C AX ARIES. 31 



If he produces a nest of yellow Canaries, he is satisfied. Our fanciers' indiffer- 

 ence in regard to the stock bred from, no doubt largely arises from not understand- 

 ing how much better a good breed of birds is than a poor breed. While it is true 

 that many bird-fanciers of England, Germany, and other bird-producing countries, 

 when settling in America, bring with them their love for breeding Canaries, they 

 find so little enthusiastic competition, and so few admirers of what a fine bird should 

 be, that they gradually drop the hobby. 



It certainly gives one pleasure to be able to point to a choice songster, and say 

 that he was bred and reared by one's own hands ; but, when praised and flattered by 

 some well-meaning friend into making a present of the pet, the fun is found to be 

 less paying than ever. 



There is a class of enthusiastic breeders in some parts of the country, whose num- 

 bers can be very easily counted, who pay the greatest attention to the Belgian 

 breed of Canaries. These fanciers breed from the finest stock possible to obtain. 

 Herein is the great secret of success in all branches of bird-breeding. These fan- 

 ciers really succeed in producing birds of as good shape and position as the purely 

 imported article. When this is the case, the breeder easily obtains a paying mar- 

 ket for his stock. This seems to be the only class of birds to which any attention at 

 all has been given. The importation of the finely colored Canaries, and highest 

 class of songsters, commenced at a comparatively recent date ; but, if their breed- 

 ing here is taken up with the same enthusiasm that the amateur breeders of England 

 exhibit, there is no reason why good birds should not be bred with profit as well as 

 pleasure. The finest stock can be easily obtained ; and, when the facilities of 

 importing are so great, if one does not see the best, he can easily order just what 

 is wanted. To be sure, an article branded with a foreign stamp has a certain 

 superior value in some people's eyes over the home-manufactured goods ; but, if 

 some of the energy always displayed by the genuine Yankee is devoted to bird- 

 breeding, it is safe to say, that it would be but a matter of very few years before 

 he could enter into successful competition with the best stock in Europe. 



The usual breeds of American Canaries, as now seen, have no fixed length, shape, 

 color, or song. The birds are a kind of combination, which cannot be explained. 

 As before mentioned, the main idea here seems to be to get a Canary ; and, a 

 Canary once obtained, the breeder is satisfied. These American Canaries, when 

 offered for sale in the shops of importers, find no sale at a remunerative price ; as 

 they bear no comparison to the fine-voiced Germans, or to the elegant colors and 

 shape of the English and fancy breeds. 



The one recommendation to which the American Canary may lay claim is, that, 

 as a rule, he is an exceedingly hardy bird : this hardiness is due to the climate. 

 Birds reared from the choicest imported parentage also quickly become acclimated, 

 and sickness is very rare among them. 



In conclusion, we would, recommend the breeder of Canaries to begin and con- 

 tinue with only the best stock, and he will then be sure of rearing fine birds : thus 

 the laughter which his efforts have heretofore provoked will quickly cease if only 

 the most common rules and proper care are observed. 



Is there any exception to the proverb, " Like produces like " ? 



