CHAPTER XI 



THE LANCASHIRE 



The Giant of the Canary Family. 



Beyond the fact that it is the largest member of the 

 canary family, the Lancashire also enjoins respect by the 

 fact that it is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of our 

 English breeds. Its history as an exhibition bird goes 

 back well over a century, and the chronicles state that 

 it was known more than 200 years ago. There has always 

 been amongst modern fanciers much speculation as to 

 its origin, and many say it is an offshoot of the old 

 Dutch Frill canary, but there is no evidence that it is so ; 

 therefore one might equally claim that the Dutch Canary 

 has sprung from the Lancashire. Its origin is lost in the 

 mists of antiquity, and those who like the glamour of age 

 to surround their hobby may delight in the knowledge 

 that the Lancashire is one of our oldest breeds. There 

 are those who would have us beheve that the Huguenot 

 refugees when they came to England brought it with 

 them. They may have done so, but, if the Huguenots 

 really brought us only half of the good things they are 

 said to have done, they were indeed great benefactors 

 to their adopted land. 



In length, style, and profusion of feather the Lan- 

 cashire is like unto the Dutch Frill canary, but there 

 the Ukeness ceases. The Lancashire is a much more 

 massive and substantial bird than the Dutch, and its head 

 both in shape aud covering is very different. Some 

 really ridiculous things have been written about the 

 Lancashire. One writer who had a big following five and 

 thirty years ago said large Yorkshires and Plainhead 



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