1 68 The Canary Book. 



frightening the birds. The reason that so much care and 

 attention are required in moulting London Fancy canaries is 

 this : if they happen to get excited and dash about the cage, 

 they are very liable to knock some of their wing or tail 

 feathers out, and these would be reproduced clear, and pro- 

 bably spoil the chance of obtaining a prize at a show. 



I have moulted show Lizards in the manner I have described, 

 and nothing could have been invented to moult them more to 

 my entire satisfaction; and, next to London Fancies, there 

 is probably no variety that requires so much care bestowed 

 upon them as Lizard canaries, for if they beat out any of their 

 tail or wing feathers, they become " mooned " at the ends when 

 reproduced, and this detracts from their merits. 



MOULTING IN NUMBERS. Those fanciers who breed canaries 

 on an extensive scale are frequently obliged to draft off their 

 birds in batches of twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty together, and 

 place them in large cages, or in an aviary or room to moult. 

 It is not a desirable example to imitate; but where such an 

 arrangement is unavoidable I should certainly prefer a room 

 or aviary to cages for this purpose, for nothing is more injurious 

 to the health of birds at this critical season than overcrowding ; 

 and, unless they are strong and healthy, they are almost certain 

 to succumb, if kept in large numbers in too limited a space. 

 Besides, many birds are of a quarrelsome and mischievous dis- 

 position, and appear to delight in plucking the others. More 

 particularly is this the case with cock canaries, and if they 

 should happen to take a dislike to one of their number, 

 which I have known them to do, they chase and peck the unfor- 

 tunate wretch most unmercifully; and if it is not speedily 

 removed they will probably torment it until they kill it. The 

 only means of preventing these untoward occurrences, when 

 circumstances will not admit of any other alternative, is to 

 keep them in closely covered cages, almost in total darkness; 

 and this is what I object to, for I cannot be persuaded that 

 birds can continue in health very long under this treatment, as 

 it is certain to affect both their bodies and spirits prejudicially. 

 Where a number of birds are kept together in one cage, and 

 it is observed that one of them is bleeding at the top of the 



