The Original Canary General Remarks. 211 



a most charming songster. It was shown in the "Any Other 

 Variety of Canary " class at the Crystal Show in 1875. 



VARIETIES. The common canary is a bird pretty generally 

 known in most countries throughout Europe ; in size and shape 

 it is not much unlike a common linnet ; its colours are yellow, 

 buff, green, and green pied, or variegated ; it is admired chiefly 

 for its song, and may be met with at all professional bird 

 dealers ; but by those who are known as " true fanciers," birds of 

 this kind are merely regarded as nurses for rearing the more 

 valued and favourite varieties; consequently they are con- 

 sidered of little value, and may be purchased at a low figure, 

 cock birds vaiying from 3s. 6d. each upwards, the hens 

 usually being sold from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. each, much depending 

 upon the time of year and other circumstances. Probably the 

 varieties most highly esteemed among the cognoscenti are those 

 known as the Crested Norwich and Belgian Fancy canaries, and 

 next to these come the London Fancy, Lizards, Cinnamons, clear 

 and variegated Norwich Fancy, Glasgow Dons, or Scotch Fancy, 

 Manchester Coppies, Yorkshire Fancy, &c., although many of 

 these so-called varieties are artificially produced, and are the 

 result of crossing one variety with another in such a manner as 

 to produce some totally distinct feature or features, differing in 

 some material points from all known and existing varieties ; but 

 I need scarcely point out that it requires great care, judicious 

 management, and considerable knowledge and skill to bring 

 about a phenomenon of this description, to say nothing of the 

 time, patience, and expense incurred. I will now proceed to 

 describe the different varieties, and to point out the distinguish- 

 ing features in each class ; the best method of crossing in order 

 to produce those features ; and to lay down a standard whereby 

 the different points of excellence may be readily estimated. 



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