14^1 CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH I'.IRDS 



\ orksliirc liciis Inck llic liiildiicss ol' \vitli()ut i-ulllmi;- the ])luii ;il;c. l.-ikc tlic 



tlicir mates. 'riu-ii- \i(icc scion hctfays tips of the wings and tiie root of Ihe tail 



them, and the cxpc rieiieed rai\eier eaii between the thuinl) and linu'ers, in wiiieh 



tell a hen innncdiately l>y liei' iiop and ])osition he is powei'less to escape, 



solt '■ cheep " ; or, lailiny that, by Ikt There is no way ol' dclei-niiniiiu' Ihe trne 



head and eye. age of a Canary. exce])t oT young birds ol' 



Possilily nnieh ol' this may seem to the the cui-rcnt season's brec-d- 



Lininitiated to point to distinctions without Age Dis= inn. ThcN are distinguished 



a diiTerence; but, as we *inctions in ],v their n.iUrcolound wino 



Adult *^^ Wing ' 



Differences ^^">^^''i <^^ ^'^^ outset, some Feathers. leathers, the greater ])ortion 



ol' the distinctions arc subtle. ol' which they do not moult 



and such as only cxjierience and accurate in the lirst season, 'riiese wing Teat hers, 



obser\'ation can determine. They exist, c;dlcd " secondaries," "" ])rimaiies. " and 



however, and to the educated eye are '" spnrious (|uills." are indicated in the 



palpable enough, and in mastering them diagram ol' the body ol' a small biid on 



lies the dilTei-cnce between judge and no page 148. The palei' colour of the ^^ in;; 



judge. In young birds these distinctions I'eathers referred to is more pronounced 



develop more prominently alter the moult : alter the young bird has had its autumn 



but in the case of adult birds a mistake moult, though an observant eye may even 



need scarcely ever ))e made. es]:)eeially in then be deceived in natural-coloured birds, 



the spring, or when the birds are in con- So pronounced, however, is the dilTcrenee 



(Htion, as an examination of the \ent l)etween a \oung and old colour-red bird 



will quickly decide the (|Ui-stioii. That of — imless the voungster has had its tliglit 



Ihe hen is small, and in the same feathers plucked out- that the nicresi 



.straight line with the body, while that no\ice need have no dillicully in detecting 



of tlie male bird is more |)roniinently which is which, once the diiTeiince lias been 



developed, and as a rule has ,i teuiUiiey |)ointed out to him. Alter their infantile 



to curve inwai-d. especially when a bird moult these young birds are called by 



is in full breeding condition. fanciers '■indiiglited "" bii-ds until tlic next 



In this connection there is an art in year's moult, when they shed the wing 



catching and holding a bird when an\' feathei's as well as the slioit body leallKi's, 



examination is i'e(|uircd. and eomi- under t he eategoi'y of adull birds. 



a Canarv 'I'liere shoidd be no hurry though they ha\'e then done lluii- lirst 



oi- Muster, but a sharj), season's breeding. 



dccisi\-e poimce, and when you lia\i- him 'I'he mark of age follows with this: after 



be sur.' you kecj) him. Hut do not grip the lirst year the scales on the legs become 



1o injuie him : i)ettcr let him go and havi.- larger and coarser, and a 



another tr\- tli:iii do this. 'I'o examine ^^ \car-old specimen of an\ 



either l)ack or breast, lay the bird in the \ariety whic'h does not carry 



palm of the hand, wilh the thund) across signs of it s age in il s |)linnage can generally 



Ihe neck; it e.amiot escape, and il' Ihe be told in this \\a\. though some bii'ds 



])i'essure of the thumb is on Ihe foi'clingcr would ])u/./.le t he best judges, ^'ear-old birds 



allowing jusi snUicienl space for Ihe bird's with their second moult are looked upon 



neck, but so that il cannot slip its head .as being at llieii- \ei'y best, for while tlie\- 



through, the bc'dy can be gi\(ai perFeel inoidl out as priniK as Ihose that are a 



freedom, kiting the palm of Ihe h.and '.eason xonnger, I hey (the o\-er-year birds) 



beai' its weight. ai'e nioi'i- furnished in plumage. h;i\ iiiL'' 



If two biiils be held ill this ii'.anner il al l.aiiied t heir second Might feat hers and lai! 



is the besi , .■iiid, indeed, the only wa\. feathers with their richer lint of colour, 



to ari'ixe ;il a correct eslmi.ale ol' Ihe which iii\(s a Hiiish not possessed b\ the 



relative colours. To hold a bird seeiireK i)ir(l which has oiiK had its inl'aniile moult. 



