The Scott Archive: breeding register 1950
One of my favourite documents from John Scott’s estate passed to me by his son Dougal, is his breeding register from 1950 to 1968. ... Read More
General
History, Part 10: a dozen things you probably didn’t know about Hervieux
For such an important and widely published author, we know surprisingly little about Hervieux de Chanteloup, whom we met in History 9.... Read More
Bird’s eye view: Who’ll crack the enigma?
We all like a good mystery tale, and the London Fancy is the biggest mystery in the canary world. ... Read More
History, part 9: the turn of the century
My history series has reached 1700. A good time to take stock, like one of those end-of-year magazine articles that review past events, look at current trends, and attempt to forecast future developments. ... Read More
Ephemera: oiseleurs
Just as I was preparing the article on the oiseleurs of Paris, John Canepa sent me some old photographs showing a French bird market and its customers. ... Read More
Practice: hens who know best
A Lizard canary hen on the nest, nothing unusual about that. Now take a closer look: the nest is on the floor. Why some hens do this I don’t know, but I trust their instincts.... Read More
History, part 8: the oiseleurs of Paris
Anyone who wanted to buy a pet bird in Paris in the late 1600s would have known exactly where to find one: the quai de la Megisserie, a bustling area on the right bank of the Seine (1); or, if it was a Sunday, on the Vallée de Misère and the Pont au Change at […]... Read More