her servants, and he used always to give her notice, — " Mary has been here," " John was here again,"' etc., and on one occasion, when the mistress came unexpectedly into the kitchen, while some con- traband cooking was going on, the bird called out, "Cake under the cushion, mistress!" and repeated his speach till the hidden cake was produced. It is difficult to imagine that this parrot was not acquainted with the meaning of the words he used. It is better not to use any forcible means for training, of some : tions. 1 for some offer alsc fond, anc from the come on scratchec handle it FooD.- sists of a hemp an( the effeci any of th once be given oc are too ] piece of walnut, or greas] eases and table ar< apples, o limited qi special b given eve able duri onion, ab good toni PARROTS. 183 training, but always be gentle, and avail yourself of some knack, according to the bird's inclina- tions. Take away the drinking water or coffee for some hours, then hold it out to the bird, and ofiFer also some tit-bit of which the bird is very fond, and thus the bird will learn to take food from the hand, and will presently voluntarily come on to the finger, allow its head to be scratched, and soon permit one to caress and handle it at will. Food. — The food usually given to parrots con- sists of a mixture of unhulled rice, cracked corn, hemp and sunflower .seed, chiefly the latter, but the effect of all foods should be watched and if any of the above appears to disagree, it should at once be withheld. A few peanuts may be given occasionally, but no other nuts, as they are too rich. If the bird will eat it give it a piece of cuttle bone daily, about the size of a walnut. Never give any butcher's meat, bones, or greasy food of any kind, as they cause dis- eases and ruin the plumage. Dainties from the table are usually harmful. Fruits, such as apples, oranges, bananas, etc., may be given in limited quantities, but only those proper for your special bird. A cayenne pepper pod can be given every week or so, and is particularly desir- able during moulting season, and a piece of raw onion, about half the size of an egg, acts as a good tonic. A cracker or stale, but good, bread t84 PARROTS. H.i m\ soaked in coffee, is good daily, but some gray parrots will not take coffee, or it may make them nervous, in which case, water should be used. Water causes some to have diarrhoea, and coffee, in that case, i; the better drink. Silver gravel in abundance should be given fresh daily for eating and bathing. The cage or .stand .should be cleansed with water, or .soap and water, every third day, and oftener if neces.sary. Bathing in sand, not in water, is usual for parrots ; but water baths should be given accord- ing to the health and needs of the bird, one to three times a week through the year. Use from a pint to a quart r t: pid water, in which a tea- .spoonful of bor i,a, been dis.solved, spraying the bird with u crK.r^e atomizer which holds a half-pint. If a tea..poonful of wine is afterwards thrown on with a small atomizer, the plumage will become glossy and beautiful. Diseases.— If parrots are properly fed and cared for, they will remain in health over fifty years. The principal diseases' are as follows : Coi,D.— Put it in a warm place and it is a good plan to wrap it up in a piece of flannel. Put ten drops of aconite in a glass of water and every hour pour a teaspoonful down the bird's throat. Bird pepper or red pepper seem to be beneficial to the bird. If the bird has a .severe cold and running at the nose we would clean the i PARROTS. 185 bird's nostrils with a feather dipped in salt water and then moisten them with oil of almonds. A vapour hath is also good for the bird and is easily arranged by placing the cage over a cane-bottom chair, removing the cage bottom. vSet a pan of boiling water under the chair and cover a quilt over the cage, chair and all. It is well to peep at the bird occasionally to see that he is not overcome by the vapour. Indigestion.— Give a plain light diet of cracked corn, padda, and a few sunflower seeds ; put a teaspoonful of lime water in the drink- ing water, and a tea.spoonful of warm wine can be poured down the bird's throat. Constipation.— We know of nothing better than a half teaspoonful of castor oil which may be mixed with the same quantity of honey and given once or twice a day. Drop a little olive oil into the vent or passage from the head of a pin. Feed hemp and sunflower in equal parts. DiARRHCEA, or loosening of the bowels, is the most common and also the most dangerous ill- ness of the parrot, and nothing causes it .sooner than sour food. Keep the bird in a warm place, feed unhulled rice, and give a half cracker in brandy on which sprinkle red pepper. In severe cases put five drops of paregoric into a teaspoon- ful of boiled milk and give this full dose every three hours. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) h /. y 1.0 I.I If 1^ IM KS 1^ 12.2 us IL25 i 1.4 1.6 V <^ /; Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 :0^ iV < 1 86 PARROTS. Bi^ooDY DiARRiicEA.— Give four drops of laudanum in a teaspoonful of boiled milk every three hours. Give no fruit or green stuff, and do not al'ow the bird to drink water unless it has had some tincture of iron put into it. Dysentery.— Treat as for diarrhoea, and give also one half to one teaspoonful of castor oil. with ten drops of honey. The sticky feathers under the tail should be washed with warm water. Vomiting, when caused only by fright, anxiety, or over-eating, has but little significance,' but when arising from inflammation of the stomach, and accompanied by weakness, shiver- ing, loss of appetite, or bloody discharges, should be treated as follows : Apply warm or nearly hot poultices of bread or flax seed to the belly ; also apply sand as warm as is pleasant to the hand. Give teaspoonful doses of a solu- tion of tannin, two to seventy-five or one hun- dred parts of warm water two or three times a day. PUI.LING THE Feathers.— It is a great annoy- ance to the owner of a fine bird to see it strip itself of its plumage, and this is usually caused by the bird being confined in too small a cage, lack of cleanliness and the feeding of meat or greasy food. When birds are addicted to this habit we would give them only cricked corn, sunflow< but adli plenty o put in articles In many too rich helped b It is alsc dry sand frequent pulling Fruit or a time, is causei parrot o thorougl the body will final PARROTS. 187 sunflower and padda. Do not feed hemp seed, but adhere to a strictly plain diet, and have plenty of gravel in the cage. It is also well to put in an ear of corn, some spools or other articles for the bird to gnaw at or play with. In many cases where feather pulling arises from too rich food the bird's general health can be helped by keeping some cuttle bone in the cage. It is also a good plan to keep an inch or so of dry sand in the bottom of the cage, as the bird frequently likes to wallow in it, and the feather pulling is caused by an itching of the skin. Fruit or green food is good for the bird at such a time. Frequently, however, feather-pulling is caused by insects, and it is well to take the parrot out of the cage and rub insect powder thoroughly through his feathers in all parts of the body. By doing this for several days they will finally all be exterminated. THE GRAY PARROT. "He will be talliing." —S/ia/{-sficare. The best known and popular Parrot is our domestic pet " Pollj , ,ie gray parrot from Africa with ashen gray body, black bill, light gray face, and scarlet tail. Until the bird is a year old the body plumage is a darker gray, and the tail dark brown, excepting close to the body where the crimson shows a little. The birds vary from twelve to fifteen inches in length, about the size of a common pigeon. They are brought to America, generally from their home in West and Central Africa, either by steamers V England, or direct in sailing vessels. The birds in sailing vessels are preferred, because they get of Gray away lik much re result gr lively cl fifteen tc twenty-fi more tli; jxarrot, al raw youi distingui: birds bei are alike Cage c cage foui fifteen to ones can Geiierallj about a 1 eat which For foo Parrots. THE GRAY PARROT. 189 they p^et acclimated in the longer trip. Dozens of Gray Parrots on steamers are often i)acke(l away like merchandise in any old hox. without much regard to health or ventilation. As a result gray parrots can often be bought compara- tively cheaj). Young birds are worth from fifteen to twenty-five dollars, and talkers from twenty-five to seventy-five, and extra fine talkers more than that. An acclimatized tame gray parrot, although costing more, is cheaper than a raw young bird. Young gray parrots can be distniguished by their gray e> es, the eye of old birds being straw coloured. Male and female are alike and equally gifted. Cagk or Stand.— This parrot should have a cage fourteen or fifteen inches in diameter, or fifteen to twenty-four inches long, but larger ones can be used, or a stand of the usual style. Generally parrots do not talk as well if allowed about a room, and are apt to find something to eat which is injurious. For food, care and di.seases see the chapter on Parrots. GREEN PARROTS. They always talk who never think. —Matthew Prior. green parrots There are many varieties of among which are the following : The Double Yellow Head of Mexico which many fanciers consider to equal in ability ^nd intelligence the African Gray, he is considered the operatic star of the parrot family, his natural gift of song is great, and his voice is clear and ringing, and many stories are told of their sing- ing powers. The Mexican is of a beautiful greei. throughout the body, with a pale orange forehead, and scarlet and blue feathers in wing and tail, his feet are strong and white, his beak is white, his tongue may be white, black, or mottled. inches, b l)ird thai older, the deepens n birds are as well, 1 three mo times by speeches. the most intelligen Cage, f( can as for The C£ fifteen iiK Mexican, the back about the the wings ings. Th some and to the Mc same as tl The Sin Double Y< teen inclie markings instead of orange stri GRKKN PARROTS. 191 mottled. His length is from fourteen to sixteen inches, being a somewhat longer and thicker bird than the gray parrot. As the birds get older, the pale orange colour of the forehead deepens and extends back over the head. These birds are not only great singers but free talkers as well, learning many words when taught for three months or so, and are most amusing at times by their manner of mingling songs and speeches. The grays and these Mexicans are the most enjoyable birds to own, becau.se most intelligent and teachable. Cage, food and care are the same for the Mexi- can as for the gray. The Carthagena Parrot is from thirteen to fifteen inches long, being about the size of the Mexican, and has all green plumage, except on the back of the neck, a pale orange marking about the size of a silver half dollar ; and in the wings and tail feathers red and blue mark- ings. This bird becomes quite a .singer, whi.stles some and talks very well ; he is generally next to the Mexican, and his food and care are the same as that bird's. The Single Yellow head is smaller than the Double Yellow head, being from eleven to thir- teen inches long, but has the same colours and markings as that bird except the beak is dark, instead of flesh colour, and the narrow pale orange stripe on the forehead does not extend as 192 GRRRN PARROTS. the bird grows older. This bird makes a fair talker, learning easily, but not so many sentences as those named above. His food and care is the same. The Blue Front Parrot is twelve or thirteen inches long, with plain green body and blue forehead, and slight red and blue markings in the wings. He becomes a fair talker. His food is same as above. The Cuban Parrot is ten to twelve inches long, with green body, white forehead, scarlet throat, and scarlet and blue wings. These are imported when three months old, so they are tame, and very teachable, becoming quite good English scholars. The food is the .same as above. The Maracaibo Parrot is ten or eleven inches long, with green body, forehead well marked with yellow, and wings having some blue, yellow, and red markings. He looks like a small edition of the Mexican, and sometimes makes an excel- lent talker. His food is the same as above. The Amazon Parrot is a native of the upper portion of South America. He is not quite as large as the Mexican, his light green body and brilliant head-dress of blue and yellow, throat of orange tinged with red, scarlet tipped wings and parti-coloured tail, make him very attractive. He is an apt scholar, and easily learns to talk and sing. Food the same as above. Nicholson & Brock's BIRD SUPPLIES BROCK'S BIRD SEED, in l lb. packets, each packet contains a cake of Bird Treat with round tin holder, which afterwards can be used as a perch holder jOg, Brock's Silver Sea Washed Gravel, per pkt 5c. and 10c. Brock's Bird Treat, per cake 5g, " M do/., cakes, post prepaid 25c. Cuttle Fish Bone, nice large piece with fastening attached, post prepaid 5^, Cuttle Fish Bone, per lb 30^, Inga, Niger or lona Seed, per lb., post prepaid 15c. Bird Tonic, per bottle lOc, Mite Destroyer, per packet XOc, Canary Seed Hemp Seed Imported Millet Seed Maw Seed German Rape Seed Flax Seed Padda or Unhulled Rice Sunflower Seed Mocking Bird Food The above articles can be obtained from all the lead- ing Grocers, Druggists, and vSeedsmen. If you have any difficulty in getting them write direct to the manu- facturers, NICHOLSON & BROCK Toronto, Ont. Ladies... Keep up with the times by insisting on your Grocer supply- ing you with CIRRANTS Already Cleaned AND RAISINS Already Seeded Thus saving many hours of tedious labour. • All Up-to-date Grocers keep both CLEANED CURRANTS and SEEDED RAISINS in stock. See that you get them. 4'4'4'4'4«4*4«4'4«4«4'4'4'4'*i'4«4*4' !•»{• I by ply- 311 S m. 4-