10 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



The main classes may be enumerated as follows : the German, the English, the 

 Belgian, the French, and Hybrids. From these classes spring numberless distinct 

 varieties, which have marked and fixed characteristics. In the English class, there 

 are no less than eight of these varieties. 



The Germans were probably the first to give the matter of Canary-breeding any 

 special attention ; and, although the first to take up the subject, the birds which they 

 raise, even to the present day, probably bear the closest resemblance, in shape, size. 

 and color, to the original wild Canary, of any class raised. This is due in a great 

 measure to the inattention paid to breeding birds for color and distinctive shapes or 

 sizes, the German breeder's chief aim being the song which his bird is capable of 

 producing : to this he directs all his skill and attention, and at the present time is 

 far ahead of all other breeders in this respect. If he has sacrificed beauty and 

 imposing size, he can point with pride to his one chief excellence, which indeed is 

 the most attractive quality for which birds of any breed or class should be kept. 

 The German's model is the unpretentious-looking Nightingale ; and he evidently 

 bears well in mind the old saying, " Fine feathers do not make fine birds." 



The German class of Canaries may be subdivided into three varieties, the 

 Harz-mountain, or common German, Canary, the St. Andreasberg, and the Campa- 

 nini ; the latter being a new class of birds, which has sprung into existence from 

 the continued efforts to produce a higher grade of trained singers. The Harz 

 Mountains are the home of the German song Canary ; and in this and contiguous 

 districts, as well as in Hanover, Hesse, Berlin, Thuringia, and Tyrol, this class of 

 Canaries is bred to the number of thousands annually. Owing to the immense num- 

 bers bred, the chance for voice-culture is not so great as in the case of the other 

 German varieties, when smaller numbers are raised, and greater care exercised on 

 each particular bird. To meet the immense demand for these songsters, thousands 

 are annually exported to all quarters of the globe ; and the common German Canary 

 is the best known of any class of Canaries raised. The ease with which they may 

 be bred has made them great favorites wherever introduced. The song, although 

 not so choice as the highest of his class, is sufficiently sweet to charm all except 

 those whose judgment in bird-music is most highly cultivated. 



The Harz-mountain Canaries are bred in common breeding-rooms ; and although 



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the birds do not receive the care and attention paid the higher class of song-birds, 

 and which must be given the fancy colored or shaped birds. owing to the picked 

 strains of blood and the choice markings in feathers which must be employed in 

 the latter cases, they are the most prolific of breeders, and for this purpose 

 deservedly popular with beginners in bird-raising. The natural song of the Harz 

 Canary is very pleasing, loud, and varied ; and, in addition to his own song, he 

 occasionally introduces the notes of the Nightingale, and the notes of other sweet- 

 noted songsters which abound in his native hamlets. The entire song forms a pleasing 

 combination, and no two birds' songs are alike : to be sure, the perfect rollings and 

 trills of his better-educated brothers are lacking ; but his song withal is very sweet, 

 and, until the better grades are heard, applauded as the perfection of Canary song. 

 It has been often said, that it is cruel to cage and confine Canaries. With the 

 class of people who argue in this way, I do not agree. The Canary bears to the 

 race of birds about the same relation as man to the animal family. For generations 



