CANARIES. 35 



times in succession, to hear the exact imitation which the bird produces : his 

 natural, sharp call-note enables him to repeat this word with probably greater ease 

 and distinctness than any other which could be given ; but, when once able to call 

 his own name, he is easier fitted for more advanced training in this direction. 

 Short, sharp words of the above description are more easily mastered by him than 

 others, owing to the high squeak of his voice. A lady is the best trainer for a 

 Canary, as she can naturally pitch her voice at about the desired key. In London 

 a lady gained quite a notoriety, and considerable money, by attending to this branch 

 of training. Young Canaries, just beginning to sing, are the best for this purpose. 



DISEASES OF CANARIES. 



Most authors, writing on Canaries, start with the subject of sicknesses and dis- 

 eases. They commence with a sick bird, and end with a healthy one. I think it 

 much the better plan to commence at the opposite end, and, believing your bird to be 

 a healthy one, trust that he will continue so ; but if, from any cause, sickness attacks 

 him, it is well to know what to do. First, in becoming owner of a bird, find out as 

 nearly as possible just how your bird has been brought up, and continue bringing 

 him up in the same manner. In the numerous chapters devoted to special breeds of 

 Canaries, it may be noticed that the degrees of temperature to which they were 

 accustomed varied almost as much as the breeds of birds themselves ; ranging from 

 the hardy English birds, some of which endure the cold as well as poultry, to the 

 very warm class, bred in the hottest of rooms. Take an English bird, and change 

 him to the hot temperature to which the bird of the other class has been accus- 

 tomed, and the difference would be as marked as that of dropping a newly imported 

 Esquimau in the vicinity of the equator. To be sure, a bird may become grad- 

 ually accustomed to the change ; and it is during the process of acclimating him 

 that great care must be exercised. An ounce of prevention, etc., most aptly 

 applies to the Canary race ; and as the bird is naturally a hardy fellow, even in the 

 breeds brought up in high temperatures, the diseases should be few if common care 

 is given. 



A few hints will be given here, which have been omitted in some of the articles 

 devoted to " Food and Care." 



It is unnecessary to repeat here the precaution of absolute cleanliness ; I pre- 

 sume every lover of birds has grown heartily sick of looking at this piece of 

 advice, and hearing it repeated : but to keep your bird's food, water, and cage clean, 

 is to insure his health ; to neglect them, is the sure means of bringing on disease. 

 The length of time which a disease of some sort may be warded off, is gauged only 

 by the vigor of the bird's nature. The selection of the proper cages, with proper 

 feed and water cups, is also essential. The cups should be so arranged as to be 

 easy of access for the bird's head ; and the bathing-dish should be shallow, and 

 large enough to prevent the bird from injuring his plumage in his vigorous plunges. 

 A bath-dish which is too deep is apt to make the unlucky bird-owner think he is the 

 possessor of a race of suicides, from the number of floating dead which will be the 

 result of such negligence. This will particularly be the case when young Canaries 

 attempt to bathe in dishes too deep for the purpose. 



