210 BIRDS 



summer, when the bird loses its feathers and its voice as 

 well, extra nourishment is required. This is supplied in 

 the form of " song restorer " obtainable from all dealers. 

 These mixtures usually consist of egg cake or zwieback, 

 poppy and flax seeds, and cayenne pepper. They can easily 

 be prepared by any one who cares to take the trouble. 



Green food should be supplied freely, and so long as it is 

 fresh will benefit the bird. Frost-bitten or even wet greens 

 should never be used. Chickweed, lettuce and watercress 

 are the plants best adapted for the purpose. Sweet apple is 

 always relished by canaries. 



Water should always be cool and fresh, and should not 

 be allowed to become heated by the sun. It is important to 

 clean the receptacle daily, to remove the growth of slime 

 which gathers on the inner surface. 



Canaries, like most small birds, should bathe frequently. 

 Some will do so daily without any difficulty. Others will 

 • consistently refuse. Most birds will use any small, shal- 

 low receptacle, which may be placed in the cage. The out- 

 side bath attachment, procurable from any dealer, is a 

 convenient means, and the bird will soon learn to use it. 

 Birds which cannot be induced to bathe should be sprayed 

 frequently with tepid water in an atomizer. 



Breeding 



As already stated, practically all of the canaries for the 

 American trade are produced in Germany. England fur- 

 nishes a few Norwich and Yorkshires, but their numbers 

 are almost negligible. Canary breeding on a large scale, 

 for some obscure reason, appears never to have been at- 

 tempted in this country. A few Rollers, Norwich, York- 

 shires and Belgians are bred for exhibition purposes, but 

 the purely commercial side is entirely undeveloped. Rollers 



