Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-01-27
THE CANARY BIRD.
The Gray, the Yellow, the
White, BlackiSh and
Chestnut.

Among the different tribes OF song
birds the canary bas long been estab-
lished as the favorite, it's melodious
song, beautiful plumage and domes-
tic habits having won for it place in
every household, and gained for it
the name of the universal parlor
bird" The Canary Islands are the
most frequented haunts of the species.
According to the observations of
Adamson Labillarde and others. The
prevailing color of the bird iu its
wild state is gray or brown. mingled
with other colors, but never reaching
the brilliancy of fplumage exhibited by
the bird in captivity. The introduc-
tion of the canary of Europe is stated
by some to have taken place in the
Fourteenth century, but Beckstein
sets it down "a the beginning of the
Sixteenth.
The principal varieties are the gray,
the yellow. the white. the blackish
aud the chestnut. and it is from their
combination that we derive tbs nun
erous varieties koown to breeders.
Those canaries that have the upper
part of the body of dusky green or
linnet brown aud the under part the
yellowish green of the green bird.
with dark brown eyes, are the strong
est, and most nearly resemble the
primitive bird. The yellow and white
often have red eyes and are the most
tender. The chestnuts are the most
common, and hold middle rank for
strength and length of time between
the two extremes. AS the plumage
of the intermediate varieties is mix
ture of the principal colors enumerat-
ed. their value depends on the pretty
and regular manner in which they
are marked It seems to be admitted
by competent authorities that the
canary most admired among falciers
is the one with the body " hite or yell
low; the head irticularly if ceestsd
wings aud tail vellowish duo. The
second in degree is of a golden yell
low, with the head, wings aud tail
black, or at Least dusky gray. NexG
follow the gray or bisckish, with q
yellow head aud collar. aud the yel-
low, With blackish or green tuft,
which is very much valued. Those
that are irregu!arly spotted, speckled
or variegated are much less sought
after than the others, aud are used to
pair with those of one color, such as
white, yellow gray or gray brown
The canary breeds freely with al.
lied species of birds. and many by
brids are recognized by breeders
among them being the following:
Mules bred from the hen canary and
goldfinch; male siskin green bird or
citrilfnch, as well as those bred from
hen canary and linnet or bullfioch
Besides those chalfincaes, yellow
hammers and other birds have been
tried, but have not proved
successful. Iu recorded instances
where mules haye been bred the Ca
nary has always been the mother, the
reason being that female of the
other species could not be induced to
lay her eggs in an artificial nest as
the canary does In order to obtain
bright and good plumage. those birds
whose spots are we'll de6aed should
be placed together. A browns h
gray or greenish bird paired with one
Of lively yellow color often produ.
ces young Of q dim white aud other
admired colors.
An eminent authority. in speaking
of the choice of a bird, says: "Slcri-
fee color to accomplishments; you
will never repent it. Nature seldom
gives us rare beauty and great accom-.
plishments united" Canaries seldom
show sulkiness OF disposition and
experience goes to show that this
amiability of disposition is quite
| characteristic of this bird of the For.
tunate Isles, whose nature appears TO
be as sunny aud genial as the cline
from which it originally came Al
though the canary. as donlesticated
bird, is the easiest of all others TO
take care OF and his treatment the
most simple, there are many persons
whose ideas on this subject are very
limited
As to their food. the more simple
and natural has been always found
to be the most productive of good
health and cheerfulness; while on the
other hand. mixtures, introduced by
many, such as hemp. oatmeal. oats,
sugar, sweet cake, biscuit and such
like. 30 far from being wholesome are
injudicious The main point is To
obtain pure and fresh seed for them.
Rape seed, when old or kept too long
in damp place, becomes musty, gets
bitter taste and won't agree at all
with birds. The canary seed must
be clean and of glossy hue. feel
heavy, to be free from musty smell
and have sweet tpste.
Persons keeping canaries 70. their
singing should keep them in cages of
about foot in diameter. either round
or square, az 10 large cage they will
not sing 80 well. having too much
room TO fly about and amuse them
btiFCo, WHICH, III Biohb uoS'UO, e"A"o
away their attention from singing.
IL i5 not necessary to keep these birds
in very warm room in the winter
season. as they can endure a great
deal Of cold without injury but they
should be kept in as equal q temper
ature as possible.
A short time before the birds are
put to breed they should be fed with
higher food, such as hard boiled egg,
chopped up fine, white and yolk to-
gether, exclusive of their general seed.
Good birds, when put together will
generally mate within week. which
is easily known by their attention to
each other. After mating they COM
mence building the nest, and in about
week tho hen begins to lay from
two to six eggs. ore each day in sue.
cession, on which she will sit thirteen
days, when the young ones will come
out, one after tho other. 1t Ia wrong
TO take the eggs from under her
while she is laying, Tor the purpose
Of hatching them Mt ono time; it is
best to let nature have its way in this
case
As soon IA the little ones are
hatched they may be fed, besides
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