214 CANARIES 



breeds for markings the variegated birds in the studs are 

 much more handsome than when Httle thought is given 

 to the markings. When the birds are paired clear or 

 ticked to variegated, just to balance colour and quality, 

 there is a number of birds bred with a lot of body marking. 

 When one breeds for markings these birds are not so 

 frequent, as the marking stays about the eyes and wings 

 and we get birds that are far more beautiful to look at. 



Those who will take the trouble to breed for markings 

 will, I am sure, never regret it, as apart from whether 

 they are fortunate enough to breed a grandly marked four- 

 pointed bird their variegated birds will carry marking that 

 will generally give joy to the owner, and capture the eyes 

 of the judges. 



In commencing a strain to breed markings some 

 three-pointed birds should be used, that is, birds marked 

 on both wings and one eye, or both eyse and one wing, 

 others with wing marks only, and some with eye marks 

 only. These birds would prove invaluable to anyone 

 willing to concentrate attention upon the breeding of 

 even-marks. A three-pointed cock could be paired with 

 a hen marked on eyes or wings only, or a cock marked on 

 eyes only could be paired with a wing-marked hen, and 

 so on. The great thing to remember in breeding even- 

 marks is to avoid the use of two birds that are heavily 

 marked. A bird with heavy eye and wing markings 

 should be mated to one with very hght eye-markings 

 and no wing marking, or light wing-markings and no 

 eye marking. A perfectly marked bird should be mated 

 to one Ughtly marked, and so on. A season or two of 

 breeding would give the necessary knowledge and ex- 

 perience, and afford plenty of scope for a fancier of an 

 experimental turn of mind, whilst the pleasure derived 

 from the general improvement of markings in the stud 

 would more than compensate for the difficulties and 

 failures encountered. 



