THE LANCASHIRE 177 



In the Lancashire the usual method of pairing yellow 

 to buff has not been so steadfastly adhered to as in other 

 varieties. Two buffs are often paired to increase the 

 size ; but this must not be overdone, or what is gained 

 in size will be lost in shape and carriage. Another 

 break from the orthodox is that occasionally two Coppy 

 birds are paired together to improve the quantity of 

 head feather, but this practice must only be resorted 

 to when the crests or coppies are deteriorating in size. 

 If it is followed up it will result in large, shapeless, broken 

 coppies, wholly wanting in that beautiful symmetry of 

 form so dear to the educated eye. In the same manner 

 two Plainheads are sometimes mated so as to secure 

 increased width and substance of skull. This may be 

 done once now and again with manifestly good results, 

 but if the Plainheads are bred together too frequently 

 the shape of the coppies on birds bred from them will be 

 found to be bad, and the centres will not be clear and 

 distinct as they should be. But, from double-coppy, 

 double-plainhead birds some of the best have been bred. 

 By this I mean when one of the parents has been bred 

 from two Coppies, and the other from two Plainheads. 

 This doubhng process must, however, not be performed 

 more than once now and then. 



What of the Future of the Breed ? 



This is a serious question. If things go on as they 

 have done for the last ten years, another decade may 

 possibly find the fancy without a Lancashire canary. 

 Those who are interested in the breed should rouse 

 themselves, guarantee classes for it outside of Lancashire 

 and create a demand for the bird. Attention should also 

 be paid to the breeding of colour and quality of feather 

 so as to make the birds more pleasing to the eye. From 

 thirty-five to twenty-five years ago breeders of Crested 

 Norwich made big inroads upon the best studs in Lan- 

 cashire, The modern Crested Norwich was made from 

 the Lancashire, and it seems to me that if the Lancashire 

 is ever to get back to its old position it will only be by 

 getting back from the Crested Norwich those properties 

 which the Crested Nor^^^ch secured from it years ago. 



M 



