262 The Canary Book. 



similar to that used by shoemakers in taking a measure for 

 boots ; the contrivance should be made to work backwards 

 and forwards, and if a wood bottom were used with a scale 

 of Sin. divided into eighths, it would probably be considered 

 satisfactory, but until something of the kind is used the 

 measuring of birds is likely to lead to very unsatisfactory 

 results. 



With these alterations I am disposed to make a slight change 

 in. the standard for judging the clear and ticked birds, as 

 follows : 



STANDARD Fon JUDGING CLEAR AND TICKED BIRDS. 



Points. 



Head and neck 10 



Back and shoulders 15 



Chest and waist 10 



Less : 7 



Tail '. 7 



Size of bird 8 



Colour ', 8 



Quality and feather 10 



Contour, position, and style 15 



Condition 10 



Total 100 



There is a difficulty as to what constitutes a ticked bird, 

 and some judges disqualify a bird in a clear class because 

 a dark wider-fluff feather may be discovered on the leg by 

 handling. 



This is carrying the matter a little too far, as it is not at 

 all improbable that if the bird were shown under another 

 judge as a ticked bird it would be disqualified or passed 

 over as being a clear bird ; such a slight blemish might be 

 considered by a judge in giving his award between two birds 

 of equal merit in all other respects, and this would only be 

 fair and right. I have often regretted having classified ticked 

 birds with unevenly-marked birds, as I am now of opinion 

 that ticked birds should either form a separate class, or be 

 allowed to compete on equal terms with clear birds, and that 



