98 Canaries ant> Cage-Birds. 



thing which ought not to be ; while if it should happen to win by sheer force of sympathy, on 

 account of its being so nearly but not quite perfect, then an injustice is done to the Variegated 

 birds, to whom such approach to perfection of marking is of no value whatever. It may be 

 convenient, as we said, to adopt such a system of grouping, and, considering the comprehensive 

 character of the class, to give and take a little on both sides ; but in investigating the principles of 

 correct classification we must have something more definite than convenience to guide us. 



We do not suppose that a minutely ramified arrangement could generally be adopted under 

 ordinary circumstances, but we wish to exhibit the true principle of classification, so that it may 

 be extended or contracted in the right direction. And with respect to these Unevenly-marked 

 birds, our contention is, that inasmuch as the breeder has aimed at getting "marks" at all hazards — 

 with colour, if possible, but without it rather than lose the marking — it naturally follows that it is 

 not in this section that we must look for the richest colour ; and it is, therefore, hard for these 

 birds to be called upon to sacrifice what they have gained at great trouble, and be measured 

 by a property their opponents have been bred for alone and possess in excess. The simplest 

 way would be to give them a place by themselves, or, in the event of such an extension being 

 considered impracticable, to group them with the Evenly-marked birds in one section under the 

 comprehensive name " Marked." They would then, at least, have the opportunity of competing on 

 the merits of their distinctive feature. There naturally arises the question, Would you then give a 

 prize to an ?/«-evenly marked bird over an ^z/^/^/y-markcd one .'' It would depend entirely on the 

 quality of the marking. There is a description of marking to which we shall presently allude, 

 which is next to worthless. We will assume we have before us a class of " Marked " birds, 

 which will, therefore, contain Marked birds only, but marked in every degree of evenness and 

 exactness, as well as all degrees of unevenness. The best-vaaxk&d would then win ; and we put the 

 case of an unevenly-marked specimen being found among them to inquire into his chances. Given 

 a bird with exact wings and one beautifully-pencilled eye, and another with two respectable 

 wings, one good eye, and, on the other side of the head, a mere blotch, which happens to include 

 the eye ; given, also, that the first is superior in colour and quality, in our opinion it is the 

 better bird, and should win. In all shows the percentage of really exquisitely-marked birds is 

 small, and among the so-called Evenly- marked ones are always to be found many which it requires 

 a great exercise of charity to recognise as such. They may just come within the pale of the law, 

 and, being there, claim the rights and privileges of citizens of the district. But they are worthless 

 members of society ; even the very qualities upon which they base their claim to notice are of 

 negative value ; there is an absence of good breeding about them, and all they can do is to flaunt 

 their credentials in the face of birds which, slightly defective, are yet in other respects superior, 

 and which, after allowing a liberal discount for the defect {blemish there is none), could, in our way 

 of thinking, win easily. 



Before going on to say in what consists good marking, we must draw attention to the thighs 

 of the bird. The covering here is so scant that no decided character can be given to any marking 

 existing there. When it is present it is generally in the form of dark flue which shows itself 

 upon any movement of the bird. It always has a negative rather than a positive value, and more 

 frequently turns the scale against a competing specimen than places any points to its credit. The 

 presence of dark feathers in the tail also is frequently accompanied by more or less of dark colour 

 in the rump-feathers ; this is not considered as a body-mark, and a consequent disqualification in a 

 " Marked " class, but simply counts against the bird according to its extent. 



The mark most difficult to obtain good is that on the eye, where it only too frequently 

 assumes the character of a mere blotch or patch. There is a wide difi'erence between a 



