342 The Canary Book. 



and the "Yorkshire Fancy" in Yorkshire; and the bird not 

 being indigenous, must necessarily have been manufactured. 

 Indeed, it is a well-known fact that the latter varieties are 

 produced by cross breeding, that is to say, by matching two or 

 more distinct varieties together, and thereby producing a new 

 variety. Some people do not like the idea that any of their pets 

 should be considered mongrels ; but I contend that when once a 

 variety is established whose individuality is so marked and 

 distinguishable by certain peculiarities, and which can be repro- 

 duced at pleasure, that it is no longer deserving of the term 

 mongrel ; and I further contend that to produce a new variety 

 of any kind, whether it be in dogs, pigeons, poultry, or canaries, 

 is to bring about a result indicative of the highest art or science 

 of breeding, and, therefore, is more worthy of commendation 

 than condemnation. If my first proposition is conceded, I do 

 not think that anyone will doubt that the Lizard canary is the 

 most prominent cross to be found in these birds, as it is well 

 known that a young London Fancy in its nest feather, if a good 

 specimen, so closely resembles the young of the Lizards that 

 none other than really experienced fanciers can distinguish the 

 one variety from the other ; in fact, I have had young Lizards in 

 one cage and young London Fancies in another adjoining, and I 

 have known many men who have bred canaries for several years, 

 who were totally unable to say which were which. Another 

 reason in support of my supposition that the London Fancy 

 canaries have in the first instance been artificially produced is 

 that the young birds vary very much in plumage in their nest 

 feather, some being all dark except the cap, whilst others are 

 often pied like a common variegated canary ; these specimens 

 are produced in the same nest, and you require to breed a goodly 

 number ere you succeed in getting two or three birds sufficiently 

 perfect to show, and that exclusive of all accidents. In further 

 support of my theory, I will quote a few facts within my own 

 knowledge, and which have tended greatly to confirm me in my 

 opinion. 



I once put a Lizard canary and a London Fancy together,- 

 the produce of this cross resembled bad Lizards. The next 



