378 
ladies’ department. 
Caries’ SDqiarimmi. 
CHAMBER BIRDS.—No. 2. 
Canaries — Breeding.— As remarked in our last 
number, tire original color of the Canary bird is 
grey, which merges unto green beneath, almost re¬ 
sembling the colors of the linnet * but by means of 
domestication, climate, and intermixture with other 
birds, as the citril and serin , of Italy, and with the 
Siskin and linnet , of Germany, they have become so 
multifarious, that they are to be met with of almost 
every color and hue. Furthermore, in Europe, 
there are societies for promoting the breeds, and 
premiums are awarded to competitors who come 
nearest to the model of perfection given out for 
competition. The hybrids, most in favor, may be 
described as follows :— 
1. The cross between the Canary and goldfinch. 
The colors of this variety consist of a very beau¬ 
tiful intermixture of those of both parents. One 
which has been highly prized, was marked in the 
middle of the crest with ashy grey • the rest of the 
head, and the upper part of the neck, was of a 
silvery white, with a bright orange-red ring round 
the base of the beak, and another ring of snowy 
whiteness round the neck ; the back was greyish- 
brown, striped with black ■ the rump, white; the 
under part of the body, snow white; the vent, the 
wings, and the first pinion feathers, were also 
white : the rest, as well as the coverts, black, edged 
with yellow, and with a golden-yellow spot in the 
centre of the wings; the tail was white, with a 
black lateral spot ; the beak and feet, white, the 
former with a black tip. The mother of this fine 
bird was white, with a greenish crest. In general, 
the handsomest varieties are produced when yel¬ 
low or white Canaries are pared with goldfinches. 
2. The cross between the Canary and the Sis¬ 
kin. This is perfectly like the female Siskin, if 
the male bird is a green Canary, but if the latter be 
white or yellow, it becomes rather brighter, and 
always retains the color and figure of the Siskin. 
3. The cross between the Canary and the serin 
is distinguished only by its smaller size, and by its 
short, thick, beak, from the common grey or green 
Canary, unless produced by a white or yellow hen. 
4. The cross between the Canary and the linnet. 
When the offspring of a grey Canary, its only dif¬ 
ference is a slightly longer tail; but it is variegated 
or speckled when the Canary is yellow or white. 
In order to obtain birds of a brilliant plumage, it 
is requisite to pair together such as are of similar 
markings, and the colors of which are regular and 
distinct. This is best effected in separate breeding 
cages. Variegated and checkered ones are often 
produced in aviaries where the birds pair together 
indiscriminately. Those of a greenish and brownish 
color paired with bright yellow ones, often pro¬ 
duce beautiful dusky-white, or other favorite 
colors. A requisite precaution to be observed is, 
that a tufted and a smooth-headed bird should be 
paired ; for, if two crested ones be placed together, 
a part of the head of their progeny will be bald, or 
otherwise deformed. 
Some males are always dejected, sing but little, 
are indifferent to their mates, and consequently un¬ 
fitted for breeding; others are too choleric, inces¬ 
santly snap at, and chase about the females, and in¬ 
deed, often kill them and their young; others, 
again, are too ardent, persecute the female while 
she is sitting, tear the nest, throw out the eggs, or 
continually excite her to pair, until she quits her 
eggs or neglects her young; others, in breeding 
time, sing so incessantly, and so powerfully, that 
they rupture the small vessels of the lungs, and 
suddenly drop dead in the midst of their song. 
The females have also their defects. Some 
merely lay, and immediately quit their eggs as soon 
as laid ; others feed their young badly, bite them, 
or pluck out their feathers ; others lay with much 
exertion and labor, and when they should hatch 
become sickly, or lay again after a long interval. 
The month of March is the best time to place the 
birds in the breeding cage. Of these, there are 
two kinds, either a large one, made of wire, in 
which it is better to place a male, and one female, 
than one male and two females together ) or the 
range of an entire room. Both breeding places 
must be exposed to the warmth and light of the 
sun, and be hung about with rests made of turned 
wood, or little wicker baskets, two for each pair. 
Canary Breeding Cage.—Fig. 93. 
About the cage or room, there should be placed 
some flax, soft hay, wool, hog’s bristles, cow’s 
hair, moss, pieces of thread, cut about a finger’s 
length, paper, shavings, or other dry materials for 
building the nest, which usually occupies three 
days. When a room is allotted to the purpose, it 
ought to contain shrubs for the birds to perch or 
build upon, with a plenty of fresh water to drink 
and bathe in, that being indispensable for all birds. 
The light should be admitted into the east or south¬ 
east, for the benefit of the morning sun, and the 
windows should have wire cloth over them, that 
the birds may enjoy the fresh air. The floor of 
the apartment should be strewed with white gravel 
or sand, on which should be thrown groundsel or 
chickweed; but when breeding, they should have 
nothing except hard-chopped eggs, dry bread, cake 
without salt, and once in two or three days a few 
poppy seeds. 
