A cardboard carton approximately 8{~DOUBLE PRIME~} × 8{~DOUBLE PRIME~} × 12{~DOUBLE PRIME~} is suitable for shipping
one or two canaries. Cover all joints inside the bottom of box with
gummed tape to prevent loss of feed supply by sifting. Cut a row of six
small holes near the top for ventilation. Next cut an opening on one
side for a window. The window need not be more than 3{~DOUBLE PRIME~} square. In cool
weather cover this opening with reinforced, transparent plastic window
material, usually available at hardware stores or poultry supply
dealers. In warm weather, use a small square of regular wire screen,
secured in place with heavy package wrapping tape. Cut an opening on the
opposite side for a door approximately 3{~DOUBLE PRIME~} square, leaving one of the
four sides uncut to act as a hinge. Use a clean evaporated milk can for
a water cup. Cut an opening about one inch square in the top of the can
near the edge. Place the can on the floor of the box against the two
sides forming a corner near the window. The opening in the top of the
can should be toward the center of the box. Secure the can in position
with a piece of wire. Loop the wire around the can and run the ends
through the two sides of the box forming the corner. The ends of the
wire should then be folded flat and held in place with tape. Filling the
container half full of clean imitation sponge will help to prevent the
water in the can from spilling.
Using small tacks, nail a perch across the narrow width of the box at
the window end 1½{~DOUBLE PRIME~} from the floor and close enough to the water
container so that the canary can reach it from the perch. The perch must
not be closer than four inches from the end of the box to prevent injury
to the bird's tail feathers.
To provide additional moisture, wire a half an orange to the corner of
the box nearest the other end of the perch. The orange should be placed
so the bird can reach it easily from the perch. The sliced side of the
orange should face into the box, and the wires should be taped on the
outside. Scatter several tablespoons of seed and a few teaspoons of
gravel on the floor. Seal the box at the top with gummed tape. Label top
of carton in bold black letters "LIVE BIRD"--"THIS SIDE UP." Print
addresses "TO" and "FROM" plainly. Admit canary and seal door with
gummed tape. Tie carton securely with heavy wrapping cord.
[Illustration: CUT-AWAY VIEW OF CANARY SHIPPING CASE]
a. Ventilation holes
b. Door taped shut
c. Half orange wired to corner of box
d. Window with wire screen covering taped in position
e. Water cup wired to corner of box
f. Perch
It is a good plan to call the Express Company to get a routing and time
of train departure so the bird need not wait in the depot for hours
before train time. When possible take the bird to the Express office
yourself. Have all necessary papers written up. These will be supplied
in advance by the Express Company. Birds must be insured for full value,
otherwise the Express Company will pay no more than $5.00 in the event
the bird is lost, stolen, or accidentally killed.
_A Gallery of Canary Portraits_
Each bird in this collection of thirty-six life-size canary portraits
was painted from an actual live model carefully selected to typify the
best qualities of a particular breed or type. To appreciate fully the
beauty of these paintings, stand the book upright and view them at a
distance of from four to five feet as you would paintings in an
exhibition gallery. North light will be found better than most
artificial illumination.
William C. Dilger, one of America's most talented ornithological
artists, painted these outstanding canary portraits. At the time the
paintings were made, Mr. Dilger was completing work for his Doctor's
degree at Cornell University. Mr. Dilger has had many years of
experience in the field of bird painting. As a boy, he found his
greatest pleasure in drawing birds. Even while in the Army in World War
II, he found time to continue his study by sketching wild birds native
to India and the Far East. This collection of paintings truly represents
a "labor of love."
Mr. George F. Mitchell of Toronto, Canada, one of the continent's most
highly regarded bird show judges, supervised the descriptions in the
"Gallery Catalogue" and served as consultant throughout the preparation
of the paintings. Mr. Mitchell is well-known both in Canada and the
United States for his efforts in connection with bird shows.