The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-08
tHarper's Bazar,l
Canary Birds.
Where They Originated-How They Are
Bred and Raised for the Market, Etc.

As the name implies the canary bird is-or
perhaps it would be more correct to say WAS
a native of the Canary Islands. There 1t would
be almost impossible to recognize the species
from comparison with those we know, SO much
has fine breeding and intermixture with other
birds done to improve them. In the natural
state their colors are very plain, being an al
most dull greenish-gray, similar to the linnet.
In the sixteenth century the bird was first to.
ken into the European markets for sale, the
demand having been caused, it is said, in rath-
or peculiar way. The sailors of merchant
ship from the Canary Islands to Leghorn had
caught some birds on the islands whose song
was particularly sweet, and were0 carrying
them home, when the vessel was wrecked on
the coast of Italy opposite Elba. As the ship
was going down some one OF the crew liberated
the birds, which Of course were able to reach
the land. There, the climate being favorable,
they speedily became acclimated and largely
increased Through that means Europeans
learned the value of the canary as a song bird,
and regular importations began. 1t was in
Germany that they were received with the
greatest favor, and the bird raising peassntry
immediately added them to their stock, finding
them easy to breed quick to learn new songs.
as well as willing to mate with other species.
To such a science las the breeding Of the
canary been elevated, and such branch of in
dustry has it become in the vicinity of the
Hartz mountains, more particularly near An
dreasberg, that societies have been formed hay
ing as sole aim the propagation and improve
ment of the breed, holding annual exhibitions,
with comparatively large prizes for fine spec-
mems. There nearly thirty varieties are recog-
nized under two divisions-the plain and the
variegated. In this country, where the taste
for birds is not fully developed, although rapid
strides have been made in the past few years.
but two kinds are generally known, which are
the long breed, or French birds, and the short
or German raised bird. A German male with
a French mate WILL il properly paired, produce
the most superior young. The Germans sacri-
fee all for song, while the French have bred
them for shape entirely. This latter method
has resulted in birds from seven to seven and
half inches in length, while an ordinary cana
ry is only about five inches. Tho model OF
perfect long breed is thus described by note0
fanoier "Tbe head is small and round, while
the neck is thin, forming almost curve Il
from the back. The shoulders are very hgh.
and the back, from the elbow OF tho wing 10
the end of the tail, curves like hslf-drawn
bow. The tail feathers lie very close together,
whilethe wings are set SO snugly 10 the body
as to overlap at the ends The legs are exactly
straight with the feet Close together, and the
feathers perfectly smooth on the body" For
such bird one thousand francs has been paid
ia Antwerp, and in this country fifty dollars
will purchase one of the second quality only.
while the young from perfect long and short
| pair readily command twenty-five dollars each.
| The German breeders, disregarding in meas
uro the shape Of the bird, select short, full bod
les, not caring whether the feathers lie close or
| loose, and train the young birds to sing by
| keeping them in the same room with nightin-
| gales, woodlarks or skylarks.
| the Germans who raise birds for the market
| do not, as might be supposed, devote their en-
| tire time to the business; they are shopksepers
| in small way, cobblers, tailors or follow some
such industry, raising from twenty to ono hun
| dred il q season. 1t is in Hanover and Thu
| ringia that the more extensive breeders resids
and in those sections the bird importers Of this
country have agents who know exactly tbs
| kind and value of each mans birds from which
| he is to breed, also the time whom the nrst
broods may be expected. During the Matching
season these agents travel through these par
| ticular districts examining and bargaining foT
| the young birds before they are two weeks old
| since at such time the defects in shape or plu-
| mage may be more readily seen. These youni
birds are held by the breeder until such timo
| as the American firms need new supplies,
| when they are forwarded to this country in lots
| of from fifteen hundred to two thousand, each
| lot. being in charge of two men. 1t is estimated
| tnat ten per cent. OF This NUMBER 1al Vlctlms
| to the change of climate The birds are brought
each in small wooden cage, and while the
are in the dealers charge, at least, they ge-
only such food as is best suited TO them
mixture Of rape and canary seed, with lettuce
or chickweed in small quantities during the
| season. The dealers season for importation is
from the middle of August until the middle OF
May, and some idea of the development in
taste of the American people, so far as cana
ries are concerned may be gathered from the
fact that in 1850 about ten thousand were i'm
ported, while in 1880 not less than a hundred
and fifty thousand were brought here.
Let those who own canaries make true pets
OF them; talk to them as to dog, and they
| will answer much more understandingly; fon-
die them as a kitten is fondled, without too
much stroking Of the feathers, and they will
be happiest when nesting Oh their mistress s
shoulder; study them as If they were book,
and no volume can be found so full OF that
which is instructive, entertaining and anus
| ,,,r