226 The Canary Book. 



substantial thighs and good shanks and feet; the tail should be 

 long, narrow, neat, and compact, and ought to resemble in 

 appearance the shank of a pipe; the wings should be well 

 formed, firmly placed, and hung close to the body of the bird, 

 the tips coming close to the rump; colour and fineness of 

 feather are minor points, but still must be considered. When a 

 bird is in position, he should stand quite straight on his legs 

 with his head well forward and down below the line of his 

 shoulders, the latter being well up. The chief feature to.be 

 observed is the form and general contour the easy, majestic, 

 graceful carnage of the bird commonly called " standage " 

 this being most essential, and an indispensable characteristic in 

 a true show bird. There should be a decided appearance of 

 hauteur in its manner and bearing. 



SHOW FORM. In Belgium this variety of bird is called the 

 " bird of position," and the more readily and easily it acquires 

 the position desired the more valuable it is. Some birds are 

 very apathetic, and require a deal of rousing to get them up to 

 show form. This is often the result of too much handling or ill- 

 health; the birds get too familiar with it, and, consequently, 

 treat it contemptuously. Other birds, again, are too nervous, and 

 require to be gently handled, or they will throw themselves out 

 of form through fear ; but I will treat of this part of the subject 

 under a different heading. 



SYMMETRY. There is another important consideration in 

 judging Belgian canaries, and one which is too frequently 

 overlooked, and that is proportion, or uniformity of features 

 throughout. For example, picture to yourself a small bodied 

 bird with extraordinary large shoulders, and short stiff legs, and 

 a short neck; why it is simply distorted to ugliness. Again, 

 imagine a particularly slender bodied bird with a huge head, 

 thick straight neck, and a stunted tail. All known standards 

 of beauty, whether of the human form or of animals, or other 

 things, are regulated by symmetry, and it is equally applicable 

 to birds. No doubt it is a difficult matter, if not an impossi- 

 bility, to obtain a bird possessing all the qualities enumerated. 

 Nevertheless a very close approximation to the object sought 



