238 7^he Canary Book. 



seems, how they came to be named the " Glasgow Dons ;" but they 

 are now better known as the " Scotch Fancy " canaries. The old- 

 fashioned Don of the period just alluded to is rarely to be 

 met with, as much improvement has been made in the breed 

 first, by crossing them with the Dutch canary, a large strong 

 bird, resembling the old-fashioned Belgian canary in shape, but 

 with a heavily-frilled breast and back, and deficient in shoulders ; 

 but latterly they have been still further improved by being 

 crossed with Belgian canaries of a more modern type, but round 

 in form, and having tails inclined to curve inward. 



BREEDING. To breed Scotch Fancy birds up to the mark, 

 good stock birds must be procured of the right shape and style 

 to begin with. These can be further improved by being crossed 

 with Belgian canaries of the shape already mentioned ; but they 

 must be smooth birds, as rough-feathered birds are regarded 

 with disfavour by fanciers. From the first cross select those 

 birds only that are of the true Don shape; discard the 

 remainder. These birds ought to be crossed in with Dons 

 again, and occasionally bred a little " sib " to keep the correct 

 contour intact. Young Dons must be trained to travel, and 

 you should commence their education at an early age, say when 

 they are seven weeks old. Great care and caution are needed at 

 first, as these birds are naturally of a wild and timid disposition, 

 and if you once "gliff" them it is a long time before they 

 forget it. Use the same precautions as I have recommended for 

 training Belgian canaries, with this exception, that, instead 

 of getting them to stand steady, you must excite them to action. 

 They are trained to leap from perch to perch rapidly, and 

 in doing this they best display their form, for which they are 

 admired. At first you may use a thin lath or stick, but after- 

 wards your fingers, or even the motion of your hand will be quite 

 sufficient to induce them to display their agility. 



CLASSES. At all the principal shows in Scotland the Scotch 

 Fancy birds are divided into eight classes at least i.e., yellow 

 cocks, buff cocks, yellow hens, buff hens, flecked or piebald yellow 

 cocks, flecked or piebald buff cocks, flecked or piebald yellow 

 hens, flecked or piebald buff hens; and, in addition to these, 



