BIRD NEWS 



sical ear, is almost essential to the 

 successful trainer. To obtain this we 

 have no rules, nor can we suggest 

 any special "feeding" which could 

 guarantee results for — the fancier. 



It is strange that in "making-rol- 

 lers" it seems absolutely necessary 

 to regulate the amount of light. The 

 cage must be darkened. Without this 

 precaution the tone becomes harsh, 

 the volume too coarse, and high 

 notes too much in evidence. It would 

 seem as if the bird had a soul of its 

 own, and in the twilight and shadow 

 poured forth its very Ijeart-throbs, 

 tremulous with the melody of some 

 great nature anthem, responsive to 

 symphonies of praise out born of cre- 

 ation's tribute to the Life-giver. 



This process of darkening is we 

 are satisfied often carried to great ex- 

 tremes. First, it is well to remem- 

 ber this procedure is only to be em- 

 ployed in perfecting our best birds, 

 the choice performers, "the birds 

 with a soul." We have found that 

 the very best results are obtained by 

 the twilight method, the environfnent 

 of the nightingale. A subdued light, 

 so that the birds can easily find feed 

 and water, and enjoy fresh air. The 

 heavy blanket dropped like a huge 

 curtain in front of the training 

 cages, we never did like. It is clum- 

 sy and unhealthy, and, we are sat- 

 isfied devitalizes many an otherwise 

 good singer. Mention must be made 

 of the song or training box; general- 

 ly made of metal. Into this "casket" 

 bird and cage are placed, the doors 

 are shut and out of the dungeon in 

 time issues the weird, sepuechral 

 notes — so much sought after. It is 

 claimed that this method softens and 

 tones down the song, the bird not 

 being able to record his high notes 

 which are "killed," so the song grad- 

 ually softens down into the desired 

 tone. As the training advances, and 

 the notes lower, more and more of 



the door of the casket is opened. The 

 singer is gradually caused to forget 

 the high notes and produce the 

 throat warble. Remember you must 

 have patience; and even then many 

 a bird will be passed as a "breaker" 

 to the lower grades before you ob- 

 tain the high class bird which sings 

 unbroken opera. Many of the gen- 

 eral public and not a few of the 

 fancy imagine that a singing-roller 

 must be a male bird, such is not the 

 case, for many of the "ladies" make 

 good performers, and indeed take les- 

 sons so aptly as to become perfect 

 artists. Generally, however, "sing- 

 ing hens" rarely make good rollers, 

 and nearly all drop off when the first 

 season is over, or domestic cares in- 

 trude their responsibility. 



In the clear roller, the cock was to 

 be separated by the more intense yel- 

 low of head, chest and rump. Fur- 

 ther the male-characteristics, bolder 

 figure, fuller eye, thicker body are 

 generally not "hidden-signs" to the 

 experienced fancier. In the green or 

 foul marked the above characters 

 plus a brighter tint of colour, are al- 

 so suggestive of the male. A fancier 

 will rarely be in error when he notes 

 how the doubtful sex behaves in 

 mixed company; placed along side of 

 a hen, a male bird will sooner or la- 

 ter make display of song efforts. In 

 the matured bird, especially if in full 

 song, examine the vent, in the male, 

 it is prominent — puckered, circular 

 and slightly elevated. In the female, 

 more transverse flat and relaxed. 



A male Frigate Bird (Fregata 

 aquila) popularly known as the man- 

 of-war-bird has been shot in Bloem- 

 fontein. Orange River Colony. This 

 is a strange incident as the Frigate 

 Bird has always been considered a 

 true pelagic species, or inded "a na- 

 tive only of the very most remote 

 ocean regions. 



