Smyrna times., 1875-10-06
How Canaries are Trained.

How CanarieS are Trained.
A professional gentleman residing in |
Reading, Penn, raised forty canary birds |
last year, and he has at present nine birds
few months old that he is teaching to
whistle notes. An Italian hand-organ,
which pipes half a dozen popular tunes in a
clear, sweet tore, is the instrument used.
The birds are taught one tune, and some
times a second one after the first has been
thoroughly learned. When about two
months old the canaries begin to chirp a
little, and the organ is Immediately brought
into use. A single tune is played each day
at dawn also at noon whom the birds are
eating, and some times at 9 or 10 o'clock at
night.
The playing is done at late hour . to
give the birds something to think about at
night, and they will have the tune fresh in
their memories in the morning!" When
about six months old and having molted,
they will not unfrequently learn to sing
the air of tune from beginning to end,
giving all the notes correctly, although
previous to shedding the feathers they may
have learned only few notes after a month
or two's instruction.
In learning to whistle a tune bird
follows the organ correctly part way, but
before the tune is finished suddenly break
off into a chirp. \ bird organ is turned
with crank. Those of the Italian make
cost so piece, and play eight tunes, while
the French organs, with a capacity of six
tunes, can be had for Sc. The Italian
organ has a softer, sweeter sound than the
French organ.
Says writer on canaries: "In this way
| answer the question of " How had l such
luck with birds? Simply by allowing them
to attend to their own affairs, and by letting
them understand that there master would
not harm them. Also by accustoming then
to plenty of light and air and company
rather than as recommended in books
, keeping the cage in a dark room for fear o
, frightening the birds. Make Just half tn,
fuss directed in bird books over the matte
and you will have double the success il
) raising birds. Never give them sugar, bu
all the red pepper they will eat. 1t is tn
, best thing for them. And if your bird feel
t hoarse at any time put piece of fat sal
pork in the cage, and see how the lttl
Z fellow will enjoy it, and listen for the result
t Give him faxseed once in while, and
e he appears dumpy occasionally give hin
diet of bread and water, with red peppe
t sprinkled in.
L "Open the cage door and give your pet
t the freedom of the room; soon they wi
G come at your call and fly tomeet you wher
: ever your voice is heard. l had one tha
came regularly to my desk as | sat writin
q each day, and disputed with tluttering wing
: and open beak, my humble right to tn
9. in<stand. And when l reasoned him OF
q of his mistaken notion he would pearc
i himself on my pen-handle (no very con
q Portable proceeding for me- and watc
h gravely as | wrote. | have many q tim,
4 also, discovered him in the act of eating o
4 the corners of my paper, even to the It'll
of my article. Another thought nothing
=. trotting about on my head and shoulder
% and even hoped under my throat to nestl
against my chin. He would take his bat
4 as l held the cup in my hand, and COOL
dry himself on my head. Another woul
fly up or down stairs whenever l calle
him and many time when l have bee
out, he has welcomed my return by hyin
10 down the stairs and singing at the top {
90 his voice all the while, until at last, perche
,r on my shoulder, he would accompany N
to my room.
40 A lady held canary which she let OF
n. of the cage each day. She placed dis
or with water on a piece of oil cloth spread c
the floor. The bird flew to the dish al
bathed, and remained on the oil clot
- until its feathers were dry, and then flew
its mistress, and entered the cage whC
told to do so. One day the little pet W
CO caught and killed by cat.
Nv 1t is said that if left day and mig
e' without water and food, canaries will NAL
i.S i.S an attempt upon each others life, al
w those that are killed will be eaten by Il
"0 survivors. The professional gentlemi
above referred to had dozen birds in
- cage, and while out of town ON business Fl
"s of them were killed in this way after t
=, water and seed were all used up. Ra
nI ~ and canary seed is the standard food
canaries.
ual vounp lady in Minnesota boasts
Ieo having ten grown up brothers to wat
'us over her; but Norristown girl prefers
D have only one brother to watch over her
ve. nrovidad no Ia Tho bro+hor of so,,a 9th