240 CANARIES 



certain sum on every pair, to raise a fund for the prizes, 

 agreeable to the articles subscribed to. The prize is 

 given to the best-bred bird of that season, and must run 

 as follows — in beauty, plumage, and properties : 



" Standard Properties. 



" First. — Cap for colour, magnitude, and regularity 

 " Second. — Swallow and throat, for largeness. 

 " Third. — Fair breast, regular. 

 " Fourth. — Legs, for blackness. 

 " Fifth. — Flue, for blackness. 



" Explanation. 



" From the beak to the back of the neck must be of 

 a clear orange colour, the ground of a rich colour, and 

 the feathers edged with black. The feathers on the loins 

 must be free from black, and the same colour as the cap. 

 Every feather in the wings and tail must be black, without 

 any intermixture of white ones. The whole of the breast 

 must be free from black feathers, and of the same tint as 

 cap and saddle. 



" Regulation. 



" No bird shall be considered a fair show bird in feather 

 or feathers, without black in stork or web, either in the 

 back, the flight, or tail feathers. The back to be reckoned 

 from the feathers which turn with the head, including the 

 first single feather at the bottom, or that has less than 

 eighteen flying feathers in each wing and twelve in the 

 tail. A bird without pinion shall be considered in that 

 respect preferable to a bird with one pinion only. 



" Having shown their requisites, to him who can 

 produce the nearest bird of the season, according to 

 colour and feather, is awarded the prize. 



" The societies meet about the first day of March, when 

 the members are chosen and the rules are agreed upon for 

 the season. Show days take place generally in November 

 or December, as the young birds by that time are moulted 



