Two Contradictory Articles
The two following articles certainly contradict one another. The first advocates making specific pairings to improve song quality in certain ways and claims that the results are predictable, just as the reults of pairings made by breeders of type or color canaries are. The second article claims that it is virtually impossible to predict the exact results of any pairing when it comes to song since there are so many unkowns involved in the genetic inheritance of song aptitude. Both articles point out the importance of training as a means of bringing that which is inherited to full flower, however.

APPLIED GENETICS
By Ramon Jose Monfort Sanchez
Translated from the Spanish by Sebastian Vallelunga

(The following article was written by Ramon Jose Monfort Sanchez, Spanish National Breeder C-59. As can be gleaned from the Valencia Malinois Club website, for which there is a hotlink below, he has had a tremendously successful career as a waterslager breeder. He has twice placed second at the World Championship; his best ever team total was 503 points; his best bird scored 135 with an 8 in klok; his highest ever klok score was 9, his highest Bol was 6 and Rol was 4; he has twice shown teams with total klok scores of 29 --6-6-9-8; 7-7-7-8--trans.)

Introduction

With this manual, which is composed of 3 well-defined parts, I only seek to help those breeders who like me feel a curiosity about such a magnificent singer. In this way, bringing the experience gained over the expanse of the years which has been joined with comments compiled by other breeders in various trustworthy documents that are both serious and full of indispensable basic knowledge, it is hoped that one will recognize the example of success that is continuously employed. This is my objective: to help those who feel doubts or think that the waterslager song canary is a delicate example of the species which requires special care, more than the other song breeds which exist, to realize that it is not so and that our subject bird only requires someone to cultivate it who, before all else, recognizes and knows what is required and when to do it.

We must not, for a moment, forget the pre-eminence of our Belgian sportsmen friends who breed their birds for excellence and pamper them, but the fact is that they have made them what they are. Many have paid a high price because of this truth. Here we speak not of mere chance, but of a culture in the service of sport. This fact could be ignored as coincidental except that from start to finish raising canaries there is a cultural sport.

Actually in Spain, thanks to the strength of the many breeders who have preoccupied themselves with waterslagers, one may already note a positive expansion and also a time of local judges (Let's not forget that in the end the judgments are not made behind closed doors. All that is required is a room which is perfectly suited and in which the birds and the judge can be seen and heard without being bothered by those in attendance. After all, until after the bird has sung his full song, it is pointless to debate the why's of giving preference to one note over another, etc.).

This is what we are actually reaching for, the unexpected heights after just a few years. There are continually more clubs formed in all of the Spanish territory. And, all can reflect, in the end, on the awards attained by Spaniards first at the 1983 World Championship in Italy-- best team, again in Italy in 1989-- 2nd and 3rd teams, in 1993-- 1st and 3rd teams at Breda, Holland, in 1994-- 1st team at Bocholt.

I believe we are on the right path but that we have, nevertheless, a lot of ground to cover, However, it is better that those who plan to cultivate this magnificent singer know, more time must be dedicated than perhaps we are disposed to give in certain stages, especially in the apprenticeship of the song, it is better for the bird that one who plans to dedicate himself to it has very clearly in mind that which is required by his bird, because to neglect it at any moment is, with certainty, to lose any strength gained at earlier stages.

We must clearly keep in mind that to dedicate ourselves we must devote sufficient time, that is to say all that we can give, operating under the premise that each case is distinct. One cannot pretend to learn in but a few hours a day what in reality takes twice as much time. If one is in need of motivation, it should be noted that dedication and commitment by breeders is directly tied to possibilities and achievements in breeding.

Needlessly breaking this golden rule assures failure and accounts for the constant lament that may be heard at competitions attended by some breeders; with the consequent disillusionment comes the later abandonment of breeding. For this reason, one who formerly recommended them, now puts all his waterslagers up for sale.

The breeding of waterslagers has known highs and lows, and in the course of the two world wars lost much of its popularity. But, starting in 1945, the breeding of waterslagers underwent a resurgence with new impetus to the degree that it has almost grown to a culminating point. Easier communication and more international relations have led to more important and more numerous contests, and this is surely not strange considering that the actual breeding occurs in the context of an international organization known as the World Ornithological Confederation (C.O.M.) which joins all the breeders and aficionados of canaries, in all their varieties, in the whole world.

By means of this organization, Belgian waterslagers have gained a world-wide reputation. Their breeding has expanded not only in Europe, but also in America (North, Central, and South).

Characteristics

The pure waterslager is a bird of robust constitution and of beautiful posture. The waterslager is more elegant and larger than the harz song canary. Various publications mention a size of 16 to 17 cm (6 1/2 to 6 3/4 inches--trans.). In comparison to most races of canary, the head is small, the neck a bit thicker, the torso is large and well-rounded with a well-carried shoulder. The legs are of medium size and are held slightly bent.

An imaginary line passing from the head to the tail along the back should form an angle of, more or less, 30 degrees to the horizontal. The plumage is tight, smooth, and without splits. Concerning color, the best are from straw yellow to golden yellow. A uniformly yellow or lightly ticked bird is recommended in selection.

Green colored waterslagers are to be rejected because their color betrays a cross with another canary race. It should be evident, then, that agates, cinnamons, and isabels are also not acceptable, nor are red factors nor silver factors nor frill feathered canaries.

Some Notions of inheritance

All living things, plant or animal, carry within themselves hereditary factors which proceed from father and mother to offspring. That is to say the parents pass on, in conjunction, 2 inherited factors for each characteristic. For example, the sex is determined in the same way as in color canaries: XX is a male, and XY is a female. Since we are focusing on song canaries in particular in the present material, let us cite the following as an example for the song characteristic known as "song direction":

If a canary possesses from paternal transmission the factor "wet song" indicated with a "W" (for water), and from maternal transmission the same "W" factor, the offspring canary, as far as song direction is concerned, would be indicated as "WW". If in this case the two inherited factors are identical, we speak of a direct transmission of the characteristic, or of its inheritance being homozygous.

Laws of Inheritance

The Law of Uniformity

If we cross a song canary that carries the inheritance WW (that is to say, being homozygous in that which concerns song direction) with another canary, also a WW, then every fertile egg will carry an inheritance of W from the paternal side in combination with an inheritance of W from the maternal side, and the hatched babies will all be carriers, without exception, of the WW factors. We can depict this cross as follows:

WW x WW

The factors of the same characteristic are shown in the same unique way, in the sperm cells of the male or in the egg cells of the hen. This is due to the reduction which is indispensable at the moment the reproductive cells are formed (the splitting of chromosomal pairs which occurs in the production of sex cells?--trans.). When the egg is fertilized, it contains within it the two factors which refer to the same song direction characteristic. We can depict the hen's egg cells as follows:


W W
(3) (4)

and the male's sperm cells as

W W
(1) (2)

If these sperm cells and egg cells are arbitrarily combined, we get combinations as indicated on the following chart:

W W
(3) (4)

W WW WW
(1) (1+3) (1+4)


W WW WW
(2) (2+3) (2+4)




This means that 100 % of the young canaries will have WW factors concerning song direction and will have a watery song. In conclusion, we can see that the descendents are uniform in this, due to a direct transmission, and from the point of view of heredity, this is called the law of uniformity.

Song Inheritance in Canaries

Generalities:
Before all else, it must be insisted that good health is the capital condition in obtaining a good song quality. Among others, the following are also important influences on song quality:

The influence of place and surroundings
The inherited structure of the vocal apparatus
The inherited predisposition for song

How can we possibly say enough about the effects of these factors? Let us approach them one at a time in order to appreciate what we may learn:

The influence of place and surroundings

What must be most especially understood about the influence of place in that which concerns song?
By "place" we mean, among other things:
firstly, a suitable tutor
secondly, a time , a place, and the correct circumstances in which the tutor can unfold his lesson.

The Tutor:

In order to understand the necessity of having at one's disposal an appropriate tutor, we must have a clear idea of that which we wish to obtain in the songs of our young canaries, that which we desire of them as an objective.

If we infuse our breeding program with this precise idea, the subsequent step will be to acquire a suitable example to carry out the job. It is logical to speak of an example at this point since what we want is the acquisition of an exemplar of song.

Concerning all males, tend toward those which possess the best song quality; seek out a clear voice and one without any fault notes which could be inherited.

Concerning hens, they must also arise from good singers of the same song direction as the males (Although the author uses the same term as in his WW example above, it seems he means something more specific here which might be better rendered as song strain or song line--trans.).

This is to say that one must acquire all birds from one song direction, from which the future tutor must also come. The importance here is that all must come, genetically speaking, from a group of individuals which have the same structure of the vocal apparatus. Luckily, in making this plan a reality, we can have the certain guarantee that the singing of the students will equal the singing of the tutor and in a few cases will even be superior to it. Where could we find a more suitable organ of song education than the father or a tutor of similar hereditary characteristics? I personally recommend that a male which is to be dedicated to tutoring the young should only be placed with a hen for a few short periods until the laying of the fourth egg. After that he should be removed from the breeding room and placed in a flight in a room apart from all forms of noise; here he will be joined by the young males until the month of August. During that month he should be separated into an individual cage and placed in a darkened spot. Now, when the molt normally appears, it is pointless to have him with the young. After the molt, listen to him very carefully again and again, because it can happen that in the time elapsed during the molt he may have acquired negative notes, and it is recommended that his song be rigorously scrutinized over a period of days before he is returned to his teaching duties.

Because of my experience in knowing the time at which to place the young into individual song cages, the manner of arranging these, when and how to tutor the young, and that once the young are placed into the individual song cages, they will unfold all of their inherited factors, I must share that:
Once the young are individually caged in the month of October, the tutor must be located in front of the students, in an individual cage, covered with a thin cloth, close enough for the young to be within the reach of his expanding sound waves and for them to have a correct reception of them. The tutor should be located about 2 meters in front of the young and at about half the height of the structure or cabinet in which the young are kept.

The reason for this is simple, using an easy and routine example, when we listen to a radio we turn ourselves toward the speaker in order to better hear. My experience, then, tells me always one in front of the other, but they should not see each other.

Any other means, whether natural or more commonly artificial, anything like records or cassettes, can bring no good, and may well do the contrary, and one should realize the consequences. Only with humane patience and with natural material, can one help at the necessary moments ensuring that the young can hear clear and valuable notes, and for that there is no better method than that already mentioned, a good selection of birds to start with and the putting into practice of a sound tutoring system afterwards.

I'm with those who hold that at some level the young learn song from the moment of their formation in the egg up until the 22nd or 32nd month. Later, all they will do is to reproduce that which they have heard during their time with the tutor. For me it is essential that the breeding males are only in the breeding room long enough to discharge their duty, that is to remain with the hen until the laying of the fourth egg. Immediately afterwards they should be pulled from the breeding room.

This point is directly linked to the effectiveness of the tutor; this is very important to keep in mind, so I'll explain it: In my case, for breeding purposes, I generally dedicate three hens to each male. That is to say, a male remains with each hen consecutively until a fourth egg is laid in each case; at other times he will alternate between two hens, being with one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, it's a matter of which plan works out. One can speak of cases which have been encountered, with exceptional males who although they have many positive song characteristics also possess nasal notes, overly strident notes, or sharp notes, or who sing too quickly to be beneficial tutors. They are very good breeders but must immediately, once they have done their duty in breeding, be separated from all other males including the tutors. Every little teacher has his little book, and for that reason each breeder runs his breeding room as he will. I think that it is a positive step to protect the young from the beginning from any stray noise or negative note. To make that point, let us remember that from the time the young are placed in the nursery flight with their tutor, they are already learning from him, and the occasional flashes of their first male song product can be experienced. Once the tutor begins his molt, it is the time that these flashes by the young singers cause them to serve as tutors to the others and successively from each link to the next the songs are passed on. It is of primary importance that they are kept from hearing extraneous noises from the start, and sometime between the time the tutor is removed to undergo his molt (August) and his return, the young males should be placed in individual song cages as stated earlier.

The Time, Place, and Circumstances of the Song Lessons:

The first attempts at true song normally begin in October. It is at this time that the young must be assisted in their efforts, and as has already been insisted, the best tutor is an example that possesses the same, or similar, genetic characteristics as those of his pupils, and if he is their father, so much the better. The pupils are to be enclosed in individual song cages which should then be located in a song cabinet. I say cabinet because this is to be preferred to a shelving system with a sliding curtain and without actual doors. All these particulars have their reasons and their importance with a view to obtaining song of good quality. From this perspective, we must therefore cage each canary individually, and the cages must be separated one from the next by means of thin wooden dividers or pieces of cardboard. This is in order to prevent fighting through the cage bars and other such dangerous games.

My personal recommendation, based on my experiences, is that during the first week the young should be allowed to see each other, but with a distance between each cage sufficient to keep them from reaching each other. They may be stacked in groups of four making little towers if you like. Beginning with the second week, they should be located in the cabinet, and it is at this point that they must be separated with the dividers already mentioned. During the third week, one should place a very thin curtain over the front of the cabinet, placing the young in partial shadow. From this point on, the young seriously begin to learn to listen to the lessons of the tutor, who is also in an individual song cage in the same room as has already been advised; the young must be isolated from any noise except the lessons provided by the tutor. During the fourth week, a slightly heavier curtain is used, and in this way the birds are already held in conditions which encourage them to give the maximum attention to the tours sung by the tutor.

Characteristics of a Tutor:

For a tutor to be effective in what he teaches to his pupils, he must at a minimum, unite the most elemental and basic song characteristics, among others, and more importantly must have a characteristic vocal apparatus. The song of the tutor is always directly tied to genetic makeup as was discussed in the pairings discussion above. That is to say the exemplar of song must serve to conserve and pass on certain notes which are already fixed in a well-defined song line, and this works only if and when the breeder has first made the proper corresponding pairings from within the line.

In the same way, it is very important that the said tutor always begins his song repertoire with the most valuable notes, those that are the proper characteristic tours for the breed, that is to say:

1. The Klokkende
2. The Bollende
3. The Rollende

Beginning the song with these and emitting them in order, in a deep tone and well defined one from the other, will cause a probable successful outcome and is a great benefit to the pupils, and a tutor who begins his song this way, it may be supposed, would also emit other notes of indubitable value though of lesser importance.

We Must Remember:

Under the influence of place and circumstance, a canary can come to learn certain tours which are not hereditary and not passed on to subsequent generations. One can say, in this case, that a learned tour, which is not part of the song line in question, will die with the bird that learned it.

Hereditary Structure of the Vocal Apparatus

Biologists affirm that a bird's respiratory system is special as is the structure of its voice box or syrinx.

They definitively specify that the structure of these organs is hereditary.

These two points should constitute for us a scientific indication of definite value.

We are, then, confident in claiming that canaries are endowed with an exceptional vocal apparatus. Just as a human possesses a larynx, a canary possesses a syrinx, which is put into action by the displacement of the air that the canary holds in reserve, not only in his lungs, but also in the air sacs which are directly connected to them. Some of these sacs pass into the interior of the hollow bones. The canary pushes the air reserve through the syrinx which is provided with membranes that work by means of small muscles, and in this way the canary has the capacity to produce notes, vibrations, melodies, etc., resulting in a complete song.

It should be remembered, however, that a perfect structure of the vocal apparatus is not always a guarantee of high song quality because other factors--like the tutor, hereditary predisposition, not to mention the health of the example in question--equally play a roll in the final results. The whole vocal system is made up of various subdivisions.