io6 Ca.\'jr/es and Cage-Bikds. 



to spoil the appearance of a symmetrical crest or deceive the eye as to the demerits of a 

 bad one. 



The colour of the crest depends a good deal on the strain of blood in the bird, and this also 

 affects its shape and general character in no slight degree. If high Norwich properties reign, the 

 colour will be bronzy-green and the feathering short ; while an admi.xture with some of the more 

 open-feathered varieties will give a darker or blacker green cast to the crest, and the longer 

 feathering we have described. But, whatever the particular shade, it should be bright and glossy, 

 and not dull. 



The rules for the wing and tail marks are the same as for the Plainheads, and here the 

 worthless tail-feather can work a deal of mischief We admit that it is quite illogical to attempt 

 to show that an unevenly-marked tail is no blemish in an Evenly-marked class which insists upon 

 the correct thing in tails ; but with the leading feature, the crest, exhibited in perfection, and 

 the most striking marking, viz., that on the wings, also exact, and the body spotless and free from 

 the suspicion of the smallest tick, it has always seemed to us such a pity to have to hold the 

 bird up above the level of the eye, and turn it this way and that way in search of feathers which, 

 when present, are of so trifling a value. We really think that if a Bill were to be brought in 

 for the "abolition of certain grievances in respect to the tails of Evenly-marked Crested Canaries," 

 we should vote for its first reading, if only that its merits might be ventilated by discussion — all 

 of which we know is very inconsistent and heterodox, and calculated to upset a system of Canary 

 government which has lasted for years. 



Body-colour, as the family is at present constituted, must be good, with feather replete with 

 the pregnant attribute of " quality." The colour of the legs and feet is practically of no value : 

 it inclines to dark, but is never very decided or uniform. 



The Dark-crested Clear-bodied birds are equally as beautiful as the class we have just left. 

 The one ranks before the other in the fancier's estimation only for the reasons we gave. The 

 difficulty of producing the exact wings, we admit, but we are not inclined to grant that difficulty 

 of attainment is a correct standard by wliich to measure beauty. What is difficult of attainment 

 is usually most valued, and on this ground we are disposed to give in to the claims of the Marked 

 bird ; but our own speciality is puie, unbroken colour in the body, with dark crest. The contrast 

 seems to us to be more marked than when the surface is broken by the mosaic-work on the back, 

 beautiful as it is. The general properties are the same as before, but a display of superior body- 

 feather qualities is tacitly required, and is generally present. It has no special marking to attract 

 and satisfy by the way in which it fulfils the fancier's demands, nor anything to balance defects in 

 colour, for the eye has no V to rest on with complacency while it forgets that the pattern is 

 worked on a dull ground. There is but one idea presented, and that is purity and uniformity of 

 colour ; and the golden birds with the black top-knots generally carry the sway with those who 

 look at them simply as pictures. Perhaps it is that the clear body looks more Canary-like and 

 familiar ; but we think that among those who do not regard the birds as the embodiment of 

 fanciers' fancies, the choice falls where we say. These two are the real show-birds of the family, ' 

 each representing a perfection of its kind. 



Any description of the birds comprising the next two classes, (c) and (d), is unnecessary, 

 beyond saying that, for reasons which we will presently adduce, their marking and variegation are, 

 under ordinary circumstances, of no value whatever. We pass on to class (e), Grey-crested, a 

 most important class in the breeding-room, as will be seen in its place, and a not less important 

 one in the show-room. A good grey crest is very pretty, although it has no recognised value from 

 a colour point of view: we mean that it matters not how grey or grizzly it may be, or how little so; 



