THE NORWICH PLAINHEAD 205 



and Wallace, and they both wrote of the value of the 

 Lizard cross. It was that which gave the birds of that 

 time their wonderful sheen and silky feather. The 

 subsequent increase of size which came from the Prescot 

 district was possibly due to an introduction of Lancashire 

 blood. It destroyed those beautiful silky, sheeny coats, 

 and we have never had them since. In those days the 

 Norwich was indeed a bird of colour. That is, natural 

 colour, and men bred for colour. In these latter days 

 it is more fed than bred for. 



Colour the Thing. 



At that time no less than 45 points out of the 100 

 making the ideal bird were given to colour alone, and, 

 as if this was not enough, twenty more used to be given 

 for extra sheen and brilliance. Eight points only were 

 given for size, and six for shape. To-day the standard 

 of the Norwich Plainhead Club gives fifty for size and 

 shape and only fifteen for colour. Thus instead of being, 

 as it was, considered a bird of colour only, the Norwich 

 is now a bird of type, and should be so judged. What a 

 difference ! Then only fifteen points were allowed for 

 condition and quality ; to-day they stand equal with 

 colour. Unfortunately some judges even yet prefer 

 colour to type, and if you give them a good big hot- 

 coloured bird it will win over birds of finer quality and 

 superior type. 



These differences in the breed are so great that one can 

 hardly credit that such changes could have been wrought 

 amongst a body of men so conservative as cage-bird 

 fanciers. These changes have not been caused by any 

 sudden revulsion of feehng. There has been a gradual 

 growth towards the modem ideal. 



It was in the year 1887 that we saw the first of the big 

 birds in the South of England ; he came from the stud 

 of one who has turned out many a good Norwich in 

 the days that are past, and who is still with us, Mr. C. E. 

 Silk, of Emsworth. That bird was of a totally different 

 character to the big ones which came from Prescot, 

 inasmuch as he had what they lacked, the much desired 

 rich silky quality of feather. He was not, however, so 



