172 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



year evidencing, by the marked improvement in the bird, the wisdom of giving premiums not only 

 for examples of perfected development, but also for the best samples of raiu material, which, to 

 the surprise of many, was found to be frequently invoiced at higher quotations than the finished 

 article. 



The adoption of classes for faulty caps would probably never have been suggested had 

 the practical application of any recognised scale of points been permitted by the Fancy, who, 

 while professing to be governed by graduated scales which can only be applied in one way, 

 continued to maintain a dogged allegiance to cap, rendering the use of any scale a farce. 

 Judging was a duty fraught with endless annoyance, as one disappointed exhibitor could take 

 a bold stand on the all-sufficiency of his perfect cap, and another, on being reminded that 

 that feature was not quite perfect, would coolly argue that the defect was "only a trifle," and 

 point to the beauty of his spangle ; the difference between standing or falling by the cap 

 varying according to the temperament of the exhibitor, for which there was no provision made 

 in the scale — an absurd state of things from which all are now glad to have been released. 



The classification now general in all liberal schedules is — 



(a) Golden Spangled Lizard. 

 {b) Silver Spangled Lizard. 



(c) Golden Spangled Lizard with Broken Cap. 



(d) Silver Spangled Lizard with Broken Cap. 



Classes {a) and {b) require no explanation other than that they are supposed to include 

 the perfect form of bird, or those in which there is no palpable infringement of the laws 

 regulating the formation of cap. To recognise any defection from the high standard, how- 

 ever slight, in the face of an arrangement ostensibly formed to meet the difficulties of the 

 case by providing for perfection and imperfection, would seem, at first sight, to be inviting 

 still worse complications'; but a few words will explain how the requirements of one division 

 serve as a guide for the other, and clear the way for a satisfactory settlement of a 

 difficulty which never could have been arranged but by admitting that there are degrees 

 even of perfection. For the purposes of classification the term " broken " is considered as 

 general in its application and not strictly technical, and in this sense may be taken to 

 include every form of blemished cap. For the sake of simplicity and clearness, however, we 

 think it is not advisable to retain it as a generalised term, inasmuch as it belongs also 

 specially to one of several forms included in the comprehensive idea, and in this way some- 

 times causes confusion. We suggest the substitution of the term "blemished," which includes 

 in its embrace every possible defect without hinting in the remotest way at the technical 

 name of any. This furnishes us at once with a definition which cannot have two meanings, and 

 does not in any way interfere with existing technicalities. We speak of a cap as " blemished," 

 and the idea of defect at once comes home ; and the question follows as naturally as possible — 

 How blemished .' It is " broken." Where is it broken .' In the centre, over the beak, over 

 the eye, &c. It is " run." Where is it run } At the back, on the neck, over th'e face, &c. ; 

 and we at once get accurate information and clear notions. In the " blemished " classes 

 (f) and {d), the bird is judged for every good property belonging to the Lizard except the 

 cap, which, whatever be its character, is entirely ignored. It matters not, indeed, even if it 

 have no cap. This clears the way at once. Given a bird with fair spangle but nothing 

 extra, an average back but superior cap : we need scarcely say its place is in (a) or (b). 

 Given a similar bird, a little better in spangle, one a judge would look at twice, but still 



