264 The Canary Book. 



seeing that the markings, which are far more difficult to produce 

 than shape, must be preserved intact. The most beautiful 

 specimens of these very charming birds that I have ever seen 

 have been bred in the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, and 

 in some parts of Lancashire, where they are highly esteemed and 

 greatly prized. The eye markings should be elliptical in form, 

 or in two parallel lines at the front and behind the eye ; the wing 

 markings should be even, about seven, eight, or nine feathers in 

 the secondary flights.* 



STANDARD OP EXCELLENCE. The standard for judging the 

 clear varieties computing 100 points as representing the ideal 

 of a perfect specimen is considered as under: 



STANDARD FOR JUDGING CLEAR YORKSHIRE CANARIES. 



Points. 



Head 5 



Neck 6 



Shoulders , 5 



Back 10 



Chest 4 



Waist 8 



Legs 8 



Tail 8 



Size of bird 10 



Colour 3 



Quality of feathers 8 



Contour and position 15 



Condition 10 



Total 100 



The foregoing criterion is equally applicable to the unevenly- 

 marked classes, with the only exception that fifteen points 

 should be allowed for markings, the other points being pro- 

 portionately reduced to admit of this being done. In the 

 unevenly-marked class a bird with evenly-marked wings and an 

 oval cap is unquestionably the " pick of the basket," so far as 

 markings are a consideration. Next to this in point of per- 

 fection is a bird similarly marked, with the addition of eye or 



* Some fanciers like a dark feather on each side of the tail ; I prefer them with- 

 out it, and like a four-marked bird better than a six-marked one. 



