The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-21
CANARY BIRDS.
The Different Varieties Distinguished
in European Countries.

The Different Varieties as Distinguished
in European Countries.
About three hundred and fifty years
ago ship. returning from the islands
in the Atlantic which people then
called the Fortunate Isles. but which
were undoubtedly the Canaries, went
ashore on the coast of Italy, near Leg
horn. A cage of beautiful birds, capt
ured in those islands, was broken and
the birds were liberated. Through
some caprice, they did not take refuge
on the Italian mainland, but went to
the island of Elba, where in due time
they nested and bred and increased in
numbers. The Italians discovered that
they were admira bic singers and began
to capture them and sell them in cages.
This gave rise to traffic which soon
completely cleared the island of Elba
OF canary BIRDS so that not one was
left there in wild state.
From that time the history Of the
canary bird has been record of per-
petual imprisonment and of the trans
formation of his appearance and char
acter. He has become what we may
well be called an artificial bird. Every
nation of Europe has produced canary
OF q special type.
In their natural state, as they still
exist in the Canary and Madeira and
other Atlantic islands, the birds are Of
a grayish green or greenish brown color,
are not remarka bic for beauty, but they
are such exceeding energetic singers
, that they have been known TO burst the
membrane of their throat in pouring
forth their song.
Now and then birds are taken IN .
wild state in these islands and sold for
good prices in Europe or America. But
the ordinary canary of commerce is the
offspring of captive stock, and has been
greatly modified by breeding. Canaries
have, moreover. been crossed with lin
nets, fnches and other birds, until their
real race is uncertain
Canaries are now known as Ger
man" French, Belgian" English,
''Tyrolese." and so on according to the
forms and colors that have been pro-
duced in them The Belgian canaries
are sometimes eight inches long-the
wild canary is never more than five
and are remarkable for the elegance Of
their form and their rich orange color.
French canaries are light IN color.
Some of them, which ara entirely
white, command a high price.
The Germans and Tyroiesc. on the
other hand breed more for beauty of
song than Of plumage. Many Of their
birds have reverted TO the original
greenish brown color; but their powers
OF song have been developed IN high
degree by selection or training. Many
of them have been trained. hy being
kept in the dark in the hearing Of
nightingales, 10 initiate those wonder
ful singers
For hundreds OF these Tvrolese sing
ers a fearful fate Is reserved They
are sold 70 gin shop keepers IN England.
who keep them suspended above tneir
bars TO make their places cheerful
and attract custom In the atmosphere
Of such den the bird Izngaishes and
dies before many months Or years, and
another IS purchased TO take its place.
The English" bird. 50 called. Is 10:
reruarxz bic for song. bu; for planage
To be esteemed highly. Il must hare
head and BODY Of bright orange while /
Us wings and tail gaas. be black A /
single wrong" feather viii diminish /
the value o. tEe bird
Exhibitions 81 ezaarses are regularly /
held IN syarnhasn palace. London. and I!
no csnary has chance Of winning = /
prize unless az Is properly marked sTita /
black wings and tai The nxo1arE-na ]