Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-12-11

SINGING BIRDs.-The Tribune has the follow
ing inrelation to the tra6e in that city in sing.
ing birds, showing where they are obtained and
al what prizes sold, which will be interesting in
formation to many of our readers
Feeling interested in this subject, we have
taken some pains 10 ascertain how many of
these little creatures are purchased in this
city annually. We are reliably informed that
fully 10000 song birds of various kinds are
sold here every year. How many homes they
adorn--how many pleasant feelings they en-
GENDER The bulk of these birds are cana
Ties, the trade in switch is entirely in the
hands of five or six Germans, located for the
most part in North William Street. The bird
importers depart for Europe about the lst of
August TO make their purchases, returning to
New York in the course of two or three
months. During their absence they travel
through the Hartz Mountains, purchasing
fromthe peasants, who raise them as pas
time, their stock of canaries, linnets, fnches,
hackbirds, thrushes, and other song-birds.
Macs are sold in the mountains for 81 10
e$l,25 each. BONE families do not breed
more than half a dozen, while others have
from 100 TO 100 for sale. The canaries, of
course, are bred in the house, but the wild
birds are taken from the nest as soon as suf.
fciently hedged, and raised by hand. Bull
6nches, which are taught 10 pipe various airs
with great accuracy sometimes fetch fab
ulous price. The people Of Hartz raise only
short.breed canaries. Birds OF the long breed
ere procured from Brussels, Antwerp and
Dietz, where they obtain prices extravagantly
fsnciful. Their cost depends altogether upon
color and shape, the pure golden yellow being
most esteemed. AS birds of song they are
worth but little, yetsome of them are sold as
high as $50 q pair where they are bred, and
the other day we saw pair sold in New
YORK Tor @25, and considered bargain at
that. Inc importers have recently returned
with portion Of their stocks and il is es.
: tlmated that $4,000 birds are now here for
sale. The extent OF the trade in this CITY
may be arrived at from the following figures
Of the estimated aggregate sales per wear:
5000 eanAries (shor breedl from 81 to So pair $4,000
go cenaries Gong breed) At s. spar........ 2QO
90 godanciles, from 81 eac3.....,.......... 700
y 90 blsc birds, from 50 q SIS eaeA......... 500
70 nigateng tes, from $40 70 s2S............ $40
500 tnnets Is fl..-.......s............... 6U0
100 akglarke, at 81 800
A0O faucy pigeons (inpored), s12 pair. 800
~ sdl ana silver pheAsants $40 pair..... $50
a Making over u 90 European birds imported
and sod here for abou'. $50, 100
Added 10 the above there are sold African,
South American and other birds, as follows
BO0pauos, average price 81 each .............S3boO
20 seloes, or birds Of par4dise, 80 Pair.... 60
100 hooking birds SIS, each ............... 1900
SO Java sparr0ws 81, 50 each. .............. $50
400 white and red cardaIs, 50 psir.......a 500
30 grobols, 81 eac'i. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 900
200 nonpatisls, 80 pair. 800
By 90 Gre birds, " each. .,,........,......... l5J
Making 400 American birds worth. $40