266 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



A NoRwini CanvVRY avith Gray Hood 



a canary on a ]5erch will show. These perches 

 should be easily removable and should be taken 

 out often and cleaned or seeds, husks, and all 

 sorts of dirt will collect upon them and will 

 therefore become wedged be- 

 tween the toes of the bird, 

 which finally ]:)i-efers the bot- 

 tom of the cage to the [lerch 

 which his owner does not 

 clean, and the latter then sup- 

 poses that the bird is ill ! 



As to the accessoi'ies, — 

 seedboxes, water troughs, 

 bath tubs, nests, etc., — the)' 

 come in great \-ariet\-. The 

 essential thing is that they be 

 convenient to use with safety 

 and easily kept clean. Cages 

 have a great influence on a 

 tine song bird. The canaries 

 of the Ilartz Mountains will 



trill their highest notes in their little tra\'el- 

 ing cages, while they often lose their charm 

 in a more luxuri(nis home. Some breeders 

 and dealers make use of specially con- 

 structed cages to induce their birds to sing; 

 occasionally the birds are kept entirely in 

 the shade to correct a shrill or piercing note. 



III. The Song of Birds 



This song is the subject of serious study 

 to breeders, for the song of a young canary 

 of good origin can be improved and per- 

 fected. It is interesting to see the results 

 obtained by the Hartz breeders. 



There is much diversity of taste among 

 the purchasers of birds. Some desire a loud 

 song, with long trills and high notes ; others 

 prefer soft warbling, clear crystalline rou- 

 lades, and flutelike tones. There are certain 

 faults, howe\'er, that all dislike ; as, for in- 

 stance, when the bird suddenly interrupts 

 a beautiful roulade by uttering a short, 

 brusc|ue chap-chap or tsi-tsi. To correct 

 such faults and to improve the song of the 

 canary, adapting it to the taste of the day, 

 is not an easy task for the breeder ; but 

 the breeding and training of singing canaries 

 will always remain a source of great revenue. 

 Thousands are exported annuall)' from IVIount 

 Saint-Andre alone (in the Hartz Mountains), 

 bi'inging in a revenue of from seventy-five to 



YoL'XG Tiiiu'siM'; 



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