20 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



gradually learns the meaning of the scratch or tap given as a signal for him to 

 assume his best position ; and when given too often, without a reason, his inclina- 

 tion to obey is likely to cease. Some writers claim that training, as well as high- 

 breeding, has much to do with perfect position ; but this statement is open to 

 adverse criticism. The breeder, when entering the room to show off his best birds, 

 gently lifts the cage by the bottom with one hand, and taps or scratches with the 

 other the bottom of the cage : and, at this signal, the bird's appearance is changed ; 

 he grasps the perch with a firmer grip, and throws himself upward as though he 

 would push his shoulders out of joint ; he moves from side to side, heaving with 

 excitement ; and sometimes, in his endeavor to get in the best form, he appears to 

 lose his balance, and the tail sweeps under the perch until he resembles three sides 

 of a square. These actions and this shape are the best evidence of his perfect train- 

 ing. It is said that a Belgian breeder had to invest all his spare money in wooden 

 shoes, he wore so many pairs out shuffling his feet on the floor of the breeding- 

 room while training his young birds. The breeding-coops for the Long birds are as 

 varied as they are numerous, and exhibit different degrees of cleanliness. Some 

 of the breeding-places are kept scrupulously clean and neat, while others are like 

 miniature pig-sties ; yet the latter, in many cases, seem to turn out as good birds 

 as the former, which goes to disprove the idea that the Belgian is not a hardy bird. 

 I would not, however, recommend trying the experiment of breeding Canaries on 

 the pig-pen plan ; because Canaries are not apt to thrive like swine. 



The full-blooded bird is sensitive and nervous, and, therefore, easily excited ; 

 but, if kept properly and quietly, he makes as desirable a cage-bird as can be found. 

 A Belgian breeder would as soon think of putting his hand in the fire as of catch- 

 ing a thorough-bred Canary. The birds are never handled, but, when changed 

 from cage to cage, are guided from one to the other by means of a stick, which 

 they obey as readily as a trained horse does the whip. The slightest unusual object 

 is the cause of exciting a bird of this class to an astonishing degree. A visitor, 

 when entering a Canary- room, should remove his tall silk hat ; as it is apt to put the 

 birds in a flutter of excitement. It is even stated that an irate Dutch breeder 

 "dropped" one of these hats over the wearer's ear because of the craze it pro- 

 duced among his pets. A red smoking-cap has thrown a first-class bird into fits, 

 from which he never recovered. This class of birds, as may be supposed, is rarely 

 seen outside of the country in which they are bred and reared, because of the value 

 attached to them for breeding and exhibition purposes. It is not for the money 

 value of any prize he may take in competition that a Dutch breeder seeks, but the 

 honor attached : for a prize won gives his club additional fame ; and this means to 

 him, later on, value in a commercial sense when he wishes to dispose of his birds. 

 It is this very club-strife for the highest standard which has brought out the per- 

 fect breeding ; each member being determined to outdo every other in the club, and 

 each club endeavoring to excel every other club. 



When the young birds are hatched, the perch should be a few inches higher than 

 the nest; as, by the formation of the bird, it is much easier for the female of 

 this breed to feed the young brood from an elevation than on a level. It is also 

 well to have the perch raised from the seed and water cups in the same manner. 

 The young birds are given about the same food as any other breed of Canary. The 



