CHAPTER X 
SELECTING THE SCHOOLMASTER 
bold, racy one; a bird weak on his upper tones 
is better than one who may sing clear but high, 
and the bird that starts on his lower tours, bass for 
preference, is better than one who starts on his higher 
tours. 
A bird with faulty high tour or other faults is often 
good to breed with, coming of good stock and pedigree, 
but as a tutor he is no good. The tutor should be the 
best your purse can afford; many fine birds can be 
bought at their proper value from well-known breeders, 
but if you limit them to a low figure you cannot expect 
to get the quality required. 
The very finest are priceless; they are very rare, and 
the owners keep them. They may sometimes be picked 
up at shows, but many breeders will not risk sending 
out their very best for exhibition. 
High-class birds, however, may be had from fair- 
dealing British breeders, which, if not of the very highest 
category, are of close blood relationship to these supreme 
songsters, and will therefore not only train well, but will 
breed you first-class birds, and so put you on the right 
road to excellence. 
If your first season does not come up to expectation, 
remember it is the second season that generally counts; 
you cannot estimate what you possess until you know 
55 
F OR a tutor a quiet, slow songster is better than a 
