248 The Canary Book. 



shoulders of the Belgian canary planted on the circular free- 

 tailed Don, and BO modelled as to have the upper part of 

 the bird a good Belgian, and the other part a good Don. 



To a well-circled Don hen, with good length of side, plenty 

 of neck, ancl a long sweeping free tail, and well hollowed 

 out in front, put a Belgian cock with a fine head, long 

 drooping neck, and prominent well-filled shoulders, and if 

 possible with a back and tail inclined to the circular form. 

 From this pair you must select birds nearest to the 

 " model " and dip in again to the Don on one side, and the 

 Belgian on the other as circumstances require, carefully 

 selecting and pairing your stock until you obtain birds as 

 near the ideal model as possible, then breed brother and 

 sister together to establish the features you have gained, 

 and breed out from these again in the direction most needed, 

 and again resort to in-br ceding from first cousins, the result 

 of your next cross, but do not overdo this, sib-breeding or 

 you will weaken the constitution of your birds. It will take 

 years of careful breeding to produce the stamp of birds you 

 want. 



You may, by buying birds from experienced breeders, save 

 yourself some time in crossing, but you must be careful not 

 to be misled, and the safest method to adopt will be to begin 

 on the plan indicated. I must not, however, omit to warn the 

 beginner against trusting to Scotch Fancies to rear their 

 own progeny, as they are as a rule indifferent feeders, and 

 therefore the breeder must be prepared with some reliable 

 foster mothers, and for this purpose I would recommend 

 Cinnamon hens in preference to all others, the majority of 

 them being very reliable feeders. 



Even markings are not cultivated among the ^Scotch 

 fanciers, who do not pay much regard to markings, but go 

 on the principle that "a good horse is never a bad colour." 

 Tt is form and style that they esteem most. I have seen 

 several very good specimens of the Scotch Fancy, both 

 Cinnamon, and Cinnamon variegated (hens of course), but it 

 shows that at some remote period a, dip of pure Cinnamon 



