Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-23
BIRDS THAT SING AND TALK.
The Curious Contents Of q Bird Fan
ciers, Establishment.

The Curious Contents Of Bird Fan
| ciers' Establishment.
|
| 4 CHAT WITH rHR MASTER or rHR Brnps-prYYRRINr
| VARIETIES OF CANARIEs-How THEY ARE THOUGHT
TO THIS coUNTRY-PRoDucrNa CHANGES IN THE
| PLUMAGE-rHI ArNo AND TIE PARROT.
In sman building, not far from Pennsylvania
avenue. lives bird fancier surrounded By scores
OF his pets. Ranged on either side Of Q long room
are cages. filled with almost every species OF song
and talking birds.
1.-THE business is interesting said the bird man
to STAR reporter, "but that's all Pecuniarily
speaking 1t don't amount to much, and then again
| 1t takes great amount OF care and worry 70 even
get living out Of It"
| "Are canaries as popular as ever3'
~ hardly think So" was the answer: ''for the
last year or so the canary has been sighted. and
people are looking for something In the way OF q
| songster to take It's place"
country trapped in their native landi" asked the
reporter.
ION, no; no doubt many people think 30. but the
found IN wild state. In some parts OF Germany
people make canary raising specially, and their
superiority over the wild birds Is solely due to the
watchrul study which has been given them. The
Wild canary Is green and gray, while as you know
the domesticated variety Is vastly different"
THE TRIP ACROSS THE OCEAN.
SLOW do the birds like the ocean trip" Queried
| the reporter?
"Ihat's the hardest part Of the whole business.
| Few people who own birds, or who are charmed
Dy their sweet voices, are aware OF the hardshlps
the little fellows have to undergo in coming to this
country. The birds are generally sent over In
charge OF two men, but one Is generally enough
bis first duty alter watering and feeding Is to see
that the crates are made fast, for heavy weather
would break everything loose and kill many OF the
birds. The crates vary from to feet In height.
When at sea the attendants work begins in earn
est, and day and night he Is on the lookout lest
some unknown accident occur. Each bird must
| receive its ratiOns OF food and water every day.
There is disease peculiar to canaries known as
and carries them OF in great numbers; the disease
Is mainly due TO improper ventilation, or over
.Do rats bother birds that are being shipped."
Indeed they do. The willy fellows, in the alb
sns
They never devOur the birds. They operate much
the same as wea Ell, cutting the birds throat and
vsed TO drive the rats OF. The attendant some
| Times jerks string, having number OF tin cans
t te 10 one ne END making haeoas noise during
sign bearing the inscription ''Meal worms for
SALE arrested the reporters attention, and, turn.
| ing to the bird man, he inquired what meal worms
| were.
"They are worms bred in meal and bran," said
ne, "but step this way and will show you some.
| Accordingly, The STAR man followed, and was
| soon peering into box lined with zinc and con-
talnlng myrads OF tiny sQuirming worms ''Those
and are intended for what we term SOFT bin birds
they are the best thing In the world with which
10 train. as the shiest bird Will readily take one OF
"A set Of young knocking birds lately shipped from
New Orleans set up shrill cry as the bird man
approached, telling their master that they were
"1hese little fellows" said he, ''seem to know
me, and whenever they are hungry and see me
pass they tell me In this way" Taxing the young
BIRDS from the cage the bird man held them In one
hand, while with the other he poked combination
OF hard boiled egg, mixed with boiled potatoes and
N hon min nlD hS
'How Can you tell when they have enough?"
them"
TRAINING BIRDS.
"How are birds trained?" asked the reporter.
swell, perseverance and kind treatment go q
long way toward its accomplishment. Some
people hold that by starving bird you can reduce
II TO subsection and make It eat from your hand.
attained are not good, and the U1rd will forget the
severe lesson you have taught 1t aferit has plenty
to eat again little hemp seed poked through
the wires OF the cage several times day will soon
be eagerly sought for, and In rev days by holding
your hand IL the cage you will ind that your pre-
| vlous lessons have been OF great benefit to the
bird, for 1t viii hop on your finger and take the
| seed without any fright whatever"
show many varieties OF canaries are there?'
There's The st. Andreasberg, taking its name
| from small village on the summit Of the Harz
Mountains, the Belgian or long breed canary COM
ing principally from Antwerp, Client aud Brussels
The latter Is OF most peculiar shape and its body
| when at rest, should couform to right ange-a
line drawn from the crown OF the head to the tip
| or the shoulders should form side, and line
IRON the tip Of the shoulders to the tip the tail
should form the other side OF the angle. Then
| there's the English canary, embracing the Nor
wich or deep gold canary, the London fancy, the
gold and silver lizards the Scotch fancy the York
| shire, the Manchester or Lancashire, and these
different classes are subdivided by cross-breeding
making other varieties OF lesser fame. The French
canary Is another species but that variety is
merely an extract OF the Belgian bird Cayenne
fed canar1es, while not In themselves O distinct
species or canary are the latest fruits OF scientific
research, and deserve TO be CLASSIFIED. In the early
stage OF the growth OF feathers, the canary is fed
with cayenne pepper mixed with Its regular food
In the little quilts supposed TO Oe young feathers
but which are really tubes In which the blood cir
cuiates, the coloring matter tor the feathers is
made Food especially pre- pared Is now for sale,
and any one can, BY taxing their bird In proper
season, make 1t a beautiful orange color.
"DO you know how the food Is made?" asked the
ayes. Take the best quality Of Cayenne pepper,
a heaping spoonful, and add one finely-graUed
hard-DOied egg, and an equal quantity OF grated
bread. Mix the whole thoroughly together and
Ing the bird whe2 it is seven or eight weeks Old.
and after period OF Two weeks feeding the orange
color will be surely set
"There Is a variety OF canary known as the
American" the fancier said, "but its origin is like
that Of a common chicken. The only thing
know OF in its favor is that 1t is hardy bird"
sis there any truth in the statement that cana
ries can be taught to pipe tuner" ventured the
reporter
'CduaTlcS may U0 taught W whistle 3 tune III
when young 1t IS taken away from other birds and
the tune played or whistled to 1t several times a
day. Canaries have been known to talk, but such
birds are very rare"
"What do you do when your birds are taken
sick?"
"Why, doctor them, of course, have here
about twenty-five different medicines, and as soon
as one ails l make an examination and physic him
accordingly. There Is one other Kind OF bird
want 10 tell you about, SAID the bird man. while
not strictly speaking canary, 1t is closely allied
tot It Is the Mule bird, being the offspring OF a
bird 1t Is usually OF very brilliant color fine
songster, and very hardy.
"How is IT." asked the reporter, shat you catch
bird SO easily when you wish 10 examine it?"
There's great knack In It Some people grab
around the cage and succeed In frightening the
bird almost to death before catching it first
remove all the percheS, and wait until the bird
gets settled then make a quick pounce on it and
very rarely to get IL. To hold 1t secure with
out ruf1ing his pumage take the tips or the
wings and the tail between the thumb and fing-
ers."
The bird fancier invited The STAR man to con-
verse with his great talking bird. 1t was found In
large cage In one corner OF the room, and when
the reporter approached 1t exclaimed in a very
distinct voice: 'Call the dog" The mino for such
is its species, is native Of the East Indies and
was obtained direct from an importer In New
York. 1t Is possessed OF q glossy black plumage
shading into several other cOlors. The wings
have bar OF white, formed by q series Of tipped
low flaps The beak Is OF deep orange, and the
feet are yellow.
"This bird" said the fancier, sis one Of the best
specimens have ever seen. He says more than
any other bird OF its kind, and whistles a perfect
tune. 1t is valued at 5000 The mino differs from
to. The best parrots are generally silent when you
wish them 70 talk, but that Is not the case with