332 The Canary Book. 



and bills are often stained black ; in fact, every Lizard sent to 

 compete at an exhibition should be handled and minutely 

 examined all over by the judge. If a wing or tail feather pro- 

 jects beyond the natural line, or falls short of it, examine it 

 most particularly, for it is a suspicious circumstance; and be 

 sure to see that none of the feathers have been cut or trimmed. 

 When a judge discovers a bird that has been fraudulently tam- 

 pered with, he should make the fact public, despite any entreaties 

 that may be urged against his doing so. Those fanciers who 

 are mean enough to perpetrate such barefaced deception cannot 

 be too severely censured and condemned. 



SHOW PLUMAGE. Young Lizards in their nest feathers are 

 devoid of spangles ; but when they moult these are produced, 

 and, when fully moulted, they are in full show plumage, and not 

 afterwards. Every time a Lizard moults it becomes paler in 

 colour, in the wings especially, and the colour sometimes runs. 

 Particularly is this the case if a bird is out of health at the 

 time of moulting. Lizards are known among Scotchmen as 

 " macaronies." 



BREEDING. In order to breed high-class birds of this variety, 

 the greatest care and discrimination are necessary in the selec- 

 tion of your stock birds. Quality is the first thing to be 

 considered. See that the birds you select are of the correct 

 ground colour, for this is an essential point to begin with; 

 that of a Golden Spangled Lizard should be of a deep, rich, 

 velvety, greenish-golden, bronze colour, and the surface of the 

 feathers should be entirely pervaded with a silvery, greyish 

 luminosity, that adds richness to the colour, and is a sure sign 

 of quality. Avoid all shades of hard greens, and smudginess 

 or dinginess of hue, as this denotes bad blood. In the Silver 

 Spangled birds the ground colour should be a deep, greyish, 

 silver green, with a slight tinge of golden yellow, and the 

 bright silvery luminous shading of the upper surface should 

 be more marked and conspicuous in this variety than in the 

 Golden birds. Your next consideration is spangle, as no Lizard 

 is of any value that fails in this respect, and moreover the 

 spangling should be decided, clear, and distinct, and not broken 



