THE YORKSHIRE CANARY 



329 



" From ohservalion. I have fonic to the con- 

 rlusion that when using the Belgian lien length 

 and the desired Belgian traits are better main- 

 tained than when introducing it from the cock's 

 side. The only advantage to be gained by 

 ado])ting the latter course is that quality of 

 feather is probably more quickly regained : liut 

 a cross with Cinnamon blood I have found very 

 useful for this purpose. In all matings with 

 birds closely allied to the Belgian it is necessary 

 to use a bird rather large in head with a good 

 rise and full neck. The snaky, small liead of 

 the Belgian is entirely unsuited to the Yorkshire. 

 The latter should have a nice round head in pro- 

 portion to its body, not loo large or too small, 

 and a neck of fair length and nice delineation, 

 not bull-necked or loo thin." 



The Lancashire Plainhead is resorted to 

 for length of body and leg, and the bird 

 selected shonld not only be a long but very 

 slim bird, well up on leg and in carriage, and 

 a Yellow for prd'crence. The most suitable 

 youngster from this cross should be paired 

 back to the Yorkshire, and the result again, 

 until all undcsired points have been bred 

 out. No one, however, shoidd resort to 

 such crossing until they have good ex- 

 perience and a thorough control of their 

 stock, and understand the work they are 

 undertaking. It will be noted that Ma-. 

 John Broadley recommends a quarter-bred 

 Belgian and Yorkshire as a valuable bird 

 in the breeding-room, and from experience 

 we quite agree with him, but at the same 

 time we must not overlook the fact that 

 someone must take the first cross, or the 

 quarter-cross would not be obtainable. 



The Yorkshire in the bird-room is kept 

 in the ordinary box-shape single or flight 



Management. 



cage, but this should be 

 not less than 16 inches 

 high, so as to allow plenty of head room 

 above the bird as it stands on the perch, 

 and so prevents it acquiring a crouching 

 attitude, altogether contrary to proper 

 carriage. 



To exhibit a Yorkshire to the best 

 advantage it should be shown in the 

 recognised cage for the variety as illustrated 

 on page 177. They should also be taught 

 from the time they leave the nest to run 

 from their living cage into the show cage, so 

 as to become steady and familiar with it. 

 42 



The feeding, management, and colour- 

 feeding of the Yorkshire is precisely the 

 same as for other varieties. Free use of 

 the bath is a fine conditioner and burnisher 

 of the feather. 



By kind permission of the Council of 

 the Yorkshire Union of Cage Bird Societies 

 we herewith publish their standard of 

 Points of the Yorkshire Canary : 



Scale of Points 

 In ijivin.n a number of points to the various items, 

 't is not intended that the judging shall be by points, 

 but as showing the relative value under the various 

 heads. 



Clear Birds 



Sliiipc Maximum 



Head. — Small and round, skull narrow . . 5 



Neck. — Moderately long, straight ... 5 



Shoulders. — Xarrow. rounded, and well filled . 5 



Back. — Long, straight, well llUed ; wings long 



and evenly carried .... 5 



Breast. — Round and smooth ; the body long, 



gradually tapering to a neat waist . . 5 



Legs. — Long, without being stilly, thighs well 



clothed ...... 5 



Tail. — Long, straight, and closely folded . . 5 



3.J 

 Size. — For length 6| in., with corresponding 



symmetrical proportions . . . 10 



Position. — Attitude erect, with fearless carriage; 



head, neck, back, and tail in straight line 20 

 Feather. — Short, close and tight for compact 



body feather, and close carriage of wings 



and tail 20 



Colour. — I^ure body colour, beak, legs and feet 



clear {see note) ..... 5 



Condition. — Health, cleanness, and sound 



feather 10 



Total 



100 



Evenly Marked 

 That an evenly marked bird must be four-pointed 

 (both eyes, both wings) or six pointed (both eyes, both 

 wings, both sides of tail) ; these are called lecUnital 

 marks {see note). 



Markings Maximum 



Eyes. — I'or neatness and regularity ot outline, 



and for distinctness . . . .25 



Wings. — P'or exactness, decreasing in value as 

 the marking extends beyond the secondary 

 flights ....... 15 



Tail. — I^or exactness ..... 5 



45 



Shape and Position. — For symmetrical propor- 

 tions, fair size and erect carriage . . 30 



Feather. — For short, compact body feather and 



close carriage of wings and tail . . 15 



Colour, — Pure body colour and brilliance of 



marking ...... 5 



Condition, — Specially for sound feather . . 5 



Total . 



100 



