2l8 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



base their elaim to notice are of ncoative 

 value : there is an absence of good breeding 

 about them, and all they can do is to flaunt 

 their credentials in the face of birds whicli. 

 slightly defective, are yet in other respects 

 superior, and. after allowing a lil)eral dis- 

 count for the defect (blemish there is none). 

 could, in our way of thinking, win easily. 



If evenly- and unevenly-marked birds 

 were classifie.d together in this way at 

 shows, it would stimulate breeders to breed 

 birds with evenl}^ balanced markings, much 

 more than they do at the present, as then 

 there would be classes for them at all shows 

 in all varieties, and they would not have 

 to go into the " Any Other Variety Class," 

 as at ])resent. As their niunbers increased, 

 the even-marked coidd lie se])arated from 

 the uneven, and given separate classes. 



He fore going on to say in what consists 

 good marking, we must draw attention to the 

 thighs of the bird. The cover- 

 Thigh and jj^„. jjpj.g jj, ^Q scant that no de- 

 Rump -111 , ■ 

 Markings. cidcd character can be given 



to any marking thereon. 

 When it is jiresent it is generally in the 

 form of dark flue, which shows itself upon 

 any movement of the bird. It always has 

 a negative rather than a ]>ositive value, and 

 more frequently turns the scale against a 

 competing specimen than )>laees any ])oints 

 to its credit, and rightly so, especially if 

 the dark colour sln)ws through to any 

 extent. The presence of dark feathers in 

 the tail also is Fre((ueutly aceomiKinied by 

 more or less dark colour in the I'ump 

 feathers ; this is not considei-ed as a body- 

 mark uidess the dai'k colour is on the 

 surface of the feather, and is a consequent 

 disqualification in a " marked " class if not 

 showing on the surface. sini])ly counting 

 against the bird to its extent. Some clid)s 

 allow greater latitude in this matter than 

 others, and the birds have in consequence to 

 be judged accordingly. 



The mai-k most difficult to obtain good 

 is Ihat on the eye. where it only too fre- 

 (|ueni ly assumes I he eharactei' 



Eye Marks. 



within its limits, and the delicately-pencilled 

 spectacle-mark which gives such a distinc- 

 tive style to the head of an Evenly-marked 

 Canary. Sometimes a mark is found innne- 

 diately in front of the eye, extending no 

 farther. When this is the case it is. in the 

 majority of instances, clear and decided, 

 though only small : ])ut such a mark is, 

 in our estimation, of infinitely greater value 

 than one of the blotch type. Sometimes 

 the front of the eye is clear, and the mark- 

 ing runs off from behind it ; this is also a 

 good mark when clear and decided. But 

 the perfection of marking should com- 

 mence in the front of the eye, and, i)assing 

 above and beneath with a clearly-defined 

 edge, continue its course in the same- curve 

 as the outline of the head, and run away to 

 a point behind the eye. This gives us a 

 short, rounded mark in the front and a long 

 pointed one behind. Such pencilling can 

 occasionally be met with as perfect as if 

 ]5ut on with a fjrush ; but the general form 

 is by no means so regular, and perfection 

 is so rare that any decent ai>proach to it is 

 valuable. There should be no f^reak in it, 

 and no disposition to enlarge into a check- 

 mark, any tendency in that direction 

 detracting much from its merit. Neither 

 should it reach so far above the eye as to 

 threaten the crown ; but whatever the 

 character of the mark, eleai- outline is 

 absolutely im])erative. ^\'e do not object 

 to a heavy mark, if it be only decided and 

 have no tendency to the ])ostcrioi' enlarge- 

 ment we have referred to as constitut- 

 ing a cheek-mark. E(|unlly objectionable 

 is anterior enlargement, which, when it 

 reaches the beak and begins to creep uj) 

 the skull, ceases to be a " mark. ' It some- 

 times ha|)|>ens also that the mark runs 

 round in the direct ion ol' the back of the 

 skull: this also is objcctioniiblc, and ol 

 little worth. 



'I'lic w ing-mai'kiug should be conlined to 



the flights, .-nid there is no fixed limit to 



the number constituting a show- 



a. mere blotch oi' patch. 



Wing 

 Marks. 



wmg : It IS 



all a 



itter of taste, 



There is a wide difference between a clumsy 

 ])atch which haj)j)ens to enclose the eye 



and tin- ^"aluc of an exact wing is 

 too great to aiford room for disputing as to 

 the extent of the marking. Some fanciers 



