The Belgian. 223 



exercise your utmost patience and skill, and above all, do not 

 irritate or excite the bird. First put the stick above the bird, 

 and force the latter gently to the bottom of the cage, moving the 

 stick slowly and dexterously in such a manner as to induce the 

 bird to approach the entrance to the adjoining cage ; but by all 

 means keep your temper, for if you attempt rough usage you will 

 most assuredly frighten the bird an occurrence which must be 

 avoided if possible. Speak softly and kindly to it during this 

 operation, and with a little perseverance and careful manipu- 

 lation you are certain of success. If the bird exhibits symptoms 

 of fear, leave the cages in the position indicated for a day or two, 

 and it will become familiar with the arrangement, and pass 

 from one cage to the other of its own accord. After this you will 

 have no difficulty in getting it to pass readily in and out of the 

 cages. If you find that you are necessitated to have recourse to 

 the latter plan, place a little maw-seed, or a little egg and bread, 

 or some tempting delicacy, in the empty cage, which will induce 

 it the more readily to enter. After you are satisfied that the 

 bird understands what it is required to do, run it into a breeding 

 cage, and repeat the same treatment until it becomes a proficient 

 pupil. When a bird is once properly drilled in this manner it 

 never forgets it, and after it becomes a thorough adept at it you 

 will find it of the greatest use in assisting you to train other 

 birds. Having fairly succeeded in your endeavours to train one 

 bird, place another beside it, and continue the same practice as 

 before ; you will find the other bird soon follow suit, although 

 it may show a little awkwardness at first, and in this manner 

 you will be able in a few weeks to teach all the birds in your 

 possession to come and go from one cage to another. 



GETTING INTO POSITION. As soon as you discover that you 

 are the possessor of a Belgian canary fit for competition, you 

 ought to proceed to train it not only to " run out," but to get into 

 show position; this is done in a variety of ways, and depends 

 greatly upon the temperament and disposition of the bird. If it is 

 at all nervous or timid, you will need to exercise great care and 

 attention and the utmost vigilance, particularly at the com- 

 mencement; you must approach it with great caution and very 

 leisurely, chirruping to it with your mouth, or speaking to it 



