Moulting. 1 73 



cayenne in its normal condition, and have had the oil extracted 

 from the pepper, which is believed to be the active colour- 

 ing principle, so that they might give it in the highest and 

 most concentrated form; and how many birds have perished 

 through these acts of rashness and folly no living person can 

 tell. Cayenne given in such unmeasured quantities must of 

 necessity be attended by the most baneful results, and those 

 people who have the temerity to purchase such highly fed 

 specimens are sure to suffer for their foolhardiness. The depth 

 of colour in a Norwich canary is not always a guarantee of 

 high breeding, as many circumstances are necessary to bring 

 about a successful issue. Three birds chosen from the same 

 parents, and treated alike, will often vary as much as three 

 birds chosen promiscuously out of a large quantity of mixed 

 birds, so much depends on the constitution of the bird to stand 

 this untoward treatment, and the palest coloured specimen 

 selected will frequently turn out the richest coloured bird at 

 the finish. Sib bred birds will show the effect of the food 

 sooner than those ,not bred akin, but few of them can stand the 

 treatment. 



The method adopted by the most successful exhibitors, who 

 moult large quantities of birds for show, is to have a moulting 

 house built expressly for the purpose ; some are built of brick 

 and slated, and others of wood only. When built of the latter 

 material, a double wall or partition is used, these being about 

 three inches apart and filled with sawdust. In any case, the 

 foundation should be a dry one, and the house should have at 

 least one step up to it ; and, if built of wood, the roof, as well as 

 being double boarded and lined with sawdust, should be covered 

 with roofing felt to keep out the wet. A ventilator should be 

 placed in the centre of the roof, one that revolves with the 

 wind is best. The only light should be obtained from one or 

 two fixed sky-lights, and a closing shutter should be made to 

 fit over each inside, to be so constructed that the shutters will 

 slide backward and forward, so that, whenever Sol appears 

 in the brightness of his effulgence, his golden and gladdening 

 rays may be shut off, and the poor little prisoners enveloped in 

 atter darkness, as light in any form has the effect of lessening 



