94 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



In these general remarks on conformation we have been obliged to mix up the question of 

 feather to some extent, but it must have a place to itself, as forming one of the most important 

 features in this variety. The texture of the material cannot be too fine and silky, nor can the 

 feathers be too short and compact Nothing can atone for coarseness, for which there is no excuse 

 in the eyes of a Norwich breeder. We say " nothing," for not even colour itself can compensate 

 for a marked deficiency in close, soft feathering. Notwithstanding colour is the first thing looked 

 for, and is supposed to be the beginning and the end of the bird, "all over, underneath, in the 

 middle, outside, overhead, on top, on all sides, and at both ends," it cannot stand unsupported on 

 the show-bench, but must have feather to sustain it. No true fancier of the variety but would 

 accept an average display of colour combined with high quality, in preference to simply excess of 

 colour without it, or with only a moderate share of it. When the two are presented in this way, it 

 is not easy to arrive at a correct estimate of their combined values by the application of a 

 numerical scale, because the sum of the two values is really increased by an indeterminate number 

 representing the effect of the combination. For instance, supposing two birds to score 20 and 

 30 points respectively under the head of colour, and 20 and 10 respectively for quality of 

 feather; then the value of the first would appear to be 20 + 20 = 40, and that of the second, 

 30 + 10 = 40 ; but in reality the value of the first would be 40 + an indefinite number 

 expressing the value of the effect of such a balance of power, and that of the second, 40 - a 

 discount for loss of effect occasioned by such disparity in the proportions of the combining parts, 

 assuming, of course, the relative stand and values of the two properties to be equal. 



We have left the property of colour to the last, because a great deal is involved in it, and 

 before proceeding to treat of it in detail it will be sufficient here to say that the principal 

 characteristic of the bird is the capacity it has to develop colour, as will have been gathered from 

 wh^t has been previously advanced. A long-continued application of the principles of selection 

 has doubtless fixed this feature. The ultimate colour of all " clear " Canaries is what is generally 

 understood by the word " yellow." But there are many shades of this colour, and it ranges from 

 pale lemon to the deep hue of a Seville orange. Well then, the Norwich bird is the Seville 

 orange among a basket of lemons — the difference in colour is quite as decided ; and if a further 

 illustration be necessary, we think we could not make a happier comparison than by reference to 

 the difference between the rich chrome of the dark African Marigold and the pale lemon-coloured 

 flower of the same variety. We have endeavoured to describe its shape and its feather, and these 

 two illustrations will serve to give a general idea of its colour, which is measured for depth and 

 purity. The idea, however, is but general, and we will now go into details. 



The entire Canary family is divided into two colour-classes, Yellow and Buff, which are 

 synonymous with the terms Jonque and Mealy ; but inasmuch as these terms do not express the 

 real colour, they must be regarded as purely technical. For example, we speak of a Yellow Green 

 or a Buff Green, a Yellow Cinnamon or a Buff Cinnamon, when it is patent neither of these colours 

 can be yellow or buff in reality ; and the words, therefore, taken in their general application, are 

 technicalities. The explanation is simple. Whatever be the body-colour of a Canary, whether it 

 be literally yellow, or green, or cinnamon; or whether it be in a Lizard, or even a dark Self-coloured 

 Canary hybrid, it has two forms in which it manifests itself. One is bright and, for want of a 

 better word, we will say luminous, polished and glittering ; the other, dull and flat, and is by 

 comparison what frosted silver or dead gold is to the burnished metal. The first is the yellow 

 form, and the other the buff; and one or the other presents itself in every Canary or Canary 

 hybrid. In speaking of the Norwich Canary, the terms Jonque and Mealy are generally adopted, 

 and are both expressive of the general character indicated. The word Jonque is originally pure 



