The Modern Scotch Fancy. 245 



fanciers that experienced breeders will spontaneously divulge 

 the best and most approved methods whereby show speci- 

 mens of any and every variety of canary may be produced ; 

 but a little reflection ought to convince them of the absurdity 

 and the unreasonableness of such a notion, as it can scarcely 

 be expected that men who have spent large sums of money 

 and years of labour and study in producing and perfecting 

 certain features and characteristics difficult of attainment 

 by which they hope to reap some advantage, either pecu- 

 niary or by making a name and becoming famous, are 

 likely to stand at the corners of streets and proclaim to the 

 world at large their hard-earned knowledge. Amateurs must 

 therefore c!imb the ladder of fame for themselves ; long purses 

 and advice obtained from experienced people aid beginners 

 and novices very considerably, and save them much time and 

 labour, but they must not expect experienced breeders to 

 give advice without receiving from them a quid pro quo in 

 lieu thereof. As a rule, breeders are very reticent in im- 

 parting information which has cost them much labour to 

 obtain, and few will blame them for their silence on a subject 

 which has cost them so much time and money. But my ideas 

 differ widely from that of the majority of fanciers, inasmuch 

 as I think that by the general dissemination of knowledge, 

 and by giving brother fanciers a helping hand up the rugged 

 path that leads to fame, we multiply the number of bird 

 lovers and bring within our ranks men of probity and in- 

 telligence, thus at once extending the fancy and raising it to 

 a higher standard. Personally, I consider that any man who 

 is not willing to render all the assistance he can to his 

 brother fanciers by imparting any discovery he may have 

 made is hardly worthy of the name of a true fancier. 



Any person who possesses large means can claim at ex- 

 hibitions or purchase from the exhibitors some of their most 

 successful specimens, for the purpose of breeding or exhibiting; 

 but this is only a preliminary step in the right direction for 

 a beginner, for much has to be learnt of the methods of 

 selection and crossing, as well as how to feed and prepare 



