2OO The Canary Book. 



MARKING BIRDS. The .method I adopt, and which, I believe, 

 is pretty generally adopted, is to notch small pieces out of 

 the web or fringe of one or more flight-feathers, of one or both 

 wings ; this is done with a pair of sharp scissors, and in an 

 angular direction. By means of a little ingenuity in varying the 

 markings, the produce of any number of pairs may be easily 

 traced ; but it is equally necessary not only to exercise great 

 care in the performance of this operation, but to use con- 

 siderable caution in recording the particulars. This I do in 

 the back of my diary in manner following : " Young cinna- 

 mons from pair in No. 1 breeding-cage, marked in left wing, 

 first and second flight-feathers ; each two notches ; placed in 

 flight No. 5 (see diary, p. )" ; and so on with the remainder. 

 Whatever you do, do not place the markings in the tail of 

 a bird, as these feathers are frequently shed or beaten out, 

 and then all trace is lost. 



Some fanciers number their birds the same as the cages in 

 which they were bred, and where they breed extensively they 

 put, say, three notches in one wing and four in the other, 

 and multiply them; a bird marked thus would represent the 

 number 12 i.e., three times four and so on. 



A CAUTION. Buying birds from successful exhibitors : Bird 

 fanciers have during the past few years increased at a rapid 

 rate, and many people have taken up with this delightful 

 hobby. On this account some of the more speculative 

 fanciers have found it to be a very profitable business to 

 supply the wants of these new beginners; they have laid 

 themselves out specially to make money by so doing, and 

 have become veritable bird dealers under the designation of 

 " fanciers." 



The modus operandi pursued by these men generally is to 

 find out a person worthy of trust, in each of the large towns 

 where birds are bred and reared in considerable quantities; 

 the man they employ is termed their agent, and he binds him- 

 self not to act for anyone else; and they empower him to 

 purchase on their behalf every bird of the kind they require that 

 ie likely to figure as a prize winner on the show-bench at the 



