178 The Canary Book. 



with these precautions occasional disputes may arise, for 

 every one is not possessed of discrimination in shades of 

 colour, but, under ordinary circumstances, such an arrange, 

 ment ought to prove satisfactory. The following formulae 

 will be found valuable in producing the colours required: 



Red-fed. Formula 1: Linseed oil, 1 pint; dragon's blood 

 (finely powdered), loz. Simmer together on a slow fire for 

 half-an-hour. One teaspoonful of the compound should be 

 added to half of a hard-boiled egg and an equal quantity of 

 crushed biscuit or breadcrumbs, and, lastly, a dessert-spoon, 

 ful of moist sugar added. Incorporate the whole thoroughly; 

 this quantity would serve three birds for one day's supply; 

 it should be given fresh. 



Formula 2 : Take of red sandal- wood (finely powdered), loz. ; 

 the best red Natal pepper (fresh), 2oz. ; loaf sugar (powdered), 

 2oz.; sweet or tasteless pepper, 3oz. ; add 1 teaspoonfuls of 

 this mixture to the yolks of two hard-boiled eggs and a 

 table-spoonful of finely-powdered biscuit, and moisten the 

 whole by adding 30 to 40 drops of the following solution: 

 Put Idr. of hay saffron into 2oz. of rum or brandy, let it 

 digest for six days, then strain through a piece of fine muslin. 

 During this feed let your birds have red marigolds and the 

 flowers of nasturtiums to eat ad libitum. This is a first-class 

 colour-feed for the highest colour obtainable. 



Formula 3 : Red Natal pepper, 4oz. ; tasteless pepper, 4oz. ; 

 red sandal- wood (finely powdered), 2oz.; powdered cochineal 

 (the black bug), loz.; moist sugar, 8oz. A teaspoonful to be 

 added to each egg and moistened with a strong solution of 

 saffron made as mentioned in last formula. 



Yellow-fed. Formula 1: Nepaul pepper, 2oz. ; turmeric, 

 3oz. Add 1 teaspoonful of this mixture to each hard-boiled 

 egg, and an equal quantity of powdered biscuit or bread- 

 crumbs. Put 2dr. of saffron in a bottle with 4oz. of sherry 

 wine ; let it digest for seven days, strain through muslin, and 

 add a teaspoonful of this to every two eggs given. Let the 

 birds have a mixture of canary- and mustard-seed in equal 

 proportions and a supply of yellow marigold floweri. 



