CANARIES. 19 



ing and training has brought him to his present perfect shape. This, in a great 

 measure, was brought about by the numerous guilds, or clubs, formed for the pur- 

 pose of breeding Canaries to a perfect shape. Throughout Belgium clubs were 

 formed ; and each club had a special object in view, and embraced every thing in art 

 or sport, bird-raising being one of the things. 



Each ornithological club now has its bronze model, which is supposed to be the 

 shape a perfect Belgian Canary should be ; and every member strives to breed and 

 train, as nearly as possible, his living choice to the shape of the bronze cast. 



The Belgian Canary is the thorough-bred of the Canary family, and, like the 

 thorough-bred race-horse, shows his breeding in every movement. This is due to 

 the amount of care, and picked strains of blooded stock, used in the breeding. The 

 bird's head, particularly, should be noticed, as showing high cultivation ; the large, 

 intelligent eye, and very small, snake-like head, being the best evidences of high 

 blood. 



His shape, when at rest, should conform to a right angle. A line drawn from 

 the crown of the hsad to the tip of the shoulders should form one side, and a line 

 from the tip of the shoulders to the tip of the tail should form the other side of 

 the angle. There are, besides these, numerous minor points, such as shape and 

 size of the head ; a flat and very small head being considered the best. The tail 

 should be lengthy and slender, and not too broad, nor too forked. The shoul- 

 ders should be compact, without too much of a hollow between them. The breast 

 should have a good depth, but not be too broad. The upper side of the neck should 

 be a nearly straight line from the shoulder, and not have the appearance of a 

 camel's neck. The purity or fineness of feather, not the depth of color, is the 

 quality sought after in plumage. Nearly all are light yellow ; but some are deeply 

 mottled in gold and green, and these are highly prized by the English fanciers. 

 The legs should be straight, and the thighs well feathered. A knock-kneed or bow- 

 legged Belgian, no matter how fine he may be in other respects, is not an object of 

 beauty. 



There are numerous styles of the Long-breed family ; but the only recognized pure 

 Belgian Canary, in his native country, is a fac-simile of the illustrated model. A 

 brood of young Belgian Canaries are a gawky-looking set of creatures, and an ama- 

 teur would pass them by without notice. They tumble around in about the sa..je 

 manner as a very small boy taking his first lesson on a pair of very long stilts. As 

 they develop, this unsteadiness passes away ; but still, the full-blooded Belgian, 

 when viewed in any position except when on his perch, is an awkward-looking fel- 

 low at the best. When hopping along the bottom of the cage, pecking at his seeds, 

 his movements are such as might be made by a two-legged camel moving rapidly, if 

 such an animal can be imagined. 



It is from his pose when excited, that the most points may be seen. When in 

 position he is judged according to his merit, and then all the prominent points are 

 brought out to the fullest extent. The Belgian is the blue-blood of the Canary 

 family, and should never be excited without cause. For this reason, a fancier, 

 when entering an exhibition-room, uses as much care as a person would in going 

 into a sick-room. The bird, when excited, strives to do his utmost in gaining a 

 perfect position ; and for this reason he should not be excited without cause. He 



