266 FANCIERS’ JOURNAL AND POULTRY EXCHANGE. 

on account of their beauty and song. These mules mated 
again with the female Canary are prolific. Among the 
varieties of birds employed in producing mules may be 
mentioned the Linnet, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Siskin, Red- 
pole; and Bluebird, besides several other varieties. 
Before placing the male and female Canary together, this 
precaution should be taken: The female should be put in 
the breeding-cage and hung on one side of the room, ‘while 
the male should be suspended directly on the opposite side 
of the room, in a separate cage, in sight of the female. 
When he sings and calls to the hen bird, and she returns 
his call, then they can be placed together, and though they 
may at first quarrel, it will only be of short duration; they 
will soon become reconciled with each other and will mate. 
‘When the male is observed feeding the hen, you may be 
certain that it is right. 
After having been mated about a week the hen will lay 
from four to six eggs (one each day), and will sit from four- 
teen to sixteen days, bringing out one bird per day, in the 
same order as they were laid. Never disturb the eggs or 
they will not hatch. 
The birds may be mated during the months of February, 
March, or April. There should always be placed in the 
mating-cage a piece of mortar for the formation of shell, or 
the hen may lay soft-shell eggs. There is also required 
some untwisted manilla rope, cut into sections of one inch in 
length, with perhaps an addition of a small quantity of deer 
hair, for the formation of a nest. 
After the young are hatched, if the male bird gives his 
mate too much attention, or is quarrelsome, he should be 
placed in his own cage until the young are nearly feathered 
and leave the nest to feed themselves. After they have 
perched a few nights they can be separated from their 
mother and the male returned, and another brood reared, 
which operation may be repeated until seven broods are 
raised in one season. 
FOOD FOR YOUNG BIRDS. 
As additional food for young birds, besides canary and 
rape seed, they should be allowed hard-boiled egg and 
cracker rolled fine, and fed to them in small quantities sev- 
eral times each day. The same food should be given to the 
old birds during the breeding season. When the young 
birds are able to crack seeds, which they will do at six 
weeks of age, the soft food can be replaced by cracked seed 
or soaked rape seed. Hemp seed should never be fed, as it 
will kill them. 
Never allow two crested birds to pair, as their progeny 
are liable to be bald or malformed about the head. 
One male bird will serve half a dozen hens during the 
breeding season. This plan, in my opinion, is more certain 
to raise young birds. The parent birds can occupy, a small 
room with nests fastened to the wall, with material handy 
for constructing nests, also food and water. A German 
friend pursues successfully this plan every year, and it is 
marvelous to note his success in raising young. 
Some Canaries will never mate; nothing will reconcile 
them. In this event another hen should be tried until one 
is found that is disposed to assume the responsibility of rear- 
ing a family. 
The female bird builds the nest, and the male selects the 
location and carries the nesting material to his mate. In 
constructing the nest the female is in constant motion, and 

by her loving mancuvyres invites her mate to the act of 
pairing. 
The eggs are of a sea-green color, more or less spotted 
and streaked with reddish-brown and violet. The male sits 
on the nest, relieving the female, a few hours each day 
during the period of incubation. Should either of them be- 
come addicted to the vice of breaking their eggs, they 
should be bountifully fed with egg and bread, which should 
be constantly kept within their reach. Should they persist, 
the eggs should be removed as fast as laid, and their places 
supplied with artificial ones. 
When the young are hatched the male assumes the chief 
responsibility of feeding them, which consumes most of his 
time. 
Instances are recorded of talking Canaries. One is men- 
tioned by Prof. Hawkins; a bird that was exhibited in the 
streets of London a few years ago. Mr. Sothly, in a com- 
munication to the Zoological Society of London, gives a 
description of a talking Canary, owned by a friend, that 
can whistle a few bars of ‘‘God Save the King,” and also 
repeat a few words, as ‘‘ Minnie,’ ‘‘ Kiss Minnie,” &c. 
Not many years ago a traveling showman will be recol- 
lected as exhibiting, in the streets of the principal cities, 
some performing Canaries. They were taken from the cage 
and placed on a smal] stand, dressed in diminutive clothes, 
some harnessed in a wagon, another driving, and others 
riding in the carriage. Ata given signal the coach started, 
and at the ringing of the bell they stopped to be put into 
their cage. They were again placed upon the table to ex- 
hibit their proficiency in drill. All were arrayed in regi- 
mentals, guns being held in one claw, one bird acting the 
part of drill-master, and when he whistled a few notes the 
soldiers hopped on the other foot, keeping time. Finally 
the performance ended by one of the number firing a diminu- 
tive cannon. 
Dr. J. M. Bechstein, in his ‘‘ Natural History of the Birds 
of Germany,’’ and who is an acknowledged authority, relates 
the following instance of. their sagacity, and remarks that 
instances are known in which they have not only been taught 
to repeat short words distinctly, but to distinguish colors, 
numbers, letters, &c. He also says: ‘‘I once saw a female 
in possession of a person named Jeanlot, of Befort, in Alsace, 
which selected from the alphabet, and placed in order, the 
letters of certain words, added, subtracted, and multiplied 
in German, and indicated, by means of numbers, the exact 
time of a watch. He had also three males with him, which 
were able to select letters and numbers which were named. 
Hunger had been the chief means used in’the education of 
lee 
DISEASES AND TREATMENT. 
Canaries are subject to diseases as well as the human 
family, which also yield to medicinal agents. 
Moulting is a critical period, and great care should be 
exercised at such times to keep them from being exposed to 
drafts of air, and to see that they are abundantly supplied 
with food and water; a change in diet is very beneficial. A 
piece of boiled carrot should be given them often, also a 
little hard boiled egg, which should be left on the shell, for 
this will keep it moist longer than if crumbled in a dish. 
A little saffron put in water will assist them to cast off their 
plumage, and a nail dropped into their water will serve as a 
tonic. Asa consequence of moulting improperly, it is not 
uncommon for them to suffer from loss of voice; a change 

