148 CANARIES 



Thoughts on breeding Scots Fancy. 



Size and length being of so much importance on the 

 show bench it is necessary that in mating birds to pro- 

 duce winners the cock birds used should above all 

 things possess size. Thus we must have length of neck, 

 length of side, length of flights and tail, and stout, well- 

 filled shoulders in the cock birds. If they have shape, 

 nerve, and action so much the better. Sleekness of head, 

 and a well-curved body we must have in the hens, for 

 the hens it is which have the biggest say in the production 

 of shape. The hens also must be fine in feather, style also 

 the hens must possess. No matter how good your cocks 

 may be if the hens are heavy in head, short in neck and 

 slow or clumsy in action you cannot expect to breed show 

 birds from them. 



One point of the greatest importance, and which 

 must never be forgotten in the mating of Scots Fancies 

 is this : — Never breed with a bird that is over, or across, 

 the perch. A good Scots Fancy pulls away his body all 

 the time it is in position. Drive, that is the fullest out- 

 stretching of the neck possible, you must have, but as the 

 bird thrusts its head and neck forward it must throw its 

 shoulders and back right away in the opposite direction. 

 When and wherever possible, mate together the 

 very best specimens possible. Like produces like. You 

 cannot breed large birds from small ones, neither can you 

 breed stylish, nervy birds from sluggards. 



So far as colour is concerned, the orthodox mating of 

 yellow and buff must be followed, although many breeders 

 to improve size do occasionally double-buff, but, although 

 double-bufhng does increase size, birds so bred are apt 

 to be coarse in head and neck, and coarse in feather, 

 therefore such mating must only be resorted to occasion- 

 ally. When two buffs are paired together they should both 

 possess excessive length of neck and side, if it is at all 

 possible. It is wise when mating to use a clear or foul 

 (ticked) bird with one that is pied (variegated). This will 

 assist in maintaining colour and quality of feather. 

 When two heavily variegated birds, or two greens, are 

 paired together one is apt to get profusion of feather, 

 not necessarily coarseness, but more length of feather. 

 Stiffness of tail is a great fault in a Scots Fancy. No 



