INTRODUCTORY 



Of comparatively recent admission into thoroughly into the history of the Canary 

 the ranks of domesticated birds, the Canary and the origin of the many varieties which 



The 



Develops 

 ment of our 

 Canary. 



has, under man's care and 

 skill, branched off into a 

 number of distinct varieties. 

 These differ in colour and 

 form so widely from the 

 original stock, that it is difficult to realise 

 the fact that they proceed, one and all, 

 from the same origin, and are simply 

 divergences from one common type. The 

 majority of them have existed for many 

 years, but how they arose we know not. 

 It is easy to guess at the mode in which 

 some of them have been obtained, but 

 when one comes to experiment in the 

 way of crossing, it will be found that the 

 results are generally very far from what 

 was anticipated ; the tendency to revert, 

 as it were, to the early 

 forms is manifested so 

 strongly, especially in 

 those breeds which are 

 the farthest from the 

 original type, that the 

 hopes and wishes of 

 the breeder to produce 

 some fresh intermediate 

 form are generally set 

 at naught. As an illus- 

 tration of this may be 

 instanced the fact that 

 the variety known as 

 the London Fancy, one 

 of the oldest and purest 

 branches of the family 

 tree, when crossed with 

 other Canaries loses im- 

 mediately its character- 

 istic markings. At pres- 

 ent there is no tendency 

 whatever in any variety 

 to retain permanently 

 its peculiar character- 

 istics without careful 

 supervision. This sub- 

 ject is one, however, 

 that need not be dwelt 

 upon here, for in the 

 chapter which follows 

 Dr. Galloway goes very 



we find in connection with the bird to-day. 



These variations in shape and plumage 



are as marked as any that exist in the 



kindred fancies of poultry and 

 Varieties pigeons — sections of the feath- 

 Canaries ered creation to which apply 



the same general principles 

 of development as those we have briefly 

 referred to. It is this variation, with its 

 endless ramifications, which renders the 

 Canary an object of attraction to those 

 who merge its naturally engaging ways in 

 other considerations, and makes it worthy 

 the attention of the naturalist as well as 

 the fancier. Evolved from one common 

 stock we ha.ve to-day no fewer than 

 thirteen separate and distinct varieties, each 



A WORKING MAN AND HIS FAVOURITE. 

 Mr. J. Thompson and his Clear Yellow Hen. 



