Development of Canaries in Belgium. 189 



medals or other prizes it has won, at its head when it takes its place in the processions at the 

 communal fetes, the members carrying with equal pride the colours of a Canary or of one of the 

 learned societies. 



" But what bearing has this upon the origin of this variety of Canary, or what has this to 

 do with its peculiar development ? 



" I would have you note first, that societies were formed before the Canary was adopted, in 

 contradistinction to the regard for the bird leading to the formation of the society ; and, secondly, 

 that when a society adopted the Canary, the society was at once countenanced, and received 

 encouragement from the authorities of the town ; thirdly, the construction, the building up of the 

 peculiar form, was not exclusively confined to any individual case, but was the object of the general 

 consideration and aim of all the members of the society. 



" How far this may account for the absence of the diversity of variety which is found in 

 England is matter for conjecture. Although we have one or two other varieties, they are of 

 little importance. In the societies a model was adopted, and to breed to that model was not the 

 object of a single mind, but of united care continually stimulated by public exhibitions, prizes, and 

 social meetings. 



" The precise date of the formation of the first Canary society, or the town in which the first 

 show was held, is I think not clearly established ; at all events, I have not been able to arrive at 

 anything certain on the point. As far back as I can trace with certainty is about thirty years ago, 

 when a large show was held at Ostend, at which most of the prizes were carried off by the town of 

 Courtray, which was at that time of high repute in Belgium for its Canaries. The gentleman to 

 whom I am indebted for this information was a visitor at that show, and he computed that the 

 society of Courtray was at that time of not less than thirty years' standing ; and I may remark, in 

 passing, that this gentleman, on looking at the illustrations of the Scotch Fancy in Canaries and 

 Cage-Birds, observed respecting them, ' Ah ! those were the birds of that day ; ' from which it 

 must be inferred that half a century of persistent breeding up to a certain standard has not been 

 carried on in vain in respect to this very remarkable bird. 



" Whatever uncertainty may exist on some points, this much may be accepted — that thirty 

 years ago Courtray was first, from a Canary point of view, of all Belgian towns, and that the other 

 towns followed in this order : Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges. This refers to position birds 

 only." 



After this tribute to its historical importance, who will deny to the bird of Belgium a leading 

 position among its fellows.' We will now, according to our usual plan, proceed with a detailed 

 description of it. 



Shape and Position— the terms require some explanation when used as technicalities, 

 since something more is implied than is conveyed in the abstract meaning. Hitherto, Shape has in 

 every case occupied a place in our lists of properties which the varieties of Canaries already 

 described are supposed to possess ; but only a comparatively subordinate one, being an uncultivated 

 feature, if we may use the expression, shared by all without much variation, and in no case 

 presenting such a marked peculiarity as to call for special note, or suggest the idea of improvement 

 or development from a " fancy " point of view. And the same with the idea of Position. Beyond 

 a general statement as to the ordinary posture of any bird, such as semi-erect, implying nothing 

 peculiar or out of the ordinary course, no further idea has been attached to this feature, A^hich, with 

 its companion. Shape, must now be considered as special cultivated developments, before which all 

 other considerations must give way. 



