294 C.4XARJES AXD CaGE-BiRDS. 



a temperature averaging say 60", many should perish of bronchitis and consumption. Dr. Karl 

 Russ — the great German authority on all cage-birds — has again and again commented on this 

 evil, and urged breeders to reduce the temperature of their bird-rooms, at all events after 

 moulting ; but hitherto his remonstrances have had little effect. Long before death ensues, 

 partial or total loss of voice is of course experienced ; and from this reasbn there is no doubt many 

 persons have never had a good idea of what the song of a trained Canary really is — it has been 

 already lost when they purchased the bird. It will be seen how important it is, in any case, to 

 very gradually accustom a German Canary to our colder climate, and above all to keep it from 

 draughts and variations of temperature. On the contrary, most people make the matter even 

 worse, by hanging their bird high up, in or near a window. The neighbourhood of the window 

 causes draught and cold ; and in the evening, on the other hand, the hot burnt gas of the room 

 causes an atmosphere almost insupportable. The very owner could not support it, as he or she 

 will find if the head be kept for a few minutes close to the cage after the gas has been lit for 

 some hours : how much less can the wretched Canary, reared in a warm but uniformly heated 

 room. The poor bird does not stand it, but speedily dies ; and moreover an open window is 

 the very worst place that can be chosen to preserve the beauty of the song, as the birds have 

 always been accustomed to be kept covered up or in the dark. Once again, the food is radically 

 changed. The Germans depend chiefly on their summer rape-seed, as it is called ; and are very 

 particular in selecting certain mild qualities grown in particular districts, and not too old. The 

 hens are almost confined to this ; the cocks have, in addition, some bread-crumbs and &^^. 

 English purchasers, if they give rape at all, generally give common bitter seed, which spoils the 

 voice ; but very often they substitute the usual canary and hemp seed, and add sugar and 

 cake, which Germans consider spoils the voice. Once more, the Song Canary requires the 

 stimulus of competition, which should be with birds that sing the same strains. Unless they 

 have this, all but a few very old birds gradually forget what they have learnt, and degenerate 

 into ordinary singing-birds. 



We have explained these matters, because the Canary song, in perfection, is a thing never 

 to be forgotten, and not one in a thousand has ever heard it, for the reasons given. There is no 

 doubt that birds could be trained in England as well as in the Harz districts ; but there are 

 at present not the materials. On the average, the English have not, to begin with, such a 

 musical ear as the Germans ; but chiefly, most of them have never even heard — much less 

 possessed in perfection — the really best birds. Those they think so much of are at best only 

 second-rate ones ; and only now and then, when a German allows his friends to hear such as he 

 has selected in his own country for his own private enjoyment, and preserved in perfection by 

 German treatment, can the best German song be estimated correctly. 



For the following remarks upon Song Canaries in England, we are indebted to Mr. W. Evans, 

 of Manchester : — 



" The first portion of these remarks are addressed to such as purchase a single bird for its 

 song, knowing little more about it than that it requires seed and water. It is, perhaps, the 

 latter end of November, and some thousands of German birds have been imported into this 

 country, and have been spread over London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, and 

 other large towns. The purchaser calls upon a dealer, and selects one out of a number that are 

 placed before him in small wooden cages with seed and water inside ; and most likely the dealer 

 sells another cage to keep the bird in upon arrival at its new home. There is joy in the household; 

 and when it carols forth it'i song, it is universally admitted that there never was such a singer before. 



