The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-02
Canary-ColorlnR.
10 no bird has omuoh attention been


paid as to the canary. 1t came origin
ally from the islands that have given
1t its name; now the chief importations
are said to be from St. Helena, though
we should have supposed that little
business was done in that way, since
the birds are SO. prolific whom domesti-
Gated. Mr.. Blackston tells us that their
first Introduction into Europe Is be-
lieved to have been early in the six
teenth century, when ship containing
a consignment Of them was cast upon
Elba. The prisoners escaped, to be
gradually recaptured; and then cana
ries became an article of trade from
Italy to Germany, where from the first,
they were taken into general favor.
In England Norwich has always held
its place as the head quarters Of canary
fancying, brought there by the expat-
rated Flcmings, who fled from the
prosecutions OF Alva. 10 this day the
Norwich canary still stands eminent
among tho birds whose specially is
color. Others of the color class arc the
Lizard-so named from a somewhat far
fetched resemblance in its variegated
tlnts to the glistening stripes on the
back of the reptile-and tho London
Fancy" which is comparatively rare
and not much sought alter. But moth
ing Is more curious in the history of
canary-breeding than the remarkable
processes of artificial coloring, which
are among the great discoveries Of very
recent times. Canaries were brought
up for exhibition, which showed
quantity fanciful variations in their
p mage. Those variations were sup
posed ut first to be mere incidcntsin the
breeding; and it was understood that
tho way to pcrpetutate or improve upon
any particular hucs was to be careful
In selecting suitable parents. Even
then, and under the most favorable
conditions, it was obvious that the
colors Of the offspring must be very
much q matter Of chance. 1t occurred,
however, to certain intelligent fancicrs
that color might be LII luonccd by modi-
hcations in the diet. Many preserip-
tions were tried with that object
among others, marigold flowers, strong
solution Of saffron, cochineal, port
wine, beetroot, mustard seed, etc,-but
with very imperfect results; when sud-
denly exhibitors came to the field with
a success that startled cnvious rivals.
Suspicious were aroused and accusa-
tlons freely indulgcd in. 1t was said
that tho coiOrs were the result of
skillful dyeing, though the very audac-
1ty OF any such attempt should have
raised strong presumption for the
innocence of the exhibitor, 10 satisfy
the objectors so far as possible, the un-
fortunate birds were subjected to severe
ordcals, being half stripped in tho pro-
cess Of testing their feathers. But ex-
perienced judges like Mr.. Blackstone
WIRE satisfied. and gave their awards
In favor Of those phenomena. Finally
one Of the breeders OF rich red birds,
who had undertaken to multiply them
almost to order and successfully, pro-
claimed his secret to the world. 1t con-
sSfbe 6ip@' In GGa8lngc co2n}.yca Sn ycaySStnnue yStn1fs
apparently will hardly color at all and
by supplying food from which color
can be secrctcd we ascertain what birds
have and what haye not tho capacitv
or doing that, tho manifestation of
which constitutes their distinctive
quality In tancler's eve"
Delights Of I,ri;isG Kniiwa7 Travel
Two gentlemen, belonging to Glas-
gov, who had been to Belfast, were re-
turning home by way of Stranracr, and
entered the train leaving there shortly
before eight O'Clock. They travelled
by themselves till they reached AYR.
when they were joined by stalwart.
Sentlemanly- looking man, who proved
to DC dangerous companion. Directly
tho train moved out Of tho station the
newcomer picked up pipe belonging
TO one the gentlemen and threw it out
OIL the window. Although rather chag-
rlned neither of IT, g gcntlcm. II said ny
thlng, wishing to avoid disturbance
anu believing that their companion was
intoxicated. Soon the stranger began
10 punch them In the ribs with a stick.
put himself into menacing attitude,
talked very incohcrcntly, and amused
hlmsclf by knocking of their hats.
Tho two gentlemen began to think that
ihatters had proceeded just far enough,
ana one Of them quietly informed tho
stranger that he had better dcs st, and
that he might find, il he persisted in
IN his "1ittlc game" he had met his
match. The train had passed Irvine
ana was flying onward when suddenly
the stranger produced from stylish
isame-bag siX-chamber revolver Of
large size. lie examined it for min
ute or two and then drew the trigger
once or twice, evidently just to satisfy
himself that it was not loaded. The
examination Of the revolver concluded
the stranger laid it down beside him
on the seat while he took from q ease
hlled with ball cartridges halt dozen
to load the revolver. The stronger Of
inc two gentlemen tn ought that his
tlne Tor action had arrived and Quietly