CANARIES. 21 



hard-boiled egg is made into a paste by being mixed with pulverized cracker moist- 

 ened with water. One enthusiastic breeder always chewed the egg and cracker, 

 and fed the young birds himself in addition to the feeding they received from the 

 mother. He was fond of strong liquor, and was an inveterate smoker, but, for the 

 space of five months, abstained from the use of intoxicating drinks and tobacco ; so 

 that the saliva, mixed with the cracker and egg, would not injure the young birds. 

 The Canaries he raised were never dissipated. 



It has been mentioned that the Belgian breeder pays no attention to color in 

 breeding. Color is of no importance to him as long as he can breed the coveted 

 style. The birds are usually of a yellow, or mealy, color ; and only a few are 

 mottled. All the ordinary colors might be obtained with the best shape ; and if the 

 Knglish breeders would only take hold of these Canaries, and breed for color, a 

 grand class would be produced. 



A unique style of travelling-cage, used for the Belgian Canary, may be 

 mentioned here ; and it would be well to adopt it when it 'is found necessary to 

 carry a bird from one city to another. It is made of a round board, about eight 

 inches in diameter, to which is tacked a small cloth, or duck bag with the bottom 

 cut out, and fastened at the top by means of draw-strings. Air-holes are cut 

 in the sides of the cloth. This cage may be laid down or hung up without any 

 injury to the bird. 



The Dutch exhibition-cage is always the same, cone-shaped, open on all four 

 sides, and raised, on four legs, about three feet from the floor. By the use of this 

 cage, the bird is not unduly excited when he is to be exhibited for position ; as it may 

 be raised without catching hold by the top. 



The three-quarter and half breed Belgians are birds which have been exten- 

 sively exported, and are in great demand among American bird-fanciers. They 

 combine much of the beauty of the full-blooded Belgian and the song of the Ger- 

 man, and make a most desirable cage-bird. They were originally produced by 

 mating a thorough-bred Long bird with a large-sized song Canary, the progeny being 

 called three-quarter breed birds. A pair of three-quarter breed birds mated 

 produce the half-breed. Although not so handsome as the three-quarter-bred, the 

 Half-long birds are large and fine-looking, and, in many cases, most excellent song- 

 sters. Americans are not as well posted in the fine points of bird-breeding as the 

 scientific fanciers of Europe. With us bird-breeding is comparatively a new matter, 

 while in Europe they have been breeding the Canary for at least two hundred years. 

 We do not produce as good birds, because we do not start with the best stock. 

 Genuine first-class Canaries of any specie may always be imported in their seasons, 

 and may be as easily bred here as in their native countries. Should an American 

 fancier wish to breed the best full-blooded or three-quarter birds, he can always 

 procure the proper stock, and will be satisfied with the perfection attained from 

 birds of his own mating. 



Colors may be produced as easily as style and size ; and, where one has the three 

 qualities, the breeding may be called scientific. 



The Belgian Canaries, of all classes, are bought in large numbers by the English 

 dealers, who separate the birds into the different grades after arriving in England. 

 The best grade brings high prices for breeding purposes, and the rest are sold 

 for collections. 



