Evolution of 
the Canary 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
(12) 
He is quite the soldier.” 
have never gone in for colour-feeding and may 
be termed old-fashioned for abhorring anything 
artificial. 1 have been 
told that by not doing 
so I have not as good 
a chance at the local 
show, so I felt natur¬ 
ally very proud when 
my little Border hen, 
“ Miss Kitchie,” came 
out first and special, 
with her own natural 
colour. She is a deep 
yellow with a smart 
black cap. “ Grand¬ 
papa ” has only three 
sons living, so I must 
mention the eldest by 
his third wife. He is 
called Greville, and is 
quite the soldier in his 
demeanour—very active 
and slim ; a deep yellow 
with evenly-marked 
II black wings. He was fortunate enough to re- 
' ceive a v.h.c. at the Hastings show two years 
ago. His son, called “ Baden Powell,” has been 
keDt, as he possesses an unusually fine voice. 
I put my young cock in hearing of a good song¬ 
ster, and generally have one of the cock birds un¬ 
paired, as T find those engaged with their wives 
and families are too well employed to sing con¬ 
stantly. 
Last year a pair of Yorkshires were intro¬ 
duced into my happy family. They had six 
beautiful birds, as straight and upright as a 
good principle. The father was said to have 
come from a prize strain, but their matron (as 
I call myself) was too diffident to exhibit their 
young at the show, as the York competition is 
very keen at Hastings. My goldfinch was 
paired last season to a clear hen called Mollie. 
They had four eggs in the first nest; Goldie was 
taken away. The little hen sat patiently over 
a fortnight, but with no results. In the second 
nest she had three eggs, and to convince my¬ 
self whether she would prove as good a mother 
as her own was, one canary egg was placed in 
the nest. At fourteen days one hatched; hopes 
ran high, but it proved to be a dark green 
canary. “ Mollie ” was proud of her solitary 
nestling “ Bess,” and kept her for six weeks. I 
hope for better success with Goldie this coming 
season. I shall mate my linnet also; she is 
known by the name of “ Con,” is very active 
and gentle and is about a year old. 
I was rather loth at one time to keep wild 
birds; but, after much reflection, judged that, 
taken when quite young, they have not expe¬ 
rienced the pleasures of freedom. All creatures 
were given by God for the use and pleasure of 
man, and therefore, if he desires to fill his home 
with melody, surely he may do so without 
offending the Great Maker, whose all-seeing 
eye lets not even a sparrow fall to the ground 
unnoted. We take upon ourselves the respon¬ 
sibility of providing for their wants and attend¬ 
ing to their ailments, and those who keep them 
should pay attention to them. They cannot 
speak, but their actions show us when anything 
“ She sat patiently for over a fortnight.” 
At the request of several friends I ventured to 
write the above facts. I think that a lack of 
practical knowledge of the habits of the canary 
is the cause of disappointment to those who are 
unsuccessful with them when breeding. It may be 
that very experienced fanciers may smile at my 
remarks, which are purely on the domestic side. 
In conclusion, let me say that they merit all 
that can be done for them. With joy I enter 
my bird-room; the fluttering of wings, the 
tapping of the bills against the wires of the 
cages, and the hurst of song which greets me 
—all these signs tell me that my labour of love 
on their behalf is not in vain. I am quite sure 
my feathered tribe from “ Josie ” down to 
“ Bess ” appreciate all I do for them, and that 
those lost to me here by death will welcome and 
know me again on the other shore. 
“ Sweet birds ! that sing away the early hours 
Of winters past, or coming; void of care, 
Well pleased with delights which present are— 
Fair seasons, budding sprays, sweet-smelling flowers; 
To rocks, to springs, to rills, from leafy bowers, 
Ye your Creator’s goodness do declare.” 
Mrs. M. R. Staddon, of Luton, Beds., and her Pet Bullfinch. 
