The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-14

entirely to the comparatively few canarles
raised for the trade in this country. Most
of those imported have already been train
ed to sing accurately, although after their
long sea voyage they need a little extra
training to bring their voices to perfection.
The best trained canaries are the st. An
draesberg canaries, whose notes are con-
sidered the finest of any in existence. Orig
inally these notes were obtained by plac-
ing a nightingale in the breeding room of
the young canaries, and the natural clear
toned voices quickly blended the song in
with their natural notes. In time, by care
full breeding and selection, the present
type of the st. Andraesberg canary was
produced, but the pure, bracing air of the
Hartz mountains is considered necessary
for the proper development of one Of these
superb singers. true St Andraesberg
singer cannot, 1t is believed by bird train
ers. be reared outside of the Hartz noun
tains, and it is claimed that only about 10
per cent of those raised in their native
place ever pass the critical examination Of
the judges. They are sold according to the
perfection of their song power, the best
imported bringing as much as $25 to $50
apiece, and ordinary ones as little as "a to
S. AS rule, they are very small and in
significant looking birds, and not until
they have opened their little threats to
sing does one comprehend their mission in
life.
The German bullhnches are imported
into this country in larger numbers ev-
cry year, and as they are trained with
the greatest care, they are rapidly becom-
ing as popular. as the canary. The young
bullfnches are taught their lessons when
about two weeks old. They are then taxi
en- to dark room, and at the proper time
the trainer admits lights and begins to
whistle a tune. These German trainers
IN ~
though deficient in many Of the graces Of
life they can whistle songs as correctly
as another man can play them on a cor
net or piano One false note would be
sufficient TO ruin the teachers reputation.
Only one bird at a time can be taught,
and each one receives an hours lesson
every day. Then another pupil is brought
in, and the German trainer renews his
whistling. So he whistles and whistles
from morning until night, varying his la
bors only by teaching a different tune to
a different bird.
In Germany the young bullhnches are
first taught by the strains of a reed or
gan They are placed IN a dark ROOM
while the trainer plays on a small organ
by the hour The birds have this drilled
into them so thoroughly that when they
do pipe they strike the right note every
time. The flute is also used extensively
now by trainers, and it Is a successful
substitute for the whistle The music
formerly taught by the trainers was Of
the old style German hymns; but to-day
nearly all Of the bullfinches are taught 10
pipe the popular songs, operas and waltzes
Prices for bullhnches vary also accord
ing to their accomplishments. Ordinary
tanned. but unframed, bullfinches can be
purchased In New York from SO to IS, but
those that are taught to pipe sell for con-
siderably more They are classified ac-
cording 10 the number of tunes they have
acquired Thus a bullhnch that has mas
tered only part of a tune sells from $40
10 s25. but one that pipes the whole of a
tune without an error easily commands
from S25 to $50, and a bird Of two tunes
Is worth from $50 to $50 Extra fine bull