94 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



supplied, the bird reverts to its natural colour. But the 

 effect is so striking that colour-feeding is constantly prac- 

 tised, as no bird with a natural complexion has any chance 

 of winning prizes nowadays in most of the breeds. 



A good deal of alteration in the form of the Canary has 

 also been effected since it was tamed. The Chinese birds 

 commonly seen in Calcutta have departed little from the 

 wild type in shape and size. But many English birds are 

 twice as big as Chinese specimens ; birds with crests formed 

 of radiating feathers are common ; and in the Scotch and 

 Belgian Canaries, the form is very large and thin, and the 

 common position a craning or stooping one. The song 

 of the Canary is of course its great recommendation as a 

 cage-bird, as it is more melodious than that of most 

 Finches, and better sustained than that of almost any bird ; 

 and in Germany, where the song has been specially culti- 

 vated, it has been brought to great perfection, by breeding 

 from the best singers and their female relatives. 



In England, song is neglected by fanciers, size, colour, 

 etc., being the points attended to ; hence the English 

 birds, being so large and fine, have often very loud and 

 unpleasant voices. But it must be remembered that a 

 bird's song which is unpleasantly loud in the confined 

 rooms of an English house, would not be at all out of 

 place in one of our bungalows. 



The Chinese birds commonly to be had in India have 

 nice soft voices, as have also the Maltese. As the cock 

 and hen Canary are almost exactly alike, the only way to 

 get a cock bird, if you are not sure of the seller, is simply 

 to insist on hearing a bird sing, and to make sure you get 



