CHAPTER XVII. 



THE NORWICH FANCY. 



ORIGIN. The Norwich Fancy canaries doubtless owe their 

 existence as a distinct variety to the town of Norwich, and have 

 derived their origin, I believe, from crossing the London Fancy 

 or Lizard canaries with the common stock; and by further 

 judicious pairing, feeding, and careful moulting they have 

 ultimately attained that exquisite colour for which they are so 

 widely famed. 



The method of breeding and rearing clear Norwich, in order 

 fco produce and retain their rich dazzling plumage throughout 

 the show season, was held in such profound secrecy among the 

 breeders and exhibitors in Norwich at one time that it was 

 publicly asserted by a gentleman of position, then in the 

 " fancy," that one hundred pounds would not extract the secret 

 of obtaining the high . colour in these birds and the genuine 

 process of crossing them and moulting them in order to obtain 

 perfection, at least so far as it was then known. Without 

 doubt, there was a wonderful amount of freemasonry existing 

 among the craft in Norwich some years ago, and they kept 

 their secrets remarkably well ; but the bubble burst at last, to 

 the chagrin of many, I dare say, and the se*cret of high colour 

 became common property. 



VARIETIES. Of the Norwich Fancy canaries there are the 

 clears, the evenly marked, the ticked, i he unevenly-marked, the 

 green, and the crested varieties. 



The Clear birds have hitherto been held in considerable 



