Unwise Coiour Classification: 199 



affecting;; colour and feather which ruled throughout our English varieties were also applicable to 

 this bird , and hence we find that in the earlier days of our public exhibitions it was usual to 

 extend to the Belgian a system of classification similar to that adopted in our Colour sections, in 

 which the highest degree of excellence was represented by the term " Clear." This was carried 

 out so far that within the last few years liberal prize-schedules contained a class for " Crested " 

 Belgians — a bird having really no existence. Personally, however much we may be fascinated by 

 this wonderful bird — and that it is perhaps our specialty of specialties, we admit — and however 

 much we may lose sight of our colour and plumage predilections in admiring it, still we cannot throw 

 them overboard entirely, and with the strong in-bred tastes of an English fancier we should be 

 disposed to maintain the desirability of separating, at least, the heavier forms of irregular 

 variegation from the Clear, or approximately Clear type, drawing the line below " Ticked," clearly 

 understanding that term to mean nothing more than the presence of grey feathers, and not the 

 decided patch or blotch of well-defined green, constituting technical variegation — a division which, 

 for colour purposes, we think to be as substantially sound in its basis as the separation of the 

 primary colours. Yellow and Buff. We say for colour purposes, advisedly, because we are quite 

 aware that in other respects Yellows and Buffs differ so materially as to render them unfitted for 

 competition in the same class. We will not say that the Belgian breeder does not rise superior to 

 us in his devotion to the one object in whose direction all his energies are expended, and to which 

 untiring individual and united action the Position bird of to-day owes its existence ; but the 

 English fancier is, in his turn, so firmly wedded to his ideal forms of beauty as found in the varied 

 plumage of his birds, that he seems unwilling any other property should drive it from its place, and 

 will only accept a new type, provided he can make it work harmoniously with his own views. 

 He admires the form of the Belgian bird, and his eye never ceases to be pleased in following its 

 subtle lines ; but he has also been educated in the matter of certain forms of plumage, and to 

 disturb these is to disturb the harmony of the whole. Our object now is simply to show that in 

 adopting this system too closely a mistake is made in endeavouring to unite dissimilar things too 

 intimately. Dismissing for a moment the Variegated section, we will only refer to a form of 

 classification often presented to breeders, and be it remembered that the classes in a schedule 

 ought to represent provision for recognised distinct forms. The arrangement to which we now 

 refer is that of providing separate classes for Clear and Ticked Belgians. It will be only necessary 

 to point out that these are minute distinctions belonging to colour properties, and not to form, to 

 show that such a basis is not broad enough to meet the requirements of a bird in which form is 

 paramount, and is one calculated to have a prejudicial effect from a breeding point of view, since it 

 implies that the Clear type is so manifestly a superior class of bird as to demand for it a place by 

 itself It is virtually making colour transcend form, and the evil is still further increased by 

 sometimes providing classes for Clear birds only, as if the sculptor were required to expend his skill 

 in procuring a clean block, instead of bringing to bear the subtleties of his art on any reasonably 

 sound marble. This absurd state of things we have combated for years, and are glad to find the 

 principle involved is gradually becoming recognised ; but instances are not wanting in some 

 Belgian centres in which it has yet to be understood. The very fact of colour being entirely 

 ignored from beginning to end in the production of the bird, does make it seem the most absurd 

 folly to set up one of the nicest distinctions pertaining to colour in its highest form, when the bird 

 iinds its way to the show-stage. When defending a principle, we do not think that politic arguments 

 should have much weight, for it is a poor principle which cannot assert itself without being linked 

 with policy ; but we may add that the adoption of such a meaningless line of demarcation as that 

 existing between Clear and Ticked, as applied to Belgians, tells prejudicially on our exhibitions by 



