286 The Canary BOOK,. 



in most instances justly exposed, and likewise excluded from 

 competing at those shows where their impostures were brought 

 to light. 



The Evenly -marked variety of Norwich Fancy canaries is 

 much admired and greatly prized by the " talent " or bird critics, 

 and is also regarded by many people of taste and discernment 

 as being superior in most respects to the much vaunted London 

 Fancy variety. One decided advantage the Evenly-marked 

 bird certainly has over the last-named breed is this: if it 

 happens to shed one of its dark pinion feathers prematurely, 

 it is reproduced by a fac simile of the lost feather ; whereas, it 

 is otherwise with a London Fancy canary. Another and still 

 greater advantage is possessed by the Norwich birds, for they 

 can be exhibited for several years in succession, if carefully 

 moulted and preserved in good health and fine condition, whilst 

 the London Fancies invariably lose their show plumage after the 

 second moult. 



Of all the different varieties of Norwich Fancy canaries, there 

 are none more beautiful or interesting than the Crested birds, for 

 they not only combine when highly bred the rich and brilliant 

 plumage of the clear varieties, but the evenly-marked and 

 crested classes possess the much admired wing-markings of the 

 evenly-marked or variegated birds, and in addition to these 

 advantages, they are adorned with an elegant ornament on their 

 heads in the form of a crest; this is designated by some fanciers 

 a " Top-not," by others a "Grown," a " Coppy," a " Toppin," and 

 by a few a " Tassel." 



There can be no doubt that the crest is an innovation among 

 the Norwich Fancy canaries, and has doubtless been produced, in 

 the first instance, by crossing with the ordinary or common 

 crested canary, and the introduction of this extraneous blood, 

 whilst imparting the coveted ornament, has greatly detracted 

 from the glowing colours that the best specimens of these birds 

 so largely inherit. This drawback might by judicious and 

 careful crossing be overcome in a few years ; but, unfortunately 

 for experimentalists, there are more weighty considerations in 

 breeding these birds than the mere attainment of brilliant 

 plumage. Good crests are not produced easily, and unless they 



