2go The Canary Book. 



pursue the somewhat tantalising occupation of breeding Evenly- 

 marked birds; consequently those who have made up their 

 minds to embark in this particular branch of bird-breeding must 

 be fully prepared to meet with hopes kindled only to be blighted 

 and disappointments innumerable. To breed evenly-marked 

 Norwich canaries fit for exhibition, and in the most expeditious 

 manner possible, it will be necessary, in the first place, to procure 

 a few good evenly-marked birds to begin with, and in selecting 

 them I would advise that birds with dark caps be avoided. It is 

 absolutely necessary to obtain birds of distinct breeds, free from 

 blood relationship, to begin with. Mate two " four-marked " 

 birds together; both should be rather lightly-marked than 

 otherwise, and one of them at least should have white or flesh- 

 coloured legs, and clear under flue feathers (the small feathers 

 next the skin) ; this pair, for the sake of distinction, I shall after- 

 wards refer to as " No. 1." Next put another evenly-marked bird 

 with a perfectly clear one, the latter being bred from a clear 

 strain ; it should be large in size, rich in colour, and of undoubted 

 quality; this bird should be perfectly clear in colour all over, 

 which fact must be ascertained by taking it in the hand and 

 blowing back the feathers over and under the body ; this pair I 

 shall call "No. 2." The folio wing year select the two best marked 

 birds, the produce of No. 1 pair, and mate the heavier marked 

 bird of the two with a clear bird, the produce of No. 2 pair, and 

 ohe other with the lightest and most evenly marked bird, like- 

 wise bred from No. 2 pair. These pairs it will be necessary to 

 designate "No. 3" and "No. 4." The following season select from 

 the produce of No. 3 and No. 4 the best birds, and pair in the 

 manner already pointed out; the young birds from the last 

 named pairs will be first cousins, but this is just what is wanted, 

 for breeding them in-and-in occasionally is one of the secrets for 

 obtaining regularity in markings, but it must not be resorted to 

 too frequently, or the birds will soon become small and scant in 

 feather. To improve the colour in these birds and to preserve 

 the markings, I have found it advantageous to cross with a 

 London Fancy bird, say, once in three or four years ; couple a 

 bird of the last-named variety with a clear bird, bred by yourself 

 from an evenly-marked strain, and keep the clearest birds, the 



