Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-20
TRAINING OF CANARIES.
Where They Come From and How
They Are Taught to Sing.

The breeding and training of canarieS.
q large number of which are shipped
to the United States from Harz
Mountains, in Germany, is an interest
ing and little. known industry. The
breeding and selling Of canaries in Ger
many has reached such proportions
that it now controls the markets of the
world The annual value of the trade
is conservatively estimated to be $685.
600. In st. Andreasburg alone $4,000
birds a year are raised for export. For
an exceptionally good singer and
breeder at least 800 marks must be
paid, and 100 marks is often the price
of a good so-called "Vorsanger." or a
bird used to teach the young canaries
to sing by example. The normal price
for good singers varies from II to IS
marks. 1t may be mentioned that
the mark Is equivalent to about "a
cents.
Absolute quiet and undisturbed init
mate relations exist between the
breeder and his birds. Many OF the
so-called "Harz canaries'' which are
imported into the United States are
bred in the city of Magdeburg, where
some of the best singers are trained.
The training of the young birds to
sing correctly is one Of the most i'm
portant and laborious parts Of the
hreed tr's business. The young birds.
learning by imitation for the most
part, acquire bad singing as we'll as
good, and while it is the plan Of the
breeders that the birds should hear
only the good singing of the "Vor-
sanrers" some of them naturally
chirp and whistle in an undesirable
manner, and care must be taken that
these are removed before their COM
rades have acquired from them the
same bad habit and are rendered I'M
salablc The art of the breeder lies
in his ability to discover the slumber-
ing talent in the bird at an early age
and develop it to it's highest possibili-
ties.
Some birds show an exceptional tai
ent for trilling. while others are re-
markable for the beauty and variety OF
their song. The birds are divided into
classes and kept in separate rooms
those having harsh and sharp voices
being often placed in covered CAKES
where, instead of singing themselves,
they are forced to listen to other good
singers, through which their faults are
often overcome. The better singers,
after Passing Il certain stage, where
their habits are established and they
do not require the close daily watching
of the breeder are taken into a room
reserved for the best singers. Ihe
elementary training for the singer IS
generally finished by the end OF NO
yember. end the singing is at Its pest
at the beginning Of January. and again
al ter the mating time.
The canary is in every way a mouse
bird. and some people. with good IN
tcnticns Of giving the bird little fresh
air, make a serious mistake by hang
ing the cage out of the window on
the first warm spring day. The bird
IS not used to the outside air. as he and
his ancestors have been raised for CEN
turtles in the house, and the only re-
suit of this we'll intended kindness IS
cold, which results in partial, II not
entire, loss Of the voice. Canarles are
very sensitive to drafts, and some
singers, the results of years OF carcIui
breeding and training, have been
ruined by q few moments exposure 10
an omen window.