THE ROLLER CANARY 245 



are either first-class performers themselves, or are from 

 a strain of very high-class reputation, and whose progeny 

 it is needful to keep an eye on. 



Many breeders of Rollers have a prejudice against 

 giving birds sand. They say it has an injurious effect 

 on their vocal powers. This is all nonsense, a mere matter 

 of fancy, as on the Continent the breeders use sand. 

 I am a strong believer in sand, and like the birds to have 

 plenty of it. When possible to obtain, there is nothing, 

 in my opinion, superior to good sea sand, and many 

 of the most successful breeders known to me are men 

 who always keep a good supply of fresh sea sand upon 

 the bottoms of their breeding cages and aviaries. One 

 advantage sea sand has over ordinary land or gravel-pit 

 sand is that it is not dusty. Next to sea sand good river 

 sand is to be preferred. 



The Feeding of Rollers. 



Both here and on the Continent those who have great 

 experience in the breeding of Rollers are firm believers 

 in the virtues of red summer rape. It is in their opinion 

 the staff of life, in the same way as the breeder of ordinary 

 exhibition canaries places his dependence on canary seed. 

 Roller breeders say it is impossible to produce birds 

 which shall be high-class performers unless rape seed is 

 the mainstay of the diet. 



It seems strange that in so small a matter as this there 

 should be trouble and much difficulty, but it is so, and rape 

 seed is one of the most largely adulterated articles which 

 the canary breeder uses. Continental breeders are more 

 practical in this respect than the majority of English 

 breeders. They know that nothing is more likely to 

 spoil a season's breeding than a change of seed, and thus 

 at the beginning of the breeding season they purchase 

 enough rape seed to last right through the season. Seed 

 thus purchased should be stored in bags in a dry place, 

 and given a good shaking about once a week. Great 

 care is needed in the selection of rape seed. Much 

 so-called summer rape is not summer rape. Red summer 

 rape should when crushed between the teeth have a 

 sweet nutty flavour ; should it be at all hot, bitter, or 

 acrid it is useless to the canary breeder. In purchasing 



