CHAPTER XXVII. 



CANARY SOCIETIES, AND CLOSE AND OPEN SHOWS. 



CANARY societies have existed is this country for a great 

 number of years, and there are few towns, I should imagine, 

 throughout the length and breadth of England at least, if 

 not of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, that cannot boast of an 

 institution of this sort. Formerly the whole of these societies 

 were of a purely conservative character, being restricted not 

 only to the towns in which they were held, but, so far as the 

 exhibitions held in connection with them were concerned, they 

 were conserved to the sole use and benefit of the members 

 forming the society. The main objects in promoting these 

 institutions were undoubtedly to bring together in close and 

 friendly intercourse the principal breeders and fanciers of 

 canaries, and to diffuse among tnem a spirit of brotherhood 

 and friendly feeling, as well as to infuse a spirit of emulation 

 for the advancement of the canary cause. 



These societies hold their meetings usually at an inn or 

 tavern, and have an arrangement with the proprietor or landlord 

 to have a room appropriated for their especial use; this is 

 invariably conceded without demur. 



The legitimate meetings, viz., those set apart for the trans- 

 action of the society's business, are held monthly, in the case 

 of a "close show society," but the members thereof, which 

 consist chiefly of the working classes, are generally drawn every 

 Saturday evening to the inn where these meetings are held, 

 and there discuss freely all topics pertaining to their favourite 



