CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 5

CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES.

"I'm pretty sure that if, somfe years ago, Hitler, had been given a few '. budgerigars to play with the world /would have been a much nicer place to live in than it is now. He would not have had time to worry about international situations. He would have been too busy perhaps trying to work out what happens when an opaline-yellow-wing dark green is mated to s> cinnamon-fallow grey white' blue. That would keep anyone out of mischief for quite a ' while." The above was. given in an address in England; recently. I wonder if there are any local breeders who could forecast the outcome of the above mating., , .'■ ... i There are over 100 different colour varieties in budgerigars, all of which are attainable by correct breeding. It is not only ■ possible to produce the colours, but to fix "them; that is, "like to beget like" in succeeding matings. As a. guide to geneticists experimenting and studying laws of heredity the birds are widely used. Lack of feathers, or it may he a bird looking patchy, a few feathers out here and there, can be mistaken for French moult. Look to see if there are signs ot feather plucking; birds can be caught in the act sometimes. If

it is definitely proved that the birds have developed this vicious habit, look to their feeding. See your bird dealer and secure the food necessary- to correct the trouble. Sonie vitamin food is lacking in the ration. Here is another idea for show promoters. At the National’ Red Cross Exhibition of Cage Birds, held at Westminster, England, a feature was a special stand at which experts were.in attendance. Birds representing every breed were seen on the stand, and all queries as far as possible, were answered. The experts were kept busy, and did much to create interest in the show. There were amongst the huge entries 1400 border fancy canaries