14 farmers' bulletin 170. 



that it is the actual red of the pepper and not the spicy element that 

 causes the enriched color. Care should be taken to see that the supply 

 of ground sweet pepper used is fresh and clean and that it is not 

 artificially colored. Bathing must not be permitted more often 

 than once a week, and the birds should be disturbed as little as 

 possible. With proper care there will be little trouble in producing 

 fine, healthy birds with a rich, highly colored plumage. This en- 

 hanced color lasts only during the continuance of this growth of 

 feathers, and if color feeding is not resorted to at the next molt the 

 canary will again be plain. 



BREEDING. 



The breeding season for canaries begins properly in March. 

 Though birds often show signs of its approach as early as January, 

 it is better, because of the effect of changing weather conditions upon 

 callow young, to postpone nesting activities until later, if possible. 

 Some canary fanciers keep canaries paired throughout the year, but 

 the more common practice is to separate the sexes except when breed- 

 ing. The beginning of the mating season is marked by ringing, vig- 

 orous song among male birds, accompanied by much restless activit3\ 

 Females, indifferent until now, respond with loud call notes and 

 otherwise evince their interest. Birds may be paired without these 

 preliminary signs, but usualh^ this tends only to lengthen the breed- 

 ing season without material benefit. The instinct to breed may be 

 stimulated when necessary by the addition of egg food and green 

 stuff to the diet. 



Canaries in captivity are polygamous when opportunity offers, 

 and many breeders place two or even three females with each male. 

 It is usually considered better, however, to keep them in pairs, as 

 they are more readily handled, and when the young are hatched 

 the male is able to assist in caring for them. Where two females 

 are kept with one male the birds should be placed in a cage divided 

 by slides into three compartments. The male is j)laced in the middle, 

 and a female on either side. During half the clay the male is thrown 

 with one female, and during the remainder with the other. This 

 arrangement necessitates the use of three sets of seed and water cups 

 in each cage. When the females begin to incubate the male is re- 

 moved or excluded from both. 



A cage suitable for one pair of canaries should be equipped with 

 a sliding wire partition. The male and the female are placed one in 

 either compartment and the two left to make acquaintance. The 

 male will begin to feed the female through the wires in a day or two, 

 or perhaps at once, and when this is observed the slide may be with- 

 drawn and the birds kept together. If a cage is used that has no 

 slide there is usually some bickering between the birds at first, but 



