CHAPTER XX. 



THE LIZARD. 



THIS very beautiful and unique variety of canary stands pre- 

 eminent, in the estimation of nearly all true fanciers, among 

 what may be considered the real English Fancy canaries. There 

 is no means of tracing the origin of these birds, but they have 

 been known and esteemed among fanciers in this country for a 

 great many years, and I think there is little doubt that they are 

 the real source from which some other known varieties have 

 been derived. They are great favourites in some of the midland 

 and northern counties of England, especially Lancashire and 

 Nottinghamshire; and it is in these counties that the best 

 specimens are usually bred, although the county of Durham has, 

 within the past few years, produced specimens which have 

 successfully competed against all comers. 



TRIMMING. Lizard canaries are more frequently tampered 

 with than any other variety by unprincipled exhibitors, hence it 

 behoves judges to exercise their utmost vigilance and circum- 

 spection in judging these' birds. A bald face is artificially 

 coloured, sometimes very dexterously ; a small cap is enlarged 

 and enriched in colour by the use of a Judson's dye or a strong 

 solution of saffron; white flight or tail feathers are extracted, 

 and corresponding but dark feathers, drawn from other birds, 

 are cleverly substituted for them ; the tweezers are frequently 

 brought into requisition to remove some tiny dark feathers from 

 the cap, and uhen the pinion covers are intermixed with white, 

 the white feathers are skilfully clipped close off, and the legs 



