CANARIES. '29 



path, and bent part of their energies in the new direction, and studied the various 

 grades of cayenne, and modes of feeding it, until the brilliant red, almost approach- 

 ing scarlet, is as easily produced as the rich golden was before. The depth of color 

 varies with the grade of pepper fed ; and, in order to obtain the best results, only the 

 best kinds must be used. To take the common cayenne, as used for table purposes, 

 and feed it to your bird, will, to be sure, have some effect ; but the color produced 

 will pale before the scarlet of the highly fed bird. 



It has been a matter of speculation as to whether cayenne pepper, when fed 

 Canaries, would be injurious to them or not. It is well known among even the 

 most disinterested keeper of Canaries, that pepper, as an agent for the promotion of 

 health and preventive of disease, cannot be surpassed, and that the entire Canary 

 family readily eat it when prepared for them. Small quantities can, therefore, have 

 no evil effect. ;i But can the feeding be overdone ? " is a question often asked. We 

 think it can, as too much use of it is apt to endanger the healthy action of some of 

 the more delicate organs. It has been proved that birds may be as highly colored 

 on a judicious use of the food as by over-feeding. Because the bird is fond of the 

 pepper, and eats it greedily, it is no reason why he should live on it entirely, any 

 more than your child, because she sometimes craves candy, should be fed on it alone. 



To begin with, obtain only the best grade of cayenne pepper, which is imported 

 expressly by the bird-dealers for this purpose. There are various methods of 

 feeding it, but we recommend this simple plan : with one grated hard-boiled egg, 

 mix an equal quantity of grated sweet bread or German Zwieback, and add a 

 heaping teaspoonf ul of the cayenne pepper. The whole should be thoroughly mixed 

 together : then sprinkle it with a little granulated sugar, and feed as the bird appears 

 to like it or thrive on it. The above are the proportions used, but the quantity to 

 feed a certain bird must be gauged by the bird's appetite ; usually two large 

 teaspoon fufa of the mixture is sufficient for one bird per clay, but no rule can be for 

 a certainty observed in the matter : the watchful breeder will notice how his bird 

 thrives, and accordingly increase or lessen the quantity. While the feeding of the 

 cayenne mixture lasts, feed the regular seeds sparingly ; about half the usual quantity 

 being sufficient. It is, of course, understood that the cayenne mixture should be fed 

 in a separate cup from that which is used for the seeds. 



The feeding of cayenne should be commenced with the young Canaries to be 

 colored, at the age or seven or eight weeks, because it is necessary that the process 

 should begin while the feathers are in the state as described in the beginning of this 

 article ; continue feeding until the birds are thoroughly moulted ; perhaps a daily 

 dose for two weeks over the period would surely set the colors. Heat is a power- 

 ful assistant in moulting Canaries, and, when employed in the cayenne process, will 

 be found to be a great aid. The birds which have seen their first year are usually 

 put on the mixture as early as June, and the feeding continued in the same manner 

 as for young birds. 



At the head of the class of Canaries which should be bred for the production of 

 brilliant colors, stands the Norwich Canary ; for, while his beautiful golden coat 

 seems handsome enough without further polish, his color is eminently fitted to pro- 

 duce the richest results in Cayenne Canaries. Next to him stand the Lizards and 

 the London Fancy : these are also capable of taking the cayenne better than the 



