222 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



Green, (b) Heavily Variegated, (c) Lit>htly 

 Wariegated, {(I) Evenly-marked, as it is 

 from the previous three we 

 o our ])ro(hiee these — (e) Unevenly- 

 marked, (/) Tieked, (g) Clear. 

 This is the extreme extension, and ineliules 

 every form. There are, of eourse, yellows 

 and bulTs of these grades, and to classify 

 the two colours separately — which it is 

 usual to do — that is, yellows in one class 

 and bufts in another, would give just 

 double the number of classes. The classes 

 which may be united on a common footing 

 arc (/;) and (c), which contain practically 

 identical birds, differing only in the 

 amount of variegation. Classes (d) and (e) 

 can also be united inider the inclusive term 

 " Marked,"' as we have shown. It is also 

 usual to grouj) (It), (c). and (/) into one, 

 as representing more or less variegation ; 

 but we have endeavoin-ed to show that 

 there is a closer affinity between (/) and 

 (g) than between any other, and that (/) 

 should be used as an adjunct to (g) for the 

 recejition of birds perched on the top bar 

 but one. where it is desired to curtail the 

 classification. 



We suj)j)lenient these notes on classi- 

 fication based on the naturnl gradations in 

 colour bj- a few remarks on 

 the dilTerence between the 

 Yellow and BulT. We think 

 there is no occasion to sav 

 anything of the Yellow, other 

 than that it is of a pure bright hue. witii 

 all the colour on the surface like an exquis- 

 ite orange-coloured satin. The Buff bird 

 is of the same hue, i)ut the colour does not 

 a])pear to glisten on the surface ; it is still 

 a i-uddy orange satin, and sometimes 

 ruddier even than the yellow, but the s;itin 

 is covered with a liclicate ^vhite gossami'r 

 veil by which its gloss is clouded, though 

 rendered, if possible, more bcautilul by the 

 veil-like hoar-frost covering it. The colour 

 is softened in ])laees where the lace cover- 

 ing seems to lie in thicker folds, lint a 

 movement of the bird brings a fresh gleam 

 of light to ])lay on its JHaiitirul dress, and 

 from under the silvery cloud shines out the 

 golden vellow. 



Difference 

 between 

 Yellow and 

 Buff. 



The word " ]\Icaly " is very expressive of 

 the appearance of the bird, though the idea 

 is not very poetical : we have seen Xorw icii 

 Canaries which appeai'ed almost as if the; 

 white bloom on them woidd come olT in 

 the hand like that of some fruits. This 

 silvery frosting is occasioned by the extreme- 

 edge of the feathers being fringed with a 

 margin of white, and the elTeet produced is 

 greater or less as it is presented in places 

 where the growth is dense or otherwise. 

 The feathering f)n the BulT liirds is nuich 

 denser than on the ^'ellows. the under-tlue 

 being very thick and long, as the fancier 

 will be able to observe when he n akes his 

 first essay in washing. This dense feather- 

 ing gives the Buff bird an altogether larger 

 and stouter appearance, and it is, as a 

 rule in every respect the lustier bird of 

 the two. By this we do not infer that the 

 Yellow bird is not robust in health ; we 

 refer more ]>artievdarly to a])pcarance. 

 Every fancier, said Mr. Blakston, has his 

 own i)articular liking. His was for the 

 perfection of development in a Buff bird. 

 Personally, we have no hesitation in saying 

 that a Yellow of ecpial merit with a Buif 

 would, and docs, take ])recedenee over the 

 Buff on account of the greater diflicidty to 

 produce such a Yellow. 



Such is the Norwich Canary of which we 

 have cndeavoiu'cd to Furnish as comj>lete 

 a descri])tion as ])ossible. 



•lUDGlNG TIM", NllliWII'.II C.ANAltY 



Xiy/dlii'i' I'nipcrtii's 



A C.h-.tr Yrllow .Norwich Cannry sliould not ajipcar 

 (lull in Cdlour, however deep Uie lone may he, nor 

 sliow any signs of meal on the hack or hreast, nor he 

 l)atchy, nor white on the outsitlc edge of the flights or 

 wing-coverts, nor show' dark under-fluc or discoloured 

 thighs. It should not be loose or coarse in hody- 

 feather, nor carry its wings loosclv or crossed at the 

 tips, nor spread its tail like a fan. It should not have 

 a coarse head nor overhanging eyebrows, nor be long 

 and narrow, nor he in any way of puny build. It should 

 not show any discoloration on either mandible or on 

 the legs (though to show this is not a disqualification, 

 hut a blemish in an otherwise clear bird), and should 

 never be shown dirty or with broken patches. 



A Clear Hull Norwich Canary should not be delicient 

 in meal, nor look like a bad Yellow, nor be unevenly 

 frosted, nor show any indications before referred to 

 as foreign to Clear birds. It should not be coarse, 

 shaggy, nor open-feathered, nor other than as if cut out 

 of boxwood, nor in the slightest degree puny in build. 



