272 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



The Belgian canaries are sometimes called 

 the "nobles" of the canary famih'. This is a 

 question of taste, but if it depends on their 

 external appearance thev have a right to the 

 distinction. A pure Belgian canary is large, 

 with a narrow, rather flat head, a ver\' gentle 



Ax AviARV DE Luxe 



expression in the eyes, and the throat and 

 nape of the neck apparently very flexible. This 

 expression of the eyes is attributed by many 

 connoisseurs to the calm temperament to be 

 observed in the breed, showing long domes- 

 ticity. It is not, however, by the eyes only that 

 the bird can be judged, but by the neck also. 



When perfectly tranquil he carries his head 

 horizontally, and we then see that his shoulders 

 are very broad and strongly developed. They 

 rise towards the back, which is co\-ered with 

 a thick down, to which a long and tapering 

 tail is attached. The back and tail are almost 

 vertical. The breast, all of 

 which is visible, is neither 

 broad nor round, and the legs 

 and feet are straight and long. 

 The Belgian canary, sitting so 

 calmly on his perch, strikes 

 the attentive observer chiefly 

 by his lithe form and the car- 

 riage of his head. 



In England and the United 

 States we find in the Seoteh 

 faiiey eaiiary (sometimes 

 called the G/asgow Don) a 

 worthy counterpart of the 

 Belgian bird, to which he is 

 related ; but thanks to artifi- 

 cial breeding, he now forms a 

 distinct species with a much 

 flatter head. He always 

 carries his head raised and 

 rounds his body without any 

 apparent raising of the shoul- 

 ders. Experts pay great 

 attention to the posture of 

 these birds and judge them 

 by it ; and associations, clubs, 

 and breeders have a score of 

 points under which the judg- 

 ment must be formed. Among 

 breeders there are certain 

 celebrated canaries that are 

 known b}- their owners' sur- 

 names. This Scotch species, 

 which is becoming more and 

 more the fashion, is raised in 

 eight different shades of color, running from 

 yellow to green. 



Besides this breed we find several others, such 

 as the Yorkshire canary, an English one, much 

 like the Parisian bird, but without its curly 

 down ; the London breed, a small bird raised 

 in different shades (from green to yellow, to 



