174 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The diversity is further augmented by color possibilities. All 

 canaries are either "yellow" or "buff." These are technical terms, 

 however, and are somewha:t misleading. A yellow (or jonque) canary 

 is one whose plumage is lustrous; a buff (or mealy) one is one whose 

 plumage is dull and has a frosted appearance. Cinnamon canaries with 

 pink eyes, and green and piebald canaries also, are bred, and a few 

 decades ago it Avas discovered that by feeding young canaries freely on 

 cayenne pepper the yellow could be deepened into a rich orange. The 

 combinations offered by these different characteristics are very numer- 

 ous, and when to them are added the results of hybridizing with other 

 species — goldfinch, linnet, siskin, and others — as is done for the pro- 

 duction of the much-prized "mules," unlimited possibilities seem to 

 open out before the breeder. In breeding for shape and color, singing 

 qualities are neglected, and canaries in which these are so hio-hlv 

 developed often have little left of the sweet song that was the chief 

 cause of their original domestication. 



In view of the great number of varieties that have been produced 

 and the differences in style and quality of song, and taking into con- 

 sideration also the patience, care, and skill bestowed by breeders in 

 producing and maintaining at an established standard the various 

 results of their work, it is not surprising to find great differences in 

 the prices of canaries. Ordinary male canaries may be bought for 

 $1.50 to $2 apiece at retail, and from this the prices rise, through 

 Norwich, Yorkshire, lizard, Manchester, and Belgian canaries in order, 

 and reach in the last a wholesale rate of $30 to $50 a pair. Song pro- 

 duction has not been led into bizarre channels, and that beauty of song 

 is more highly estimated than odd shape is shown by the fact that 

 one of the finest singers among the "rollers" may command as much 

 as $160. 



So far. as known, the first introduction of parrots into Europe 

 occurred in the fourth century B. C, when, it is related, one of the 

 generals of Alexander's army, returning from India, brought with 

 him specimens of the ring-necked parrakeet. These parrakeets, which 

 were called "Alexandrian parrakeets," after the monarch in whose 

 reign they were introduced, are still very popular with bird-fanciers, 

 and are so common in India that sailors continually bring them to 

 Europe and America. The}' are docile, and while slow in acquiring 

 speech, finally make excellent talkers. Roman writers inform us that 

 they were not eaten in India, but were held sacred because of their 

 ability to reproduce human speech. 



African parrots were brought to Rome in the time of Nero from 

 beyond upper Egypt, where thej' had been discovered by explorers. 

 They were highl}^ prized, both as pets and as table delicacies, by the 



