The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-01
SWEET SINGERS.
THE ART OF TRAINING BIRDS
TO TALK AND SING.
Different Varieties Of Canarfes-
Artificially Coloring Their Plum
AEGEAN Interesting Chat
With q Bird Fancier.


In small building not far from Penn.
sylvania avenue, says Washington S'or
reporter, lives bird fancier surrounded
by scores of his pets. Ranged on either
side of long room are cages filled with
almost every species of song and talking
birds.
"Are canaries as popular as ever'' the
reporter recently asked him.
II hardly think so," was tie answer;
"for the last year or 80 the canary has
been slighted, and people are looking
for something in the way of a songster
to take its place."
"Are the canaries that are shipped to
this country trapped in their native
landW asked the reporter.
"Oh, no; no doubt many people think
so, but the domesticated canary is vastly
superior to those found in wild state.
In some parts of Germany people make
canary raising speciality, and their
superiority over the wild birds is solely
due to the watchful study which has
been given them"
"How are birds traiueda" asked the
reporter.
"WeIl, perseverance and kind treat
ment 60 a long way toward its accomp-
lishment. Some people hold that by
starving bird you can reduce it to sub
lection and make it eat from your hand.
To certain extent this is so, but the re-
suits thus attained are not good, and the
bird will forget the severe lesson you
have taugh ght it after it has plenty to eat
again. A httle hemp seed poked
through the wires of the cage several
times day will soon be eagerly sought
for, and in few days by holding your
hand in the cage you will find that your
previous lessons have been of great bene-
fit to the bird, for it will hop on your
finger and take the seed without any
fright whatever"
"How many varieties of canaries are
there?" asked the reporter.
"Theres the St. An lreasberg, taking
its name from small village on the
summit of the Harz Mountains, the
Belgian or long breed canary, coming
principally from Antwerp, Ghent and
Brussels. The latter is of most
peculiar shape, aud its body, when at
rest, should conform to right angle
line drawn from the crown Of the head
to the tip of the shoulders should form
one side, and line from the tip OF the
shoulders to the tip of the tail should
form the other side of the angle. Then
there's the English canary, embracing
the Norwich or deep gold canary, the
London fancy, the gold and silver
lizards, the Scotch fancy, the Yorkshire,
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 canaries,
while not in themselves distinct species
of canary, are the latest fruits of scien-
tiic 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 be young
feathers, but which are really tubes in
which the blood circulates, the coloring
matter for the feathers is made. Food
especially prepared is now for sale, and
any one can, by taking their bird in
proper season, make it beautiful orange
color.
"Do you know how the food is made2"
asked the scribe, interrupting him.
eyes. Take the best quality of
Cayenne pepper, aheaping spoonful. and
add one finely grated hard boiled egg
and an equal quantity of grated bread.
Mix the whole thoroughly together and
sprinkle with pulverized sugar. Com.
mence feeding the bird when it is seven
or eight weeks old, and after period Of
two weeks feeding the orange color will
be surely set.
"There is q variety of canary known
as the American" the fancier said, "but
its origin is like that of common
chicken. The only thing I know of in
its favor is that it is a hardy bird"
els there any truth in the statement
that canaries can be taught to pipe a
tune?" ventured the reporter.
"Canaries may be taught to whistle a
tune if when young it is taken away
from other birds and the tune played or
whistled to it several times a day.
Canaries have been known to talk, but
such birds are very rare.
"There is one other kind of bird l
want to tell you about" said the bird
man. "While not strictly speaking q
canary, it is closely allied to it. 1t g
the Mule bird, being the offspring of
canary and almost any other small seed
feeding bird. 1t is usually of very
brilliant color, a fine songster, and very
hardy"
The bird fancier invited the reporter
to converse with his great talking bird.
It was found in a large cage in one
corner of the room, and when the re-
porter approached it exclaimed in very
distinct voice. "Call the dog" The
mino flor such is its species) is q native
of the East Indies, and was obtained di-
rect from an importer in New York. 1t
is possessed of glossy black plumage,
shading into several other colors. The
wings have bar of white, formed by
series of tipped feathers, and back Of
the eyes are two bright yellow flaps.
The beak is of deep orange and the feet
are yellow.
This Bird" said the fanc;er, "is one
of the best specimens | have ever seen.
He says more than any other bird of its
kind, and whistles perfect tune. 1t ls
valued at $500. The mnc differs from
the parrot, inasmuch as it will reply
when spoken to-"
- Zone must be careful to see that the
cage in which a bird is confined is suited
to its habits and disposition" said the
fancier. "Sometimes bird will appear
very restless, flying to the top and Gran