the Norwich Fancy. 299 



" cleaner cut." The feathers should be silky in textnre and 

 appearance. 



The crested birds are generally a little inferior in colour, 

 when compared with the choicest specimens of the clear 

 varieties, but it is amazing what amount of improvement has 

 taken place in crested birds in this respect during the last 

 few years. 



The crest consists of a tuft of feathers which cover the upper 

 portion or crown of the head, and it is formed in many respects 

 like a flower, as it appears to converge to a point or centre, and 

 the feathers overlap each other like the leaves or petals of a rose, 

 or marigold, falling or drooping partly over the beak, eyes, and 

 back part of the head of the bird, and this feature constitutes the 

 chief point of beauty in this variety of canary. The crest varies 

 in shape,- size, and colour. There are the elliptic or oval crest, 

 the round or circular crest, and the shield crest (so called from 

 its resemblance in form to the escutcheon) ; the last is rounded 

 in front, and as it extends backward from the centre or orifice it 

 expands in breadth, and terminates in an almost horizontal line, 

 except at the extreme outer edges, where two small elongated 

 tufts of feathers (one on each side corresponding) project like two 

 diminutive horns ; these are termed by some " pheasants' ears." 

 A well-formed crest of this description is exceedingly handsome, 

 more particularly when it is adorned with a hood that is, 

 with a dark patch of feathers extending from behind the eyes 

 of the bird, and down the back part of the neck for some dis- 

 tance, c r md partly over each side of it as well. In shape it is like 

 a monk's cowl, and is frequently termed a "hood crest," and 

 sometimes a " curtain crest," and when perfect in form it is 

 considered by connoisseurs as the chef-d'ceuvre of crests. 



A good crest of any form should have a clearly denned but 

 well filled centre, from which the feathers should fall gracefully 

 in every direction over the head; it should likewise be well 

 filled and closely packed, without a break or split in any part 

 of it. It ought to come well over the beak, eyes, and base of 

 the skull ; the longer and thicker it is the better, provided 

 it is well formed and well proportioned. It should be as flat 

 as possible on the top, and have the appearance of having been 



