346 The Canary Book. 



as the dark feathers disappear, and when thoroughly moulted 

 the bodies of the birds appear in a rich bright, almost clear 

 plumage, with dark wings and tails. They are then in their 

 most perfect state as show birds, and never afterwards, as 

 when they moult the following season they shed their tail and 

 wing feathers, and these are reproduced almost clear, "being 

 merely grizzled in place of being black. The young of these 

 birds, however, although bred from parents which have moulted 

 clear, appear in the dark plumage in their nest feather, and 

 undergo the same process as their parents did before them ; 

 this is the great and attractive feature or peculiarity of this 

 particular variety of canaries. 



BREEDING. In breeding London Fancy canaries, it is 

 customary to match a jonque and mealy bird together, but 

 it will be found advantageous to breed from two mealies 

 occasionally, for by this plan you increase the size and sub- 

 stance of your birds, and it tends greatly bo improve the 

 feather, more particularly in firmness and fringe. It will 

 detract slightly from the colour if too frequently resorted to, 

 but this must be avoided. 



These birds are not only difficult to breed in anything like 

 perfection, but the greatest possible care is required in moult- 

 ing, and when moulted in preserving them intact ; for if a tail 

 or wing feather (flight feather) is prematurely shed or beaten 

 out, it is certain to be reproduced clear or grizzled, and this 

 circumstance alone would debar a bird from competing suc- 

 cessfully at any show. It is, therefore, of the greatest im- 

 portance to moult these birds in separate cages, and in some 

 quiet corner of a room. The principal London breeders have 

 cages made expressly for moulting these birds. They are a 

 sort of box cage, being made of wood on all sides, with a wire 

 front, but immediately behind this is placed a glass slide, 

 which is seldom wholly withdrawn ; a portion of the top of the 

 cage, too, is made to fold back with hinges, like a door, and 

 inside of this is fixed a small wired frame This is used for 

 supplying the occupant of the cage with fresh air. I do not 

 advocate moulting birds in these boxed- in cage I m-efer an 



