AMONGST THE AVIARIES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1256, 28 March 1878, Page 3

AMONGST THE AVIARIES.

A VISIT TO ME T. STAPLETON. [By an Amateur.] [from the press.] For many years past, at our exhibition of canaries, Mr Stapleton has held the premier position with his birds until his aviary has come to be regarded as the ci'ack one of Canterbury. When, therefore, I received an invitation to visit it and see the birds, notably some new arrivals recently imported per Pleiades, it was accepted with much pleasure. The aviary is situated in a sheltered spot, and every effort has been made to give the birds all the advantages of sun and air without exposing them to the chilling sou’westers or north-easters. Ibis divided into three rooms. In the first of these are locotcd some of Mr Stapleton’s breeding stock, comprising the most celebrated of his prize birds, which are now kept for breeding purposes, and a number of most promising-looking young ones. The inner room is also devoted to young ones which have grown somewhat, whilst in the further one are the best in the collection, a splendid lot of birds recently imported. The majority of Mr Stapleton’s birds are Norwich, and the’ new comers include buff cinnamon, yellow crested, and variegated. Before proceeding to examine the various cages my attention was called to a perfect host of prize tickets, nearly all first class, with which the walls of the room were covered. “ Yes,” said Mr Stapleton in answer to a question,” “ there’s about a hundred or so dating back to 1871, besides a lot that I have not put there.” Judging from what I saw Mr Stapleton must have taken nearly 150 first class prizes for his birds. Commencing at the outer room there are two large cages giving ample room for the birds to move about. In the centre [of the lower one is a small tree upon the branches of which the bright little birds clustered whilst we were looking at them. There were about twenty-five birds in each, mainly buff and yellow Norwich, though there were also one or two variegated. The peculiar red colour of the plumage —a beautiful deep warm tint of red mixing with the yellow and buff—excited my curiosity, and I remarked about it to Mr Stapleton. “Ah,” said he, “that’s a secret. When they have got their full feathers you will see what a color they’ll turn out. There’s nothing like it been seen here before, and I shall astonish some of the breeders when I exhibit them.” Of course after this I could ask no more, as it was evidently a secret of the trade, but certainly the color is the richest I have seen on any birds yet exhibited, and Mr Stapleton will no doubt repeat his victories of former years with his new lot. The birds arc just finishing their moulting, and the new feathers are coming well with splendid color. The youngsters in the inner room next came under review. Here were some very fine variegated birds, combining some very pretty markings, the green especially showing up well. As I have said, the best in the collection are the twenty birds recently received by Mr Stapleton from home. These are from some of the best aviaries in England, great trouble having been expended in getting the finest birds of their class to be found. In this Mr Stapleton was fortunate enough to secure the services of a relative, a noted fancier, ably assisted by Mr W. F. Warner, late of the Commercial here, whose care and assiduity in superintending the shipment of the birds mainly contributed to the residt of their all arriving in splendid condition. Amongst others may bo noticed a splendid crested Norwich, a variegated, and some fine yellows. All are remarkably free singers, and were in full song at the time of my visit. The importation is certainly a great acquisition to our canaries here, as the new comers are all good, and high prices were paid at home to secure them. In the two inner rooms the birds are in two rows of cages, which are fitted with sliding panels, so that they can be used for pairs or single birds. The feeding arrangements are complete, and the most scrupulous cleanliness, without which canary breeding would be but waste of time,_ is observed everywhere, Just before my visit Mr Stapleton had spent some six or seven hours putting all his birds through their ablutions in a large bath. Some idea of the work necessary may bo gathered from the fact that nearly 200 birds had to go through the process, Mr Stapleton has a considerable patch of ground devoted to growing millet for the birds, and has a large stock of this seed saved.

Though scarcely connected with canarybreeding, an account of a visit to Mr Stapleton’s would be incomplete [without reference to his cochins. In this department, as in the canary classes, Mr Stapleton has been exceedingly successful in securing first honors. He has now some very promising birds, many of which bear on their pens the record of victories in the shape of prize tickets. Some very handsome game bantams, which show a deal of quality, form the last sight in our tour of inspection. In conclusion, I may say that one can spend an hour or two far less pleasantly than in a stroll through Mr Stapleton’s aviaries.