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CHAPTER XXI. 



BREEDING LONDON FANCY CANARIES. 



"The breed never was popular, and cannot easily become so. I doubt whether there are at the 

 present time a hundred London Fancy Canaries in existence." So wrote Mr. Brodrick to us two 

 years ago, since which we have seen no evidences of any increase in popularity ; while the same 

 gentleman writes us with reference to the last Crystal Palace Show, " I was sorry to see to what 

 a low ebb these birds had fallen," which is not very consolatory, and does not form a cheery 

 opening to our chapter. That the lane is long which has no turning ; that it is always darkest just 

 before dawn ; and that when things are at their worst it is a sign they are going to mend, are 

 truisms we hope will have a fulfilment in the history of the London Fancy Canary. It was 

 popular enough in the olden time, which, of course, was a year or two before Mr. Brodrick's long- 

 ago "never," in the days of high, red-tiled roofs, old-fashioned gable-ends, quaint little window- 

 panes, curious sign-boards, cocked hats, periwigs, hair-powder, knee-breeches, buckles, high-heeled 

 shoes, and other fashions which move in cycles, coming in and going out no one knows when or 

 how or at whose bidding ; and we shall not think we have written a word too much about this 

 interesting bird — a sort of connecting link between the Fancy of to-day and of two centuries ago 

 — when we can picture to ourselves a little knot of genial souls, substantial citizens may be, seated 

 round a blazing fire in the chimney-corner of some snug hostelry, waited on by a rubicund 

 Boniface, himself one of the guild, discussing over flagons of foaming October the progress they 

 were making in developing their beautiful little bird — if only we succeed in exciting fresh interest 

 and bring it into fashion once more. 



That the bird is not popular now arises really from no fault of its own, unless it be that " one 

 season " birds are never likely to become so popular as those which continue in good plumage year 

 after year — a remark applying with some force to the Lizard. For this reason, and also on account 

 of the care required to breed it up to the required standard, it will probably ever remain more of 

 a fancier's bird than an every-day production, and always live in somewhat select circles ; but that 

 its admirers should be so few and its orbit so circumscribed can arise from nothing but a misappre- 

 hension as to its general character. As regards its beauty, we must admit that during the last 

 year or two it has not gained by comparison with the army of Norwich birds arrayed against it ; 

 but it must not be forgotten that those lovely specimens are the selected of thousands, while the 

 few London Fancies brought before the notice of the public at the great shows of the year at the 

 Crystal Palace represent a larger fraction of the whole number of living members of the tribe than 

 many suppose. Nothing in the annals of bird-breeding has any parallel with the energy displayed 

 in developing the Norwich variety, now in the zenith of its fame, while the other is at low-water 

 mark, and comparison between the two is scarcely fair. Under favourable conditions the London 

 Fancy would at least equal its popular rival, and we say what it might be made, to remove mis- 

 apprehension as to its native beauty. 



Then there is an idea that it is delicate. We say idea, because it is an idea, a mere suppo- 

 sition not endorsed by those who do breed the bird, and therefore worthless as an opinion when 



