THE BELGIAN 135 



of legs, back, wings, and tail all made up an appearance 

 that kept the beholder enthralled even when he did not 

 admire. Yet many who did not keep the breed admired 

 it. This makes its passing the more difficult to under- 

 stand. 



Amongst the most enthusiastic lovers of the Belgian 

 that I have ever known was the late W. A. Blakston. 

 The " King of the Fancy " held a strong fascination 

 over that great authority. He used to say that the 

 men and women who loved the Belgian stood head and 

 shoulders over the breeders of all other canaries. The 

 nobility and refinement of the bird shed its lustre on the 

 owner. Yet in such places as Ormskirk and Wigan 

 I have seen some roughish specimens of fanciers 

 — men who loved the Belgian and bred some of the best, 

 but in whom there was little of the refinement associated 

 with the breed. Rare good fanciers, though, they were, 

 and how they loved their Belgians ! 



The Scots are not the only men who have taken toll 

 from the Belgian. The Belgian played a large part in the 

 evolution of the Yorkshire. Thirty to forty years ago, 

 when the idea was that the Yorkshire should be slim 

 and fine enough to go through a wedding ring, nearly 

 every breeder of Yorkshires had in his room a Belgian 

 or two, or else several three-quarter or half-bred Belgians. 

 From the Belgian the Yorkshire received its fine whip 

 tail, its sleek head, and the nerve which used to be so 

 characteristic of the bird named after the land of the 

 White Rose. 



What is needed in the Belgian. 



When in show position the Belgian is a really at- 

 tractive and commanding bird. No other bird approaches 

 it, none other can one compare with it. It is unique. 

 Its sleek, finely chiselled head ; long, delicately curved 

 neck ; stout, high, well-filled shoulders ; long, level 

 back ; tightly braced and perpendicularly carried flights 

 and tail ; straight, long legs ; long, well-covered thighs ; 

 prominent, deep chest ; long, well-tapered waist ; fine 

 delicate feet ; its delicately poised, finely feathered body, 

 with head outstretched and full of nervous energy which 

 seems as though it would lift it from its perch, make 



