The Norwich Fancy. 295 



" two-marked," " four-marked," or- " six-marked " birds ; for, with 

 all or any of these markings, a bird is eligible for competition ; 

 all being entered in the same class, under one or other of the 

 names just referred to. 



The Crested canaries are divided into six classes as follows : 

 Clear buff, clear yellow, evenly - marked buff, evenly-marked 

 yellow, unevenly- marked buff and unevenly-marked yellow ; 

 although it is seldom that committees of shows set apart more 

 than four, and moie frequently only two classes, for these 

 varieties, which is unsatisfactory alike to exhibitors and judges 

 The evenly-marked and crested birds are considered, by most 

 fanciers, as the first of the crested varieties, and next to those 

 the clear bodied and dark crested are held in the highest 

 estimation. 



POINTS. In size, shape, and general appearance, the Clear 

 and Ticked Norwich resemble the marked and crested varieties, 

 the chief distinction being that those under consideration are 

 quite plain ; that is to say, destitute of ornament in the shape of 

 even markings, crests, &c., but they ought to' excel the other 

 varieties in richness, depth, and brilliancy of colour, Despite the 

 efforts that have been made by a few fanciers, who are deeply 

 interested in these birds, to overrule this hitherto universally 

 acknowledged chief feature, as the principal charm, and to set 

 up a new theory of qualifications, it cannot succeed, for the 

 merest tyro in the " fancy " knows quite well that colour has 

 always been considered the ruling characteristic in these birds. 

 This refers to the old type of crested Norwich. See chapter on 

 the new type (p. 314). 



The choicest specimens of the Unevenly -marked varieties are 

 unquestionably those with perfectly oval caps and even wing 

 markings ; indeed, it is a matter of opinion as to whether birds 

 marked in the manner described are not entitled to be considered 

 evenly-marked. For my part, I contend that they are, for the 

 simple reason that canaries only possess one head each, and 

 hence an oval cap should be regarded as a regular marking ; but 

 as birds of this description are permitted to be exhibited in the 

 unevenly-marked class, without complaint, I have no desire to 

 disturb this arrangement. When the cap is wall formed and the 



