The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-18

Mr. e. Barnespy, In HIS work on the
canary, mentions book published in
1903. in which twenty-eight varieties
are mentioned couprisiug nearly all
those OF the present day. When per-
lection of form has been attained, per
lection of color becomes the object OF
the canary exhibitor. Some of the lit
tie birds appear in orange plumage,
which exceeds in depth and richness
the colors of the orioles or tropical
tanagers- Buff is the name by
which this tint is known TO .'the
fancy" who, like most specialists, at
tach different set of meanings to
words in common use, when applied to
the mysteries of their craft The
means by which this beautiful tint is
conveyed to the plumage of a pale, al
most primrose yellow. bird like the
Norwich plain" canary, is so mechan-
zeal that if it were not for the part
played by nature in transferring pig
ment from food to teachers, it would
deserve CHASING with the manufacture
of green carnations and blue roses by
sleeping the stems in dyed liquids.
When about nine or ten weeks old
the young bird molts its first feathers
completely and acquires the plumage
of adult canaryhood. At this period
the owner devotes all the cosmetic ex-
perience acquired in a thousand gener-
etions of canary coloring TO artificially
darllen and enrich the tint of the new
feathers. Probably there is no other
creature in the world, not excluding
IL. L IL :
thoroughlyinto training to gain COM
plexion, for the mott lasts for 4 couple
of months. and during the whole time
the cosmetic process is never neglected.
1t consists entirely in feeding the bird
on food containing yellow coloring
matter, mainly from natural vegetable
dyes. The first step is TO induce il to
eat the flowers of marigolds. Canaries,
like most other hnches, are fond of
pulling to pieces and eating the petals
of flowers, and there is seldom much
difficulty in teaching them to eat the
brilliant blossoms. No morsei of green
leaves is allowed in the cage, but fresh
marigolds are given as long as they
will touch them, the ardent ''fancier"
being recommended to grow the
flowers in relays in his garden. SAT-
from cake and saffron water form
the solid and liquid accomplishments
of the marigold flowers, to which
cayenne-pepper is sometimes added.
This gives an almost scarlet shade to
some of the feathers, but sometimes
Injuries the health of the bird. But
saffron seems perfectly harmless, and
the canary eats and drinks the yellow
dyed food as gaily as the sparrows steal
the saffron fbres from the crocuses
themselves in the early spring. Nari-
Gus patent ''colorings'' are also used,
and are exhibited in front of the birds
which have thrived on them like food
and milk at show of prize babies.
Cochineal water is perhaps the deepest
in tint of any food given, but this does
not impart the characteristic red which
1t produces as dye.
As the shades of orange and yellow
suffer from dust and dirt, canaries are
most carefully bathed before exhibit
ton. A shaving brush, warm water,
and soft soap are the usual means en-
ployed, and a practical hand will
wash canaries by the dozen, at the rate
of seven or eight minutes each, trans
ferring each bird after its final douche
and rubbing with soft cloth, into the
drying cage, which stands before the
fire. Precision and Goodness of at.
tack are the qualities for a successful
washer; canaries, like babies, being apt
to catch cold and become miserable IL
the process be unduly prolonged.
'Color feeding" is, on the whole, the
most anxious and exciting preliminary
to exhibition, and fully deserves the
honor of quotation from Epictetus,
which Mr.. Barnesby, in his authorita-
tive work on the habits of his pets,
has prefxed to his chapters on the SUBJ
ject.