The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-02-13
THE CANARY BIRD.
Musicians That are Bred Ina Poverty and
Taught TO Sing In Prison.

The canary bird was never so popular
as he o to-day. In fact, he may be called
the song bird of the world" said dealer,
in South Eighth street store, yesterday
afternooa. 1.-The canary seen in om
American homes does not, as many of its
possessors suppose, come from the islands
Of the same name, although its ancestors
did. Over 800 years ago, as the story runs,
merchant vessel hom the Canary Islands,
having on board several of the little feather
ed musicians, was wrecked on the italian
coast. The birds took up their abode in the
woods near the shore, where they began to
multiply rapidly and would doubtless lave
SOFA become perfectly naturalized and
spread over the country in a wild state.
The music-loying Italians, however, we're
so strongly attracted by the sweet songs Of
the little strangers that oil wers speedily
captured. From Italy their offsp ng soon
spread over the whole continent oil Europe.
The canary is now principally bred in Ger
mlny though few are imported to the
United States from England, France, Belg:.
um and Holland.
Most of the birds brought to America
are bred in the Hartz Mountains, of Han
over, range iii the famous Blaes Forest of
Germany. Here the industry is carried on
extensively by the peasants, who derive
from it their chief means of subsistence.
The majority of them are so poor that the
agents of the two New York firms who en-.
Joy monopoly of the importations are
obliged to advance at the beginning of the
breeding season enough money to provide
the food necessary to rear the young birds
One firm at the opening of the present sea.
son thus laid out about ten thousand dol
lars. The superiority of the German bin Dis
lies in their training, great attention being
paid to improving their song qualities. The
anary is a great imitator of sounds, and
will Learn. almost anything that is thrust
upon his attention when young. file may
acquire the chirp of the robin if he hears
no other song or may be taught the ali of
apopular song. dealer on Ridge avenue
exhibited canary at the Centennial Exhibi
ton which could sing Yankee Doodle and
which he sold for 800. Another, owned
by the same man rendered Die Lauder.
bach, Maidchen, in an excellent manner. |
have even known of canary that could
talk. It's owner got it when II was young
and kept ii where it could hear no other
bird sing and finally succeeded in teaching
II to pronounce its own name, the name OF
its mistress and one or two other words.
The German peasants take advantage OF
this faculty in teaching the young birds 10
sing. One plan is to place them in large
cage, partitioned so Ps to prevent its inmates
from seeing each other; my fine singing
bird, either canary, skylark or nightin.
gale, is placed out Of sight, but within hear.
ing, of the young cansries.
. After six months of this imprisonment
the pupils, who have never seen their teach
er, will have become perfect musicians
Another plan is to place the Young ones in
room barely light enough for them 70 SECS
to eat where an instrument called u bird
organ is played for an hour or more each day
in,the hearing of the learners who lister
very attentively if they are not disturbed
and by practicing the notes heard are soor
able to sing them perfectly. Birds trained
by this process are known as Andreasberg
Rollers, and become very proficient in the
water roll, the bell and flute notes and the
various trills. After this course of training
is completed the birds are separated. Each
one is placed in small cage, made by the
peasants from fire wood and fastened to-
gether with pegs instead of nails. They re-
main in these narrow quarters until they
cease to be merchandise, and are finally
domiciled in the homes, where they become
the pets Of the family.