The Manchester Coppy. 253 



buffs. The crest or " coppy," which is a very distinctive feature in 

 this variety, should be round in form, full, flat, and very closely 

 and densely packed, without the least appearance of a break or 

 split in any part of it ; it should come well over the eyes and beak 

 of the bird, drooping all round, and finish off at the back of the 

 head without showing deficiency of feather. No part of the skull 

 of a good bird should be visible at the back of the head or termina- 

 tion of the lateral crest. The crest should have a clearly defined 

 but close and compact centre, and the feathers should radiate 

 from this point in a uniform manner all round, giving it the 

 appearance of a daisy in full bloom. The position of the bird 

 when placed in a show cage is very important; it should 

 be erect, easy, and elegant, and not cowering or timid; the 

 feathers profuse, but fitting close to the body, not rough, 

 and showing a frill on breast, or coarseness in other parts 

 of the body, wings, or tail; the crest or "coppy," as well as 

 the under body feathers, should be perfectly clear in colour, 

 free from any dark tinge, and should blow as white and soft as 

 floss silk. Some Coppies are quite plain at the back of the head. 



The natural colour of these birds is pale, whether yellows or 

 buffs. The " Plain Heads " should be possessed of the same points 

 of excellence in conformation of body, size, &c., as the crested 

 variety, and the feathers forming what is termed the bird's 

 eyebrows should project over the eyes, called by some fanciers 

 "over-hanging eyebrows," and the more a bird shows this 

 peculiarity the better it is considered to be bred for crest. Some 

 of the most experienced breeders, in order to improve the crests 

 of these birds, frequently breed them " double crested " that is, 

 two crested birds together, but in doing so two birds are chosen 

 that are deficient in crest properties for example, one bird is 

 selected with a short or a split frontal crest, and the other 

 showing a sparsity of back crest. Sometimes a good bird is 

 obtained in this way, but the Plain Heads which are bred from 

 breeding with two Coppies are the most highly esteemed for 

 re -crossing with Coppy birds again, and I am assured by a 

 (successful breeder and exhibitor of these birds that this is the 

 best plan to improve the size and form of the crest. 



There is at the present day a great rage for this variety of 



