KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



291 



BIBDS OF SONG. 



Give me but 

 Something whereunto I may bind my heart, 

 Something to love, to rest upon, — to clasp 

 Affection's tendrils round. Mrs. Hemans. 



No. IX.— CAGE BIRDS.— THE CANARY. 



Never put up A pair of turned-crown, 

 or tufted birds, to breed from. The off- 

 spring of such a pair would most probably 

 be born bald ; or, at all events, partially so ; 

 besides being in other respects deformed. 



Also, be careful never to buy your birds of 

 men and boys in the streets. We will tell 

 you why. These individuals — a large num- 

 ber — are one and all in the pay of the Lon- 

 don bird-dealers, who sell them, for a 

 bagatelle, their refuse stock. They never, by 

 any chance, are possessed of a bird of the 

 slightest value ; the whole lot consisting of 

 old hens, and other unsaleable fry. A song 

 bird they know nothing about ; they never, 

 in the whole course of their lives, had in 

 their possession such a rarity. If our readers 

 be wise, they will treasure up this knowledge. 

 We vouch for the truth of our remark. 



Another caution we must here put forth. 

 The London bird-dealers are aware that the 

 public have a morbid fancy for what are 

 called " German canaries." These latter, be 

 it known, are imported in very small wicker 

 cribs, allowing the birds scarce space sufficient 

 to turn round. They are then permitted to 

 see each other in every direction. The ex- 

 citement produced thereby, naturally makes 

 them, for a season, stout in song. The 

 German canaries — the real ones — being ex- 

 pensive, loads of these " German " wicker 

 cribs, like loads of our " fine crusted Old 

 Port," are " manufactured '' here — in Lon- 

 don ! Norwich and Yorkshire canaries are 

 then put into them; and when labelled 

 " German canaries in full song, just im- 

 ported," John Bull, 'hearing them sing,' 

 swallows the bait, buys them, and innocently 

 believes them — German ! There are, be it 

 observed, very few London dealers in first- 

 rate German canaries ; and to deal with 

 these, you had indeed need to " rise early ! " 

 ' Cavendo tiitus ' must be your watchword, 

 the moment you enter their doors ! 



All birds of a uniform color, when paired 

 together, produce their exact counterpart. 

 In order however to secure an infinite 

 variety of colors, to which, in the canary, 

 there can be no objection — if a male grey be 

 united to a mealy hen, or vice versa, the issue 

 will be more handsomely marked than their 

 parents. By carrying out this principle, 

 which we cordially recommend to all who 

 can give their time to it, results may be pro- 

 duced of a truly interesting character. Birds 

 of every shade, and every tint, may be 



reared ; in fact, such combinations are in- 

 exhaustible. 



The lizard canary is a beautifully-marked 

 bird, and forms a striking variety amongst 

 others. It resembles the fancy birds, inas- 

 much as it has a clean yellow cap, with the 

 back and breast richly spangled with black 

 and green. It is called " lizard," from its 

 closely resembling the color, and having the 

 marks of that reptile. They may be reared 

 from a pair of very strong fancy birds, put 

 up in a breeding cage. 



We will now proceed to the subject of 

 " breeding " canaries ; and speak first of those 

 bred in a Room ; the treatment of these and 

 those bred in a Cage will be found somewhat 

 different. 



As it would hardly be worth while to rear 

 canaries a pair or two at a time, it will be 

 desirable to select a good-sized room, as 

 nearly square as possible. In fitting it up, 

 many hints may be taken from our earlier 

 directions for the arrangement of an aviary.* 



It is indispensable that the aspect be 

 suitable, and that the morning sun be freely 

 admitted through the windows. This is a 

 comfort which canaries, in particular, highly 

 prize. It keeps them lively, cheerful, and 

 in good health. The windows should be 

 made to open, so as to admit the air, and 

 keep the apartment sweet. To prevent the 

 birds escaping, galvanised wire-work, closely 

 meshed, should be fastened over each window. 

 Let the floor be kept thoroughly clean, and 

 nicely gravelled. This is at all times de- 

 sirable ; but in a breeding room it is more 

 particularly so — for many obvious reasons. 



In arranging your nest-boxes, which 

 should be of mahogany, place them — some 

 moderately low, and others in a more elevated 

 position. Many birds are shy and cautious 

 when building, and like to be free from ob- 

 servation. Those which are more familiar 

 prefer making their nest nearer the centre of 

 the wall. 



The materials for building, or "nest-bags," 

 are sold by the dealers ; but they are not fit 

 for use until they have been thoroughly 

 scalded in clean, boiling water. Previously 

 to their being submitted to this operation, 

 they should be well shaken, to rid them 

 of dry dust and dirt. The main object of 

 the boiling water is, . to destroy the hosts 

 of vermin which, inhabit these nest-bags, 

 as if by a prescriptive right. No other 

 process will annihilate them. As birds, 

 like the human race, are subject to oc- 

 casional vagaries, whims, and fancies, let 

 the number of your nest-boxes be just 

 double the number of your birds ; and 

 place them in all corners of the room, so 



* These articles on the " Aviary," &c, will be 

 re-printed in due course.— Ed. K. J. 



