THE CANARY. 
15 
So with tlio generality of our cage-birds. The boy who would im¬ 
prison the mocking-bird, who would limit to ono spot the bird which loves 
to wander, and who would condemn to solitary confinement the creature 
which is peculiarly destined for conjugal affection, which finds expression in 
liquid melody, ought to be imprisoned for a montli or two, just to see how 
he likes it. “ I can’t get out,” is the lament uttered in silent gesture by all 
birds which ought to roam in wild freedom, and have been imprisoned in a 
cage. 
But with the canary the case is different. The pretty little bird never 
has known wider lreedom than that of the cage, and a humane bird-keeper 
wall endow it with increased freedom by enlarging the size of its cage. 
The free use of wings has never been known to the bird, nor even to its 
parents; and the perch is to the canary more familiar than the bough. 
Release an imprisoned oriole, and after the first few moments of surprise it 
will speed away, exulting in its freedom. Release a bobolink or a thrush, 
and it will dart swiftly to the well-known shelter of the woods. 
But release a canary, and you have committed an act of positive cruelty. 
The poor bird knows not where to* go, or how to procure its food. Through¬ 
out alt its little life, it has been accustomed to reside within the narrow 
limits of its cage, and to find its food and -water prepared without any ex¬ 
penditure of labor. Consequently, it has no idea of searching for food, but 
sits bewildered on the branch of some tree, and would perish with hunger 
simply because it does not know how to procure food. 
Ignorance is ever the parent of fear, and a canary-bird has been known 
to perish of hunger when removed from a small to a large cage, simply be¬ 
cause it dared not fly down from the comparatively lofty perch on vrhich it 
had settled when first introduced, and to which it clung with the tenacity 
of fear. 
In canary keeping much depends upon the kind of bird. We presume 
that a good singer will be required, as well as a strong and healthy bird. 
If you are not learned in canary lore, try to induce an experienced friend to 
choose a bird for you; but if you are not fortunate enough to possess such 
assistance, the foliowfing concise directions may aid you. Look at the birds 
for sale, and note those that stand straightest on their perches, and that hop 
quickly and smartly about the little apologies for cages in which they are 
mostly confined. ISText hear them sing before deciding on your purchase, 
and select the one that possesses the sweetest and fullest tone. The dealer 
can always make the bird sing when he likes, and if any bird refuses to sing, 
do not buy it, liov T ever handsome it may look. 
When you are satisfied with the song, look the bird well over to see that 
it has no defects; and if you prefer the variegated breed, take care of three 
principal points—namely, the top of the head, technically called the “cap;” 
the markings on the back, called “spangles;” and the number of quill 
feathers in the wings and tail. The cap must be uniform and rich in color, 
the spangles bold and w r ell defined, and the quill feathers not less than 
