Moulting. 1 7 1 



quantities in our West India islands, and often in our own 

 gardens. The pods are long, pointed, and pendulous; first 

 green in colour, and when ripe bright orange red. The cayenne 

 pepper sold in shops is an indiscriminate mixture of the powder 

 of the dried pods of several species of capsicum ; but that which 

 is the hottest of all, and consequently considered the best, is the 

 variety known as Capsicum frutescens, or bird pepper. When 

 used immoderately it is supposed to occasion visceral obstruc- 

 tion, especially of the liver. Great care should be exercised in 

 its use, for it is sometimes adulterated with the red oxide of 

 lead, which is a powerful poison. I am disposed to think that 

 it has a detrimental effect on the voices of birds, and cannot 

 therefore recommend the use of it to the canary-fancier with 

 any degree of confidence. 



I may mention here that a number of fanciers give their 

 birds saffron cake, with the twofold motive, first to promote the 

 process of the moult, and secondly to improve the colour of the 

 feathers, though I have little faith in some of these nostrums. 

 I have found, however, that a few shreds of meadow saffron 

 immersed in the drinking water is beneficial to a bird whilst 

 moulting, but it should be used cautiously, as its action varies 

 very much according to the season of the year it is gathered. 

 Colchicum combines an anodyne effect with a drastic operation, 

 as an emetic, purgative, or diuretic, and has in some instances 

 been known to produce fatal effects. 



THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS INGREDIENTS ON THE COLOUR 

 OF CANARIES AND THEIR HYBRIDS. Since the first edition 

 of the "Canary Book" appeared, long and rapid strides have 

 been made in the field of experience with regard to the effect 

 of cayenne pepper and other ingredients administered to 

 canaries and their hybrids during the process of the moult, and 

 much correspondence has taken place in various journals inte- 

 rested in ornithological subjects on the indiscriminate use of 

 cayenne pepper and its effect on the constitution of birds. 



Men of experience in the world of science have entered into 

 the controversy, and those in the best position to know surgeons 

 and veterinary surgeons, who have dissected various specimens 

 which had partaken of this condiment, and were submitted 



