Evening star., 1903-12-19

The original home of the canary was in
the Canary Islands. These are warm,
sunny islands. not far from the west coast
of Africa. Winter Is almost unknown
there, and before the bird catciiers came
the canaries must have led happy lives
The birds were trapped and sent to sll
the countries of Europe. The first canaries
brought to America came from Germany IN
1912. 1t was a long voyage In a sailing
vessel and many of the poor little prisoners
afed on the way. The birds are put 'nto
wicker cages so small that there is scarcely
room to stretch their wings. These cages
are packed in boxes or crates, and one
hundred and sfxty-eight birds are sent IN
one crate.
The birds are kept in the tiny cages ant'l
they are sold. The cups of food and water
are put inside the cages. Sometimes when
they are moved to a larger cage the oirds
do not know where to look for their food
They have been known to die of hunger
because they could not find their seed cups
which Tn their new cages were on the out
side.
Every day when the cage is cleaned fresh
water and food should be placed In it.
Birds like daily bath IN a shallow dish of
tepid water. After the hath they should
have an hour or two of liberty. Ii Is unkind
to keep them shut up In a cage all the
time.
After bird has had his morning frolic
he should not be chased frightened into
his cage. When the little fellow Is hungry
he will be glad to go back. especially if he
sees there bit Of food that he likes. In
time he viii even learn to fly to the out
stretched fingers of his master Or mistress,
and will answer as web as he can the
caressing tones that he loves.
A canary Is one OF the most sensitive
creatures in the world. A harsh or sudden
noise disturbs it, and a severe fright may
XIII II
Canaries like the sunshine and dread the
pofd hnft hov ato5 mot bc laff In ey1n
In warm weather. Do not hang the cage In
draft or away from the light. 1t should
be about five feet from the floor and not too
near register or radiator.
Once I'm a month the cage must be thor
oughly wished and the perehes scalded IL
you wish your birds home to be healthful.
The floor and perches will always need
cleaning every day. Coarse sand should be
sprinkIed on the brown paper which covers
the bottom of the cage. At night put the
cage In dark room or spread over it
square of soft dark material in such way
that the air is not shut out.
The ordinary. bath tub provided for a
canary is. much too small. Mrs. Olive
Thorne Miller says that 1t should be nearly
as wide as the spread jof his; wings, so that
he can beat the water and toss it over him
self in a spray. A common earthen saucer
belonging to "a flower pot is very good. AS
this saucer Will be too large to go through
the cage door, 1t should be placed on a
large folded cloth or paper and the upper
part of the cage placed over it, While the
bird is taking his bath the floor of the
cage may be made clean for the day.
1t Is good plan to give canary bread.
cracker, and a little of the hard-boiled
yolk Of an egg, or a piece of apple. In
summer he will enjoy a bunch of chick
weed; in winter he may have bit of let
tuce or cabbage leaf He should have
something green every day. OF course, he
must have also canary or rape seeds and
occasionally very little hemp seed for a
treat.
If the canary or rape seed is poor the
bird will scatter it and refuse to eat It.
Only seed which Is large and clean should
be used. 1t Is better to buy each kind by
itself and mix them afterward. The hemp
seed is so rich that not more than half a
small teaspoonful should be given at q
time. 1t is best to mix the hemp seed
thoroughly with the other seed, for the
bird is like a child with box of bonbons-
he will eat his dessert Qor that is what he
considers his hemp seed and scorn the
staff of life just as. child will do if
allowed to follow his own inclinations But
If the seed is thoroughly mixed the little
fellow will eat the substantial part of his
diet along with his 'bonbons''
Mosquitoes sometimes annoy a canary
very much. A loose bag of netting thrown
over the cage will save him from unneces-
sary suffering. Indeed, the bite of a mos
quito is exceedingly poisonous to some
canarieS, and has been known to kill the
delicate little things When these little
prisoners are in our care we must do what
we can to make them happy, and we must
remember that they need space and sun
shine
Make your bird think his cage n hone5
not a prison, and he Will repay your love
with wealth of song and many dainty
tricks or cunning and intelligence and
ABOVE ali with unwavering love! A. e.