THE LONDON FANCY 237 



What they Should Be. 



The following notes are taken from an old work of nearly 

 200 years ago. It will be seen by these that the breed 

 must have had a strong following at that time in London 

 itself. 



" These must possess the following characteristics, 

 viz., a fine large cap or crown (extending over the whole 

 of the back part of the head) of a deep rich orange colour 

 (not a lemon cast) ; and the same richness of ground 

 must prevail in all its other parts, except where the rules 

 prescribe black, viz., in the wings and tail, in which 

 the feathers must be black home to the quill ; the tail 

 must have twelve black feathers, and each wing eighteen 

 feathers black to the quill. Their backs the first year are 

 always more or less spangled or mottled ; and the first 

 time they change or moult their quill feathers they 

 become lighter. Indeed, every season after the first their 

 feathers become lighter at every change. Therefore 

 their beauty for prize showing is always in the first 

 season, and to produce a good breed these requisites 

 of feathers are as necessary in the hen as cock, which 

 circumstance renders the hens valuable. In purchasing 

 a fancy Canary Finch observe the following marks, 

 which denote its age : His wings and tail will be black 

 the first year, second year grey, third year lighter, and when 

 five or six years old a fine jonque or mealy all over ; 

 the same applies to the hens. 



" Depth or richness of the orange colour is the grand 

 object of all, therefore purchase at first a good cock and 

 hen, with the requisites already mentioned. The cock, 

 jonque, should be matched with a fine mealy hen ; see 

 see that the cap, wings and tail are black and regular, 

 with a fine feather. In breeding the fancy, as much, if 

 not more, depends on a regular good-feathered hen as 

 upon any other point. 



" Examples. 



" First. — If you have a fine jonque cock, of a strong 

 orange collour, with much black in his feathers, pair 

 him with a fine soft-coloured mealy hen, with as little 



