Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-01-09
SONG AND FANCY BIRDS.
A Look Around a New York
Bird Fancier'S Store.
Something About the Price Paid for
.Canaries and Other Birdz.


In an interview with a New York
SIN reporter, a bird fancier said: "Of
course we do far more business ia ca
naries than in all tie other. birds put
together. They range in price from
the cheap German canary at $3.50 and
the IIartz Mountain bird at $3.50 to
the fine Andreasburg canaries at from
$50 to so each. These last are Of a
peculiar breed which is raised only in
Andreasburg. They are very hardy,
and are the best singers in the world.
They are sold only once a year at a
bird market held in December, and at
other times it would be almost impos-
sible to procure one. They are bred in
the spring and are kept until winter
before they are sold, in order that they
may be taught to sing well. Tunes
are taught to them by grinding al or
gan near them.
These gray back birds are gold and
silver spangled lizards or English ca
naries. They are a hardy bird, and are
bred in Norwich and Manchester.
They sing very sweetly.
The ordinary American robin sells
for 81. He is not much of a singer,
but some people like to haye him about
the house. This red-breasted English
robin, not much larger than a canary,
is worth s.. a hooking bird from
Virginia is worth SO when in good
voice, and the imported nightingale is
worth SIS. English or German black
birds and thrushe5 are worth Sc each.
Here is a little gray bird that
doesn't look very valuable, but his
price is $25. He is a bullfinch, and he
can sing Polly Perkins"
Mr.. Reiche ducked his head in little
mods from side to side before the bird,
and said very softly, Come, Hans"
and whistled a few notes. Hans rufled
up his feathers and sang Polly Per-
hins' very sweetly.
can %untaught bullfinch." said Mr..
Rciche. ais only worth $50. 1t takes
months to train one, and it is necessary
that the bird should be exceedingly
tame. 1t is taken from its nest in
February, as soon rs it is able to eat,
and is kept separate from other birds.
The teacher sings to it every day for
three or four months until it learns
the tune.
"IIere is cage of African and Aus
tralian iinches. They are named &C
cording to the coloring of their feath-
ers. There are black head and white
head nuns, nutmegS, tigers, and cut
Threats. The latter are so-called from
the crimson band under the throat.
Tigers are worth 81, and the others So
"A pair. These Spanish linches from
Cuba bring s. a pair. German sky
larks sell for 81. Parroquets bring S.,
SO and SIS each, the last being the
very rare Madagascar variety, Aus
tralian shell parroquets are 50 a pair.
They are these little green birds, and
they become very tame.
"Cockatoos vary according to their
abilities. This yellow-trested fellow
is worth So, as he is a good talker."
MIR. Rciche tapped on the cage ans
said: Hello cockatoo." Hello your,
self replied the bird.
This roschead NolucCa bird is wortl
So. 1t doesn't talk. Parrots VARY
according to their scarcity and thei
ability TO talk. good takers beins
worth from SO upward. Other par
-ots are: Blue Amazon, $40; Cuban
s.: Maracaibo, s.; common Amazon
80; double yellowhead, SIS, and gra,
parrot. SIS.
This is hardly 4 bird" said MI
Reiche. as he tapped a tank containin.
a good-sized alligator. That felloy
is from Florida. and we have a de
mand for them from biological gar
dens in Europe. Salable ones ar
from five to ten feet in lengt,., and tn
price is from $50 To - a foot. tn
longest being worth the most. ] Sc
two or three hundred a year