Difference between Jonque and Mealy. loi 



without finding a place for them, and we submit that their proper place is in the bond fide 

 "Ticked " division, which we define to mean not lightly "variegated," in the sense in which we have 

 explained the latter, but simply as having grey or grizzled feathers or dark flue. Nineteen out of 

 every twenty of them are ticked, for a "smoky" thigh and dark flue are first cousins. It is 

 frequently only the delicate flue of the silky, downy covering of the thighs that is dark ; and so 

 long as the thighs remain in good repair, and the bird sits still, the discoloration is not perceptible 

 without looking twice at it. But the bird flies up against the wires and uncovers his thighs, and 

 then it is plain enough: the colour is there, and the bird owes his deep jonque to it, and is not clear, 

 and his grizzled thighs are as much ticked as is the head or neck of the bird in the next class, 

 which may blow almost perfectly clear, and have not more than half-a-dozen grey feathers in it. 

 Birds of this kind are all on an equality : they are in one and the same stage in the march towards 

 freedom from the trace of green, which, so long as they have it, groups them in one class. Our 

 arrangement of the whole in order of colour-gradation is — first. Green ; second, Variegated ; 

 third. Clear. Subdividing them further for the purpose of more detailed classification, and 

 arranging them again in complete order, we have— -(a) Green, (p) Heavily Variegated, (c) 

 Lightly Variegated, (d) Evenly-marked, (e) Unevenly-marked, (/) Ticked, (g) Clear. This is the 

 extreme extension, and includes every form. The classes which may be united on a common 

 footing are {b) and (d), which contain practically the same birds, differing only in the amount of 

 variegation. Classes (d) and {e) can also be united under the inclusive term " Marked," as we have 

 shown. It is also usual to group {b), {c), and (/) into one, as representing more or less variegation ; 

 but we have endeavoured to show that there is a closer affinity between (/) and {g) than between 

 any other, and that (/) should be used as an adjunct to {g) for the reception of birds perched on 

 the top bar but one. 



We supplement these notes on classification based on the natural gradations in colour, by a 

 few remarks on the dilTerence between the Jonque and Mealy bird. We think there is no occasion 

 to say further of the Jonque other than that it is of a pure bright hue, with all the colour on the 

 surface, like an exquisite orange satin. The Mealy bird is of the same hue, but the colour does 

 not appear to glisten on the surface ; it is still a ruddy orange satin, and sometimes ruddier even 

 than the Jonque, but the satin is covered with a delicate white gossamer veil by which its gloss is 

 clouded, though rendered, if possible, more beautiful by the veil thrown over it. The colour is 

 softened in places where the lace covering seems to lie in thicker folds, but a movement of the 

 bird brings a fresh gleam of light to play on its beautiful dress, and from under the silvery 

 cloud shines out the golden yellow. The word " Mealy " is very expressive of the appearance 

 of the bird, though the idea is not very poetical : we have seen Norwich Canaries which 

 appeared almost as if the white bloom on them would come off in the hand like that of some 

 fruits. This silvery frosting is occasioned by the extreme edge of the feathers being fringed 

 -with a margin of white, and the effect produced is greater or less as it is presented in places 

 where the growth is dense or otherwise. The feathering on the Buff birds is much denser than 

 in the Jonques, the under-flue being very thick and long, as the fancier will be able to observe 

 when he makes his first essay in washing. Altogether the Buff bird is built on a larger and 

 stouter scale, and is in every respect the more lusty bird of the two. Every fancier has his own 

 particular liking, and ours is for the perfection of development in a Mealy bird. 



Such is the Norwich Canary, of which we have endeavoured to furnish as complete a 

 description as possible. Before entering on the question of how to breed them we will devote the 

 next chapter to a description of an offshoot from this variety, which, during the last few yearsi, 

 has become almost as popular as the parent stock. 



