CHAPTER VIII 



THE BELGIAN 



A Breed that has lost Popularity. 



FoRTY-odd years ago, when I first entered the ranks of 

 canary exhibitors, the Belgian was one of the most 

 extensively kept in the counties of Lancashire, Cumber- 

 land, Northumberland, Durham, in the Midlands, and 

 in Devonshire and Somerset. These were the strongholds 

 of the breed, aud it was no uncommon thing to see classes 

 of twenty, or more, at such shows as Liverpool, Notting- 

 ham and Plymouth. The first special prize I ever won 

 was won with a buff Belgian at Plymouth, and it is more 

 than forty years ago. I loved the Belgian then, I love 

 it still. That first special would keep its memory green 

 in my heart, even if nothing else did, but I admire the 

 Belgian and always have done since I first met it. 



In the days of which I write it was always spoken of as 

 the " King of the Fancy." Alas ! 'tis not so now. One 

 can visit twenty shows in a season and not see one single 

 specimen of the breed, and it is many years since I saw 

 a class of Belgians at an English show ; and even in Scot- 

 land, where once it was very popular, one seldom comes 

 across it now. I must say, however, that there are in 

 Scotland to-day many birds known as Scots Fancies, 

 which, if they were placed in a Belgian cage and trained 

 as a Belgian, would be equal to some of the best of the 

 good old days. 



The Scots to blame. 



In my opinion the passing of the Belgian is due in 

 great measure to the Scots. Thirty to thirty-five years 

 ago began a craze amongst breeders of Scots Fancies 



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