386 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



however, soon wore out. The White or Piebald Maiiakin has been bred in small cages through 

 so many generations that very few of the original habits and manners of their ancestors remain. 

 The first specimen I saw and possessed was believed by mc to be partially blind, for the bird 

 would allow me to handle him without stirring from his perch, and was peculiarly indilierent 

 to the doings of the other small Finches which inhabited the same cage. He would allow any 

 one of them to drive him from his chosen perch or from the food-dishes, and did not live 

 long. Since then I discovered that what seemed partial blindness was only helplessness. Sub- 

 sequently acquired Piebald Manakins I allowed to fly in a large aviary, but there they were 

 completely bewildered. Through being bred by the Japanese in miniature cages, the im- 

 ported White and Piebald Manakins seem to be almost unable to fly, and consequently 

 they are nearly as helpless in a large aviary as a young bird just leaving the nest. They 

 tumble into the water, or hide in corners, or get into all sorts of scrapes. It is therefore 

 advisable to keep these birds, if not always, certainly for some time, in a roomy cage by 

 themselves, and then they may please their owner by their docility and tameness. 



They will readily build a sort of nest out of any suitable material in any nest-box or 

 other receptacle, and they will, under favourable circumstances, prove wonderfully prolific. 

 The male bird is amusing, for he will take a piece of fibre in his bill and execute a peculiar 

 sort of dance to please his sweetheart, whilst trying hard to sing a scarcely audible song. 

 When several Japanese Manakins are kept in one cage they will all sit at night, and a good 

 part of the day, packed in one nest-box nearly as close as sardines are laid in a tin. 

 Breeding, when several pairs use the same nest as a dormitory, is of course impossible. In 

 an aviaiy these birds are apt to creep into other birds' nests, and thereby to destroy young 

 broods. It is therefore advisable to keep each pair of Japanese Manakins in a cage by 

 themselves. If they once begin to breed they will produce a very numerous progeny, and 

 the young will breed again when four to six months old. 



For nest-building these birds will avail themselves of any material and of any sheltered 

 spot. To rear the young brood, millet and maw seed, both soaked in hot water and strained, 

 should be given, besides either soaked or fresh ants' eggs and egg-food. 



If the birds are stimulated too much they are apt to degenerate in this way : the old birds 

 will build nest after nest, and lay eggs without number, not caring for the trouble of hatching them 

 regularly, but sitting in the nests only for pleasure, and as many hours as it pleases them. A 

 young bird bred by chance will inherit this undesirable habit, and the stock will become unfit 

 for breeding purposes. The best way to breed is to place one pair only of White Manakins 

 in a London canary breeding-cage, without nest-boxes or nesting materials, and feed them 

 on millet and canary seed, with plenty of green food — that is, chickweed and grass-flower. 

 When the birds are in as perfect plumage and condition as they can be, and when the 

 weather is genial and warm, then begin by feeding them with egg-food, ants' eggs, fresh or 

 dried and soaked, &c., and give them a nest-box and nesting materials. If the hen-bird 

 should then prove one of those restless egg-layers, deficient in the natural instinct of sitting 

 on and hatching the eggs, the best way is to get rid of her. There is not much difficulty 

 in obtaining another female, and a hen-bird which will prove a good sitter and a good mother 

 will surely be found if patiently looked for. 



Thousands of these birds are nov/ bred annually in Europe, and it is certain that, 

 through being kept in larger cages and not being over-stimulated, a more bird-like bird than 

 the imported Japanese Manakin will be produced. It should be stated that in the same nest 

 may be found pure white and piebalds of various bluides. The young should be removed 



