The Clear-Crested Norwich. 131 



advantage of working from a cock consists in being able to run him with several hens, and so secure 

 at once a greater number of " first crosses " from which to make selections for future operations 

 in pedigree-breeding, according to the principles enunciated in previous chapters. It is also 

 immaterial whether it be Yellow or Buff, though we should prefer the latter if it be a hen, as it 

 would probably show less coarseness. It will at the same time, however, be very material that 

 the law of pairing Yellow and Buff be observed as far as possible, as the surplusage of feather 

 will continually require toning down. The next thing to remember is that the Norwich Plain- 

 head birds should, if procurable, be what are called Crested-bred — that is, the Plainhead 

 offspring from Crested nests — by which we do not mean the issue of double Crests, but of 

 birds paired for crest-breeding in the ordinary way, which it will be found will always throw 

 a fair average of Plainheads as well as Crests. It is not imperatively necessary that they 

 be so bred; but one of the simplest deductions from the principles of pedigree-breeding will 

 suggest the inference that such birds must contain a latent tendency towards crest, which is 

 further shown in some by the character of the feathering on the top of the head and the over- 

 hanging eyebrows, giving the bird a rather sulky kind of expression altogether different from 

 that of the highly-bred genuine Plainhead. These and similar indications of Crest blood, subtle in 

 their character and not easily described, but which the observant breeder soon learns to recognise, 

 all have their due weight in guiding the fancier in making a judicious selection. But whatever be 

 their parentage, it will be advisable to select birds of some size and with broad skulls, and, having 

 these properties, to get combined with them the highest type of Norwich properties, as shown in 

 colour and fine feather. It may be suggested that we already have size on the other side : true, it 

 is size of its kind, but we do not wish to perpetuate it in that form, and therefore select our Norwich 

 birds with size and the distinctive shape of their kind, in the hope that these features may play 

 their part in moulding the offspring; and this is specially desirable if our Norwich birds be the hens. 

 -Another important matter remains for consideration. We said that the Coppy is clear in 

 colour : practically it is so, and as such we must here treat it. This will not satisfy the Norwich 

 breeder, who wants the contrast of clear body and dark green crest, or clear body with dark wings 

 and crest, in quest of which typical forms of ideal beauty he creates variegation ad infinitum, for 

 every shade of which we have said there is a place on the show-bench if only good crest accompany 

 it. This is introduced, in the first place, in a very simple way; but when once the green is brought 

 into play, the reader need not be told that a very intractable element is infused, requiring all the 

 skill of the thoughtful breeder to control it, despite which it will, with its native impatience, occa- 

 sionally break away just when it is wanted to stand still. But before we go any further, we think 

 this is a suitable place to remark that if the breeder do not care to embark on the troubled waters 

 of variegation, there is open to him a vast area in which there are few or no settlers, and which 

 scarcely requires more than simply breaking up to yield, we were going to say, a spontaneous 

 harvest. We refer to breeding entirely Clear-crested Norwich, which at this day have virtually no 

 representatives. We have a vivid recollection of some lovely birds of this description exhibited a few 

 years ago, and think that a high-class Clear Yellow or Buff with a clear crest up to the standard of 

 the day, and shown in spotless bloom, would be a class of bird worth breeding, and one which could 

 not fail to commend itself to the refined tastes of many who visit our shows in search of a household 

 pet. Every possible form in which the Plainhead Norwich Canary can be produced has its counter- 

 part in the Crested section, except the Clear bird. We admit the beauty of the contrast between the 

 green and gold of the Clear body and Dark Crest, but we think the entirely Clear bird would possess 

 a beauty of its own of a very chaste order. We have no Clear-crested bird except the gigantic 

 Coppy; and it has frequently occurred to us that the work of bringing out such f^iir birds as we 



