The Belgian. 2ig 



or vice versa, as the case may be. It will, however, be found very 

 advantageous to breed from two buff birds occasionally, in 

 preference to a yellow and buff, as it tends materially to improve 

 the size, constitution, and feathers of the birds ; but it must not 

 be repeated too frequently, or it will produce coarseness. Some 

 fanciers occasionally pair two jonque (yellow) birds together in 

 order to produce fineness, but the produce are generally deficient 

 in plumage ; but a bird bred from two yellows, and mated with 

 one bred from two buffs, or, better still, one bred from double 

 buffs twice over that is, a bird bred from two buffs, and a 

 second time mated with a buff, the produce of the last cross 

 very frequently breed the handsomest and best birds. 



If you desire to breed variegated Belgians, be sure to select 

 two or three well-marked birds, cocks or hens, not too heavily 

 marked, and pair these with clear birds of the opposite colours 

 and sexes, select from the produce of these birds those which are 

 best marked, and couple them again with clear birds, taking care 

 to pair them in accordance with instructions already given, with 

 reference to breeding clear Belgian canaries, in order that you 

 may effect a general improvement in the cdntour and tout 

 ensemble of your birds. If you happen to breed more clears than 

 you care for, put a marked bird with a clear bird bred from a 

 variegated strain, and by this means you will soon restore the 

 markings. If you put two marked birds together, unless they 

 are both lightly marked, they are very apt to produce young 

 birds too heavily marked, and if this plan is persevered with, 

 that is, the re-crossing of variegated birds, you will ultimately 

 produce them nearly all green together ; and occasionally you 

 will get an entirely green specimen. 



Be very particular in selecting birds for breeding purposes ; 

 satisfy yourself that they are perfectly healthy this is a most 

 essential consideration, and one which cannot be too rigidly 

 carried out as much depends upon your first selection of 

 breeding stock for your future success in establishing a race of 

 birds which is likely to reward you for your trouble. Never 

 breed from diseased birds, however good they may be, or you 

 will in all probability propagate the complaints from which the 

 suffer 1 refer more especially to asthma and consumption 



