Our  Canaries  369 
their  tutors  watch  them  carefully,  and  be  always  on  the  qui  vive  for  harsh,  faulty 
notes  in  order  to  remove  the  culprits  if  necessary  before  they  corrupt  the  song  of 
their  companions.  Birds  that  show  promise  of  being  soft,  steady  performers 
should  be  placed  nearest  the  tutors,  and  those  which  show  a  tendency  to  sing  loudly 
farthest  away,  where  the  song  of  the  tutors  will  reach  them  in  a  more  subdued 
tone.  Blinds  should  be  kept  before  the  windows  to  subdue  the  light  in  the  room ; 
this  helps  to  make  the  birds  more  steady  and  restful,  and  enables  them  to 
concentrate  their  attention  on  the  tutors  singing.  Light  linen  covers  may  also 
have  to  be  hung  before  the  cages  to  prevent  the  youngsters  becoming  too  loud  or 
fast  as  they  get  in  full  song,  and  when  this  does  not  produce  the  desired  effect 
the  birds  must  be  more  closely  covered  or  placed  in  closed  song-boxes  until  well 
established  in  song.  During  all  this  period  of  training  it  is  essential  to  keep  them 
under  the  closest  observation,  and  remove  from  the  room  at  once  any  bird  which 
develops  and  persists  in  a  decidedly  faulty  note,  and  also  incorrigibly  loud 
singers  whose  notes  cannot  be  sufficiently  subdued  by  covering  or  keeping  the 
cage  in  a  closed  song-box.  In  most  cases  the  latter  object  may  be  fully  achieved, 
but  as  the  bird  must  be  kept  closed  up  most  of  its  time  it  should  be  removed  and 
relegated  to  the  class  of  inferior  performers,  thus  leaving  the  best  and  most  fault- 
less birds  to  continue  their  education  under  the  most  favourable  conditions. 
When  producing:cros8-breds  "  the  Roller  hen  should  be  left  to  hatch  and 
rear  her  young  alone.   .   .   .  " 
