228 The Canary Book. 



to feed them with a little hard-boiled egg, and stale but whole- 

 some bread home made preferred or a little biscuit either 

 luncheon or picnic will answer quite well ; if you use the latter 

 it should be crushed to powder. Chop the egg fine, or rub it 

 through a sieve or piece of perforated zinc ; if you use tin nests 

 with bottoms made of the material just mentioned, rub it through 

 one of these ; and if you choose bread in preference to biscuits, 

 it must be rubbed through in the same way, or between the 

 hands. Mix the ingredients in equal proportions ; let each bird 

 have a small quantity of this food once a day ; prepare it fresh 

 every morning, and in addition give it every alternate day half a 

 small thimbleful of maw seed not more do not give green food 

 of any kind. You should likewise give them occasionally a little 

 soiled carrot, cut into small pieces, and placed between the wires 

 of the cages ; this will give a fine glossy appearance to the 

 feathers, and help to keep the birds in good condition. Show 

 birds ought to be kept scrupulously clean. Their cages should 

 be cleaned out at least once a week. 



It is an objectionable practice to wash Belgian canaries to send 

 to shows, and ought not to be resorted to except under peculiar 

 and pressing circumstances. Colour in these birds is merely a 

 trifling consideration ; form being the chief characteristic. Still 

 it is not by any means desirable to send a canary to a show as 

 black as a chimney sweep when it can be avoided. If you reside 

 in a large town, and in a locality surrounded by manufactories 

 washing becomes an imperative necessity ; for however good 

 a bird may be in all points, to see it clad in dirt and completely 

 begrimed, is a thing which even the most considerate of judges 

 is very loth to tolerate. Good condition adds greatly to a fine 

 exterior either in birds or animals ; it is one of the things 

 looked for and generally appreciated, and which reflects 

 the greatest praise upon those who bestow the attentions 

 necessary for its production. 



If, however, you happen to live in the suburbs of a large town, 

 or in a small country town almost exclusively of an agricultural 

 character, or in a village or hamlet, or detached dwelling, you 

 ought to have little difficulty, with ordinary care and attention, 

 in keeping your birds sufficiently clean to send them to shows 



