Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-23
Canary Birds.
Some Interesting Facts About the Trade
 in German Songsters.


 in German Songsfers.
 [F4pm the New York Evening Post1 It may not generally be known that the importation of canaries from Germany to this country amounts to nearly eighty thou sand birds every year. The importation be- gan about the year 1847, and has been stead fly increasing ever since. One important firm imports nearly half of all the canaries brought to this country. Almost without ex- ception the imported canaries come from the little town of Andreasberg, in Hanover, Prus- sla The town nestles among the Hartz Mountains, and most of the men are miners, the mines of cobalt lead nickel and iron be- ing among the best in that part of the coun- try. The women of the town, the popula- tion of which numbers about four thousand souls, make almost much money as the men by breeding canaries. The industry sprang up about one hundred and fifty years ago, and has since been carried on steadily, certain families having worldwide repu- tations among bird fanciers for the peculiar excellence of their birds, the training of birds being a matter of skill handed down in families from generation to generation. The birds pair in February and come to this coun- try about June. They come in crates of little boxes, such as they are sold in, two hundred in crate and the losses on the voyage are usually very small not amounting to more than five per centum. The little wooden cages in which the birds are import ed and sold are made by the children and women of the Hartz mountains, and cost there four cents apiece. Dealers pay average price of fifty cents for their birds and take the risk of transportation. There is no duty on canaries.
 The bird fancier who gave these details to an Evening Post reporter said that there were more than fifty well-defined breeds of canaries in Europe, but in trade not more than a dozen were recognized The highest priced birds came from Belgium, and could be recognized at glance by their long. thin forms. Great care was taken of these birds, and twenty dollars were frequently paid fora good Belgian singer. In Europe birds were sometimes sold for much higher prices than this, but were never imported to this coun- try. In New York fair Belgian singer is worth from six to ten dollars, but excellent Andreasberg birds which sing pleasantly may be bought down town for from two to three dollars. Up town the price is little more. The canaries which are wild in the Canary Islands have but little natural song. In the public gardens of Teneriff they may be seen by thousands, somewhat smallerthan the European bird and with little song A canary has no natural song, ard if not taught will not sing at all Bird fanciers say that American bred canaries are of no great value, because their notes never possess the musical qualities of imported birds. No reason for this degeneracy is known, unless, as is surmised, the German canaries profit by the nightingales, innets and other birds which they hear, and which cannot be brought to this country. It seems reasonable to SUD- pose that young canary would sing in the same manner as the parent birds; yet this does not seem to be the case. No plan for teaching American canaries to sing as per fectly as European birds has succeeded. dealer told the reporter that he would not give dollar apiece for thousand canaries delivered at his place of business The aver age age of a canary in New York is from three to seven years, most of the diseases, according to experts, being due to uncleanli- ness in their cages and want of sunlight. Instances of canary birds living for twenty years are, however, not uncommon.