232 The Canary Book. 



canaries, the greatest caution and discrimination are necessary, 

 as all thoroughly practical men with ordinary observation must 

 know that some birds, and especially those which have never 

 been accustomed to " handling," are nervous and frightened, and 

 consequently require to be approached with great care and 

 circumspection, or they will plunge and dash about the cage in 

 a panic-stricken manner, like a newly-caught linnet; and it 

 requires some time to get them to settle steadily after this 

 fantastic performance. 



Other birds, on the contrary, who have been " over-trained," 

 take an immense deal of energy to raise them to a sense of their 

 duties. In cases of this kind I have invariably found it best to 

 lift the cage containing the bold bird, and, placing it in front of 

 me, have stealthily approached the timorous and fidgety one, 

 taking care to do so in the most gentle manner possible, and by 

 whistling or chirruping, or speaking softly and kindly I have 

 generally succeeded in getting it to steady itself, whilst by a 

 little manoeuvring I have managed to get it into position. But 

 birds of this stamp are very unsatisfactory to everybody con- 

 cerned. If fanciers will only adopt the method of training 

 previously pointed out, their birds will become bold and fearless, 

 but it must not be overdone, or the remedy will be as much to be 

 dreaded as the defect. 



RULES OF A BELGIAN SOCIETY. It will be interesting to 

 English fanciers if I give them a translation of an old copy of 

 rules, which I have in my possession, of a society established at 

 Brussels. More especially at this time when a National Society 

 is considered by most fanciers a very desirable institution. 



The following is a literal translation of the rules referred to : 



KINGDOM OP BELGIUM. 



Central Society of Emulation formed at Brussels for the Societies and Amateur 

 Fanciers of Belgian Canaries. 



COMMITTEE. 

 **** 



RULES. 



Chapter I The Society Its aim. 



Article 1. Formed at Brussels, dating from 3rd October, 1854, a central company 

 of emulation for the societies and the amateur fanciers of canaries of the kingdom 



