ii8 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



While enunciating the theory of the intimate connection between the Clear Yellow and the 

 Self-coloured Green, we do not mean to say that very pleasing results may not be obtained from 

 mating Clear pairs, especially such as are nearly allied to the Greens. Very beautiful birds are bred 

 in this way, birds which, for the spotless purity of their plumage and other good points, cannot be 

 excelled ; and those who do not aim at ultra-excellence will doubtless derive more pleasure from 

 rearing nests of lovely Clear birds of average quality, than from making a science of breeding and 

 pursuing a system which, though it ensures some prizes, turns up many blanks. Our object 

 throughout will be to show how the very highest excellence is to be obtained ; but we do not, at 

 the same time, wish to disparage the efforts of those who may be content with lesser achievements 

 satisfactory in themselves and replete with pleasures of their own. We have endeavoured to show 

 whence the source of the natural high orange colour, how developed, and how maintained ; and the 

 gist of our theory being that it is but one form of the normal green plumage arrested at a certain 

 stage of its decadence, when it is in its greatest beauty, it will be manifest that the art of 

 maintaining it at this point consists in a careful selection and pairing of birds showing the least 

 tendency towards retrogression, and checking any disposition towards decline of colour, when it 

 sets in unmistakably, by such a use of the stronger element as we have indicated. There is no set 

 rule how to pair birds ; the experience of the breeding-room and knowledge of the stock must be 

 the guide; and whether it be Clear with Clear, Clear with Variegated, or even double Variegated, 

 there should be a reason for each system of pairs, an accurate noting of results, a weeding out 

 of such birds as show no progress in the direction desired, and a steady perseverance with such as 

 promise favourably. 



We have just now used the expression " average quality," and we wish it to be taken literally. 

 In our. opinion anything above the average of the present day is exceptional in its character, so 

 high is the standard and so closely is it bred up to. To reach this mark requires care and 

 something more systematic than hit-or-miss breeding, but is not difficult ; to get beyond it is not 

 at the command of even the most thoughtful breeder every season. No one should be discouraged 

 because the sensational birds of the year are not in his nests ; they are like the proverbial angels' 

 visits. The truth of this must be patent if we consider how many thousands of breeders there are 

 in the country, and what an enormous number of this one variety must be produced annually. 

 The points of excellence being comparatively few, and culminating in the great property, colour, 

 the severe nature of the race and the desperate struggle for supremacy will be evident, and while 

 numbers of birds reach a respectable mediocrity, few will make any marked advance beyond it ; 

 fewer still will be able to compete in the lists and receive honourable mention, and a still smaller 

 portion of the vast army will reach that extraordinary height of perfection which classes them 

 among the champions of their year. But that this distinction is within the reach of all must be 

 the fact, only the field is so immensely large that the probability of producing the star of the year 

 is the more remote. To keep well up in the front rank should, however, be the aim of every 

 fancier, to whom accomplished results, though not of the highest character, are always sources of 

 genuine satisfaction. The breeder who is able to produce Clear Norwich Canaries good enough to 

 stand the ordeal of critical examination at our public competitions, and make their way into the 

 "honourable mention" list, must have done a great thing and have passed many a hundred in the 

 race, even though he may not be gazetted as first prizeman of his year. 



