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CANARIES 



more feather to cover it, and when a fair expanse of beak 

 is seen protruding under the crest it makes the latter look 

 short, even when it is not. Now we come to the property 

 which gives the breed its name — the Crest. This must 

 be large, some say it cannot be too large, but it depends 

 in great measure on the head which supports it. The 

 Crest must be large, it must be evenly centred, that is the 

 centre must be placed as near the centre of the bird's 



Head of Crested-Bred Canary, 

 showing rise of skull and heavy brow feathers. 



skull as is possible, and from the centre the feathers, 

 which must be long, broad, dense, veiny, or well-ribbed, 

 and of rich quality, must radiate uniformly all round, 

 drooping well over the eyes, beak, and poll in a manner 

 which secures for it the definition of a weeping crest 

 The skull itself must be broad and long, its width and 

 length almost equal, so as to carry the crest evenly ; 

 it must not be fiat, but be cushion or dome-shape. The 

 back of the head must be broad and well feathered, the 

 neck must be stout, the shoulders wide, also the back, the 



