CAMAJiv ExiiiBiTixG ly Belgium. 207 



the address paper is gummed to the cage and the bird hung ut for inspection. Thus in Hke 

 manner all are gone through, the recipients of the prizes being as proud of the honour achieved 

 as are the successful candidates in an examination by a learned society. 



" There is not the same strictness about touching the cages as in England, for any one wishing 

 to inspect a bird may take it down for the purpose, and I never saw the licence abused. Nor does 

 the incense from the ' fragrant weed ' seem to affect the birds, for frequently it is nearly impossible 

 to see across the room in this country of cheap tobacco. 



" From an £ s. d. point of view the winners are often the greatest losers, as a custom strongly 

 savouring of good-fellowship is usual on such occasions ; the successful exhibitors providing a 

 certain number of bottles of wine in honour of visitors, and as a solatium to less fortunate 

 contestants. Here, again, must not be overlooked the social usages of Belgium ; nor this fact, that 

 with very rare exceptions excess is never indulged in, nor are unseemly disputes, which the Articles 

 are specially framed to check. 



"An endeavour was made in 1854 to establish a chief society for the country, with Brussels as 

 its centre, called ' The Central Society of Emulation ;' but although its aims and purposes were 

 excellent, as established, it lived a very short time — not long enough to gain much sympathy at its 

 death." 



Such is an account of the constitution of the Belgian Canary societies and the mode of 

 conducting Continental shows. In whatever respects we note a contrast to our English fashions, we 

 discover at least the elements of genuine earnestness and a healthy emulation in the direction of 

 breeding, the thing, of all others, to be thoughtfully studied by every " Liefhebber," whether he be 

 wedded to plumage or the " postuur-vogel." In many ways the show economy of our Belgian 

 neighbours can never become ours, any more than ours can become theirs. There is a vein of 

 nationality permeating the whole, foreign to the genius of our system ; but, following the motto of 

 the Society of Ghent, we think each might copy a page from the other with great advantage. 



A chapter on breediiTg the " postuur-vogel," with a few special hints on its management, will 

 close our notice of this Canary. • 



