lOO Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



a sufficient number on each side to give a decided character to the marking, we look upon it 

 as worthless. 



The highest point of development attainable by the Norwich Canary is the "Clear" 

 bird, which, as its name implies, should present a uniform clear colour throughout. Not the 

 slightest tinge should be observable in a single feather, nor should the under-flue of its spotless 

 golden plumage show any trace of its native black. This is not insisted on by all breeders, but the 

 possession of dark colour anyivhere is here a most dangerous property, since it is seldom entirely 

 confined to those places where it is entirely hidden, but is apt to develop itself in certain feathers, 

 v/hich, though they do not take a more substantial form than mere down, are very liable to carry 

 at their extremities the colour of the dark under-flue, the slightest indications of which, in a severe 

 competition, would disqualify a bird. The most usual place in which it crops up to the surface 

 is on the downy covering of the thighs, which are sometimes " smoky," and sometimes of a 

 brown or bronzy colour, indicative of the fact that the native green still lurks within, and is doing 

 the work of depositing colour in a way the absolutely Clear bird cannot. The question as to what 

 is a Clear bird is generally answered by the definition. One which shows no green ; and it is 

 probable that it will remain there, in the face of certain difficulties in carrying it any farther. But 

 we think the definition is open to objection, and serious objection too. We have shown how the 

 native green is the fountain of colour, and how it has the capacity for developing it; and the object 

 in breeding from dark to clear is to maintain that capacity to as full an extent as possible, and, at 

 the same time, eradicate all trace of the original colour. We have also said that so long as there 

 is a vestige of a green feather remaining, the colour-work goes on with greater energy ; and it is 

 only fair to consider whether the presence of dark under-flue in any quantity is not indicative of a 

 considerable amount of the green element still at work, and whether such a bird really has bid 

 good-bye to the green, and is perfectly clear. We do not desire to take a one-sided view of the 

 question, and are quite prepared for the inquiry. If a bird shows no green, where else can it be 

 put, except among the Clears, or the externally clear, since every other bird does show it ? But the 

 plan of combating objections by asking questions is generally open to being itself met in the same 

 way; and we would reply by asking, If birds with dark under-flue are stronger colour-producers 

 by virtue of that taint, are not the absolutely clear practically as much at a disadvantage in 

 being brought into competition with them, as they would be if made to enter the lists with the 

 bona fide Ticked birds, which are considered the first remove from Clear, and have one leg already 

 inside the door ? Difficulties always commence when we hesitate about drawing a clearly-defined 

 boundary-line. When we have marked out our ground, we have nothing to do but to drive in our 

 stakes and go ahead with our fence on the line ; but if we begin to diverge here and there to 

 include something without our circle, we at once lay the foundation of trouble. Now, it is not the 

 breeding up to almost but not quite clear that is difficult, but it is the putting the finishing touches 

 to the work and turning out perfection, without a taint of imperfection, that shows the master- 

 workman ; and we have seen really clear gems, clear throughout, with snowy-white silky flue, that 

 it v/ould be a sin to put into competition with birds blowing black all over. And here we draw 

 our line, and define "Clear" to mean not having the remotest tinge of dark colour in quill, flue, oi" 

 feather; birds from which every trace of the green has been eliminated; which have a clear, silky, 

 snowy-white under-flue, and show by it that they have arrived at the goal. There is not a fancier 

 who has ever exhibited a high-class bond fide Clear of his own breeding that would not object to 

 be beaten by a bird with dark flue ; and doing as you would be done by is not a bad plan to 

 follow, even in digesting a simple question in Canary classification. 



We have no desire to turn the dark- flue birds out of their companionship with the Clears 



