i66 CANARIES 



from crossing with the ordinary clear or ticked York- 

 shires, which would have been the only other cross at 

 all suitable, because the Green-marked Yorkshires of 

 that time were not sufficiently typical to be used for the 

 purpose. Type and carriage were secured in this manner, 

 but at the expense of soundness of colour. The rich 

 brilUant green, giving place to a lighter tone, which was 

 not so sound and pure as the original. 



The Greens of to-day have not the lustrous brilliancy, 

 the rich grassy green which the old breeders of Greens 

 would have. Then the wings show a bronziness that is 

 not at all attractive, and the vents and thighs run light 

 in colour. Writing on this, the late H. W. Battye, said : — 

 " They are dull and smutty in colour." Speaking of the 

 general effect of the crossing he said: — "Take the Green- 

 Marked Yorkshire, many of these have a considerable 

 amount of Cinnamon blood in their veins, and the mark- 

 ings in many cases are of a grey cast, some being between 

 a shade of green and cinnamon. The same remarks 

 in some instances will apply to the Cinnamon Marks. 

 Some of these by having been crossed with Green Marked 

 birds (in an endeavour in most cases to improve their 

 type) are nearly what may be termed half green and 

 half cinnamon in their markings. These points will, in 

 the future, have to be considered, and, if some who may 

 doubt the above statements will observe the difference 

 in the colour of a good many of our self-coloured Cinna- 

 mons and Greens and the markings on Green and Cinna- 

 mon-Marked Yorkshires, it may be the means of convincing 

 them that there are some grounds for the statement 

 that seldom does the crossing of Cinnamon and Green 

 improve the colour of either, but in the majority of in- 

 stances is the means of injuring that colour." 



Whilst agreeing as to the effects of the crossing of Green 

 aud Cinnamon blood I must say that the evil effects 

 mentioned may in time be removed by carefully selecting 

 the breeding stock and absolutely refusing to breed 

 with Greens or Green-Marked Yorkshires that show the 

 objectionable bronze or Cinnamon tinge. 



Value of the Foul Birds. 

 When the Greens were on the crest of their wave of 

 popularity, classes were provided for Selfs. Foul (pied 



