THE SCOTS FANCY 151 



to travel from perch to perch. This must be done very 

 carefully and gently. Having run the birds into the 

 show cages, place them on a table, or hang them on the 

 wall of the bird room, so that they may settle down 

 quietly before you commence to handle them. When 

 they have become accustomed to the cages, pick them up 

 one after the other, and talk to them. Be careful not to 

 fluster or frighten them in any way, because once you 

 destroy a bird's confidence and make it fearful you have 

 practically destroyed its chance as a show bird. The 

 more nerve a bird possesses the more likely it is to be 

 frightened. 



Having gained the confidence of a bird move the cage 

 from hand to hand and turn it about at the same time 

 slightly scratching the bottom with your finger nails. The 

 next day repeat these movements, also hold the cage in 

 one hand, and with a pencil or thin stick endeavour 

 to get the bird to jump from perch to perch. Some birds 

 seem to know instinctively what is required of them, 

 and will leap rapidly from perch to perch without any 

 trouble ; if they do not the stick must be inserted between 

 the wires of the cage and the bird coaxed to " travel." 

 Once a good bird has learnt its lesson properly it never 

 seems to forget. A properly trained bird well repays 

 the time and trouble spent in its education. Judges 

 have not the time to waste on getting "slugs," as slow- 

 moving birds are styled, into action, and a bird that pulls 

 itself into position, " travels " quickly, and shows its 

 nerve stands far more chance of securing the winning 

 ticket than one that has to be coaxed and coaxed. 

 A well-trained bird immediately a judge picks it up begins 

 to pull itself together. It thrusts out its head and neck, 

 showing " drive," it pulls away from its perch and lifts 

 its shoulders, raising them as high as possible, brings its 

 tail swiftly down under the perch, then looks all round 

 in a quick nervous manner, and commences to " travel " 

 Of such are winners made. 



