Ii6 



Caxashes axd Cage-Birds. 



It is now time to take leave of the Norwich Canary. While endeavouring to indicate the 

 principal steps to be taken in breeding this bird, we have aimed at treating the subject exhaustively 

 without being tedious ; but the breeder will discover as he goes on that there are many little 

 by-paths, each with its own peculiar belongings, that we have not explored, in which he will be able 

 to wander with great pleasure, and will find that the general principles we have enunciated will 

 throw ample light on his path, and enable him to make his way with as much of certainty as 

 attaches to a pursuit in which there is a great deal of speculative uncertainty, an element in which 

 perhaps consists much of its charm. And yet there is not so much uncertainty but that a careful 

 study of the catechism of " Why and Because " will assist him in arriving at a more satisfactory 

 solution of many a knotty question than can be effected by a blind-man's-buff plan of breeding. 

 On sundry points we may have been somewhat prolix, but this being so popular a Canary we 

 have made use of it to illustrate certain items of general application to which we shall not again 

 have to refer. 



We append a series of Scales, in which we have endeavoured to express the approximate 

 and relative values of the leading features in numerical terms. This is not an easy thing to do, 

 and, when done, is but the expression of an opinion. While seeking to omit nothing of importance, 

 we have not made these scales so full of detail as to be practically unmanageable when applied to 

 the purpose of critical judging. It might be urged that lO points out of loO is too much to assign 

 to the vague property of " Condition," which is no positive part of any bird ; but health, cleanness, 

 and soundness of feather are such essentials on the show-bench that no scale of show-points would 

 be of use unless the value of this item were expressed in the terms at which it is assessed by every 

 practical judge. 



SCALES OF POINTS FOR JUDGING NORWICH CANARIES. 

 CLEAR YELLOW. 

 Points of Merit. 



Colour — Depth and puvity 



Brilliancy 



Uniform distribution on botti body and wings ... 

 Wliiteness of underflue 



Feather — Body-feathers: for compactness 



Wings : for compactness and carriage 



Tail: for ditto 



Shape — Head and neck : for neatness 



Back: for width 



Breast : for fulness 



Size 



Beak, Legs and Feet — For clear colour and free- 

 dom from blemish 



Condition— Health, cleanness, and sound feather 



Total 



Maximum. 

 30 



S 



5 



S 

 — 45 



Negative Properties. 



A Clear Yellow Norwich Canary should not appear dull in 

 colour, however deep the tone may be, nor show any signs 

 of meal on the back or breast, nor be patchy, nor white on 

 the outside edge of the flights or wing-coverts, nor show dark 

 underflue or discoloured thighs. It should not be loose or 

 coarse in body-feather, nor carry its wings loosely or crossed 

 at the tips, nor spread its tail like a fan. It should not have 

 a coarse head nor overhanging eyebrows, nor be long and 

 narrow. It should not show any discoloration on either 

 mandible or on the legs, and should never be shown dirty 

 or with broken feathers. 



CLEAR BUFF. 



Points of Merit. 

 The points, positive and negative, of a Clear Buff are vir- 

 tually of the same relative values, but in place of " Brilliancy" 

 and " Uniform distribution " of body-colour, we should sub- 

 stitute "Meal," and allow the 10 points to indicate its 

 value when found in perfection as to quantity and harmonious 

 irosting. 



Negative Properties. 

 A Clear Buff Norwich Canary should not be deficient in 

 Meal, nor look like a bad Yellow, nor be unevenly frosted, 

 nor show any indications before referred to as foreign to Clear 

 birds. It should not be coarse, shaggy, or open-feathered, or 

 other than as if cut out of boxwood. It should not be nairow 

 in the skull, nor in the slightest degree puny in build. 



