Mawagemknt of Soxg Canaries. 2Qj-] 



been bred by the same breeder and trained together. If he can get a hen or two whose cage bears 

 the same mark, he has got hold probably of one strain, and is pretty sure to do well if it is a good 

 one. Others select the hens first, asking for those of known breeders, and then seeking for one or 

 more cocks whose cages bear the same mark. All the cocks whose song is good are then bred 

 from, except one or two of the very best, which are used as tutors for the young ones, only birds 

 of the same song being allowed in one room. A separate room should always, if possible, be 

 provided for teaching the young birds, which may be hung up close together, but must be entirely 

 prevented from seeing one another, which distracts their attention. It is very necessary to prevent 

 a young one hearing any one but the tutor-bird, as bad notes may be picked up in a single day 

 sufficient to spoil the finest song. 



The tutors are only allowed to sing for a few hours every day, being covered up the rest of the 

 time, which preserves their song. An hour at morning, mid-day, and evening is a good plan. 

 When the young ones are caged off, they too should be gradually accustomed to be darkened, after 

 which they should be uncovered for a short time every day while the tutor is singing. It is 

 impossible to get a really good song in any other way, the great secret being that the bird is not 

 allowed time to pick up rubbish ; but even as it is, some of the birds will acquire bad notes, and 

 all such should be drafted off before they can corrupt the others. 



German Canaries can be readily taught to sing any wild bird's note, such as that of the 

 Nightingale, by allowing the bird whose song is desired to be the only tutor. To some persons the 

 song of the Nightingale from a Canary is very attractive ; but German breeders care very little for 

 this class of song, preferring what deserves to be called a really musical performance. There is little 

 doubt that they employ in teaching, besides Canary tutors, the notes of a flute or flageolet. 



On the whole, we should advise any who attempt the systematic breeding of German Song 

 Canaries to adopt the German plan of feeding, using as the staple the best fresh German summer 

 rape-seed, and avoiding sugar and rich food. Twice a week it is well to give a little stale bread 

 sopped in water and squeezed dry, and now and then — say once a week — a little hard-boiled egg 

 mixed with bread-crumb or crushed biscuit, dividing each egg and an equal quantity of bread 

 among a dozen birds. The water must always be fresh, and a piece of cuttle-fish bone should be 

 hung in the cage. In the breeding season the egg-food may be given more freely — say twice a 

 day — and canary-seed, also rape-seed soaked in water, and green food — in fact, treating them very 

 much as Canaries in general at that time ; but the young ones should be gradually weaned to the 

 rape, which long experience has proved to suit their song better than any other food. Temporary 

 loss of voice may be treated as directed in the last chapter, and any huskiness by a little honey 

 in the water. 



In Lancashire there are evidences of a growing interest in Canary-singing; but most of the 

 contests reported appear to be for quantity rather than quality of song. Various systems of deciding 

 the prizes have been employed. From various reports in the Live Stock Journal — many of them 

 supplied by Mr. Evans — we gather a few of the methods which have been employed. At one 

 contest each bird was allowed six minutes, and one point counted for every ten seconds a bird sang 

 without a break. The winner scored eighteen points. At other contests five minutes and ten 

 minutes were allowed, a point for every ten seconds of consecutive singing being allowed as before ; 

 while at others a bird has been allowed one point for every second over six seconds in each 

 burst during the prescribed time. We are glad to know that this kind of contest is gradually 

 giving place to a more careful cultivation of the quality of the song, and trust that before long 

 England may be able to approach, if not equal Germany, in the quality of her Song Canaries. 



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