27 



end of the tail a bow-like form; the chest projects 

 out, and from thence the end of the tail forms a bow- 

 inwards. The particular features of the long-breed 

 canary may be immediately discovered by examining 

 the engraving which we have placed as a frontispeice in 

 this book. 



The tail feathers must lie close together, and the 

 end of the wing close to the rump. A very particular 

 feature in this bird is the length of its legs, which should 

 be nearly straight, and their feet as close together as 

 their knees. The feathers must all lie on the body 

 smooth. This process of improving their shape also 

 occupied many years of attention. 



At this time, there being great a excitement among 

 the breeders, vying with each other to produce the 

 best ♦Birds, caused the fanciers in several towns in 

 Belgium to form a society for holding an annikl ex- 

 hibiflton, at which premiums were adjudged 'to the 

 breeders of the first, second, and third class birds. 

 These exhibitions are still held with great interest. 

 Besides these, a general exhibition is annually held, 

 where the fanciers of the whole kingdom of Belgium 

 meet; and valuable premiums awarded to the holders 

 of the best birds. Prize birds at this exhibition are 

 much thought of, and, if sold, brings high prices — w^e 

 ourselves having seen a pair in Antwerp sold for 700 

 francs. 



Before the year 1840, these birds were hardly known 

 in this country ; but since that time have become much 

 more sought after, particularly as a society has been 



