148 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



Marked Norwich are Marked Cinnamons /" The inference is plain : the Evenly-marked Yorkshire 

 was " off the Duns." 



We have said that the pink-eyed Clear-bodied birds also are Cinnamon in their functions. 

 We knew a dealer who was in the habit of making rather extensive purchases of Nor^vich 

 birds from an exhibitor in the South, who, at that time, had also one of the best strains of 

 Cinnamons in exhibition. Our friend, the dealer, not having disposed of all his stock, put up 

 his surplus pairs in the spring, mating a Clear Yellow Norivich (?) cock with a Buff hen of the same 

 variety. The result was, that in every nest there were some fine Cinnamons ; and an inspection 

 showed the Norwich cock to be pink-eyed. 



The information given above with regard to Marked Yorkshires, so far as it throws any light 

 on the subject of producing marked birds in any variety, may be taken as general in its application. 

 We have referred to it in this place as being pertinent to the solution of the case we stated at the 

 beginning of this chapter. 



The principle involved in breeding colour-Cinnamons is easy of deduction from what we have 

 advanced, and is analogous to that on which the production of Clear Norwich Canaries is based, in 

 so far as it consists in improving colour by the infusion of a foreign element, every trace of which 

 ultimately requires to be eliminated, leaving only its active agency behind. In the Norwich, we 

 operate on the Clear plumage by infusing the strong Green ; and in the Cinnamon, we work in the 

 same way by adding the Clear element in various stages of its development, striving in each case to 

 maintain the plumage operated on intact, and changed only in regard to the brilliancy and depth 

 of its colour. The two processes may appear to be the reverse of each other in their practical 

 operation, but they are nearly identical in principle. 



To breed Clear or whole-coloured Cinnamons, pair the purest and richest-coloured Selfs. The 

 improved bird has not been manufactured sufficiently long to have had time to retrograde, and it 

 will require a few years of Clear pairing to materially affect the quality. The bird is, in fact, full 

 to the brim and running over with colour-blood, as the constant recurrence of light ticks and pied 

 forms attests. We mention this plan first for the encouragement of those who, altogether inex- 

 perienced in Canary-breeding, may see difficulties in our exhaustive details which, possibly, may 

 debar them from commencing with a variety requiring so much building up and maintaining in a 

 high degree of excellence. All varieties require this building up: in it consists the art of breeding ; 

 but we think this string can sustain its present tension long enough for the amateur to acquire 

 some proficiency before it will require tuning afresh. In pairing Yellow cocks with Buff hens, 

 select, if possible, male birds having some size : such are not always procurable, as the tendency of 

 the richest-coloured Jonques is to run small. We only mention this as a disposition it is desirable 

 to keep in check, but do not advise sacrificing any material point in doing so. Remember that the 

 true Norwich is not a large bird ; but remember, also, that the Jonque Cinnamon cock need not be 

 allowed to become even smaller. Bear in mind, also, that size and colour are difficult to bring out 

 in the same bird, and, therefore, be cautious. We deem it well to refer to this in all its bearings, 

 inasmuch as the acknowledged want of size in Jonques is so far admitted by the Fancy as to 

 warrant large birds of high-class "all round" properties occupying leading positions in the most 

 severe competition. In mating the other way there will be no difficulty as regards the size of the 

 cock, the Buffs having, by some means or other, managed to carry a full share of colour with size; 

 the Buff Cinnamon cock being, perhaps, the most evenly-balanced bird in this respect in the whole 

 show-room. But be careful in the selection of a Yellow hen, many of which, though very dark, 

 are singularly dull in tone, and lack the lustre which gives finish to a bird when in high condition. 



