CHAPTER II. 
CAGE BIRDS. 
BREEDING CANARIES. — THE MOCKING BIRD. — THE BULLFINCH. — THE CARDINAL 
GROSBEAK, OR RED BIRD— THE LINNET.— THE BLUE BIRD.— THE NIGHT- 
INGALE.— THE STARLING.— THE THRUSH.— THE BLACK BIRD.— RING DOVES. 
PARROTS. 
The Canary. 
Sometime ab'out the fourteenth century, a merchant ship, sailing 
from the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, was wrecked on the 
coast of Italy. It had on board a few song birds, natives of the isjands, 
which soon made new homes for themselves on the wooded shores. 
Their sweet songs attracted the natives, who soon captured them all. 
From Italy these birds, called canaries, from the islands whence they 
came, were transported to France and Germany. . The Germans soon 
proved themselves especially expert in breeding them, and to-day they 
are sent from Germany over the entire globe. It is estimated that about 
one hundred thousand canaries are annually imported into America, 
and probably no other bird has brought so much pleasure into the 
homes of both rich and poor. There are about fifty varieties of this 
little songster, each of which will preserve its characteristics if nrop- 
erly paired. 
Breeding Canaries. 
Cage birds are like children in many respects. The more common 
sense exercised in the matter of food, clothing, and general family 
regulation the better health, temper and mental vigor will the children 
enjoy. So. too, with the pet canary. He will respond just as quickly 
and appreciably to good or to indifferent care as any child. His wants 
are simple, but all the more necessary because of their simplicity. He 
needs bright, heavy, nutritious seed, free from dust, and judiciously 
mixed, pure water and regular temperature, with his cage hung in 
the sunlight, kept clean and sweet, and clear of all draughts. These 
are the necessaries of his happy, musical life, and too much stress can 
not be laid upon them. Every lover of canary melody should, first of 
all, secure a well-recommended bird from some established, reliable 
dealer, and then proceed upon the pious principle that “an ounce of 
prevention is worth all the nostrums on earth" in relation to the health 
of his cheery little songster. 
The staple food of the domestic canary is the best quality of Sicily 
canary and German Summer rape seeds in about equal parts, with a 
third part made up of fine millet and maw seeds in the proportion of 
two to one. To this may be added a moderate allowance of fresh 
