174 



Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



have embodied them in the values awarded to spangle and cap respectively, to have which in 

 perfection implies the existence of the eliminated items. This we have done to prevent our scale 

 becoming needlessly complex, as the value of the bird can be represented without going so much 

 into detail as to render the scale practically valueless. 



SCALE OF POINTS FOR JUDGING LIZARD CANARIES. 



Points of Merit. 



Spangle — On neck, commencing at the back of the 

 cap in elaborate minuteness, and enlarging on 

 the scapulars 

 On the back, in longitudinal rows of gradually 

 increasing width : for size, distinctness, 

 brilliancy, and regularity 



Cap — For clear area, regular outline, width and 

 symmetrical proportions, orbital margin oi 

 eyebrow, and colour ... 



Wl.NGS — Flights and greater coverts: for blackness 

 of quill and web, richness of lacing on innei 

 feathers, and generally compact carriage 



Tail — For blackness of quill and web, and good 

 carriage... 



Throat and Chest — For soundness of colour and 

 show of elaborate rudimentarj' spangling 



Colour — For richness and purity ... 



Beak, Legs, Feet, and Claws — For darkness .. 



Size 



Condition — Health, cleanness, and sound feather 



Total 



Note. — We may explain that our reason for reducing the number of 

 points allotted to " Condition" is not that we consider this property, in the 

 abstract, is of less value to the Lizard than to any other bird, nor that we 

 have any difficuUy in fitting in the pieces of our puzzle so that our equation 

 shall result in t^ too, but because spotless pitriiy is net so much required 

 here as in the case of the Norwich bird fresh from the bath. A good Lizard 

 might, with care, and under favourable conditions, go unwashed for a whole 

 season without cap or spangle losing mucJt of their lustre : and the ratio of 

 lo : 5 exhibits, as near as figures can, the relative values of this property, 

 •' Condition," in the two birds, at least so far as absolute and spotless clean- 

 iiess is concerned. 



Negative Properties. 

 A Lizard should not be hazy or indistinct in spangling, nor 

 should its spangles be arranged without regard to regularity, nor 

 should they have small eyes, nor should the terminal edges be of 

 a character inconsistent with the true type of feather of the class 

 to which the bird may belong, nor should any Silver trait what- 

 ever be mixed with Gold, or the opposite. It should not have a 

 narrow skull or a narrow cap, nor should the cap be sensibly 

 narrower at the b.ack than the front, nor should the back of it be 

 pointed or extend further than the base of the skull. There 

 should not be the slightest indentation in margin of the cap, nor 

 should it include any portion of the eye or face in its area, which 

 should be neither run, broken, nor fouled by a single speck. A 

 Lizard should not have a pale throat or show a clear spot under 

 the beak, nor have a pale breast. It should not exhibit a grey 

 or a white-tipped feather in wing or tail in its show-dress. It 

 should not show light flue or white skin anywhere except on 

 the crown. It should not show a dirty green cast in its 

 ground-colour, or any shade that is not brilliant and decided 

 in tone. It should not have white beak, legs, feet, or claws. 

 It should not be shown dirty, nor in such loose condition 

 of feather as may militate against the most effective display of 

 every beauty belonging to Distinctive Plumage. 



Disqualifications. 

 A white feather either in the flights or tail ; or a clear feather 

 in any other part of the wing or on the body. 



The scale for judging the Blemished classes (c) and (d) is the same as the foregoing, except 

 that the points for cap may be distributed proportionately over spangle and colour. 



