30 THE ROLLER CANARY 
Different breeds of wild birds were developed ages ago 
when birds were in very limited quantities. If such 
purity of colour and marking was accomplished by wild 
birds consanguineously mating, just imagine what can 
be accomplished by man with scientific selection and 
mating. We have not to grope in the dark, for the 
most difficult problems of breeding have long since been 
proved by our forefathers, though unfortunately few 
have followed the wise and clever breeders of old. 
The more intensively one breeds the more does one 
stamp upon the strain the qualities it possesses, and the 
greater these qualities the greater the success of the strain. 
If we take song it is easy to produce by careful selective 
in-breeding a race, or strain, that will be all-conquering 
in the contests. 
In the same way the outward form of the Roller may 
be improved, and quite a number of good breeders are 
now seeking to make the Roller more beautiful so far 
as outward appearance goes. They desire better shape, 
size, feather, and colour, and they realise that in-breeding 
will give it to them. 
How is one to follow the advice given by all the great 
masters of the past: “‘ Keep to one strain,” unless they 
in-breed? Immediately strange blood is introduced into 
a stud away goes all the distinctive characters of the 
strain. He who would succeed with the Roller Canary 
must in-breed. By strict selective breeding, and keeping 
a careful record of all stock bred and the performances 
of the best birds, it is possible to achieve success of the 
highest degree. 
