CHAPTER I 



CANARY KEEPING AS A HOBBY 



No one can say when the keeping of Canaries first became 

 a hobby, but this much we do know, that for over 400 

 years it has been known in this country. More we know 

 that it is a hobby which has been followed by all sorts 

 and conditions of men and women. Royalty in the 

 palace, and the humble labourer in his cottage have all 

 been brought under its sway and influence. 



The Canary is said to have been brought to Europe 

 over 500 years ago by a Spanish Admiral, who brought 

 some birds from the Canary Islands to Cadiz. From 

 Spain to Italy, and so in succession it spread to Switzer- 

 land, Germany, France and England. So far as records 

 can tell us it was in the Hartz Mountains of Germany 

 that the systematic breeding and rearing of Canaries for 

 song was first established, hence the Hartz Mountain 

 Rollers, which have so long been held in high repute. 

 But to-day other parts of Germany produce more than 

 do the Hartz Mountains. 



Olden Time Varieties. 



When first brought to Europe the canary was a small 

 greenish-brown finch, and the many varieties we have 

 now have come from sports which have been experimented 

 with, and their individual characteristics fastened by 

 selective breeding. When this first took place we cannot 

 tell, but Hervieux, writing over 200 years ago, mentions 

 no less than twenty-nine different varieties. Amongst 

 them " white," " blonde," " agate," " isabelle," " varie- 

 gated," " crested." From this it will be seen that the 

 white canary which created such a sensation at the 

 Crystal Palace some fifteen years ago was by no means 

 the first of its kind. 



