2 ID Ca.varies and Cage-Birds. 



breeder. But if it be desired to have both forms, pairing Clear with Variegated will produce 

 them, only it must be remembered that the Clears from such a cross, if again mated, could 

 not be depended on to produce Clears. The effect of introducing a Variegated strain is very 

 lasting, and only a breeder who is prepared to forego every colour consideration whatever in 

 pursuit of shape should mix the two. This is, however, a perfectly legitimate field of operation, 

 and is, as we have shown in our remarks on the practice of the Flemish breeders, the only 

 true field as recognised by them. 



We promised to say something about the feasibility of breeding Evenly-marked Belgians. 

 Now we do not wish it to be understood that we think this a chimerical idea. In what we 

 have previously said on the subject we merely desired to show that at present they do not 

 exist as a variety, and to point out the rocks and shoals on which it is possible shape and 

 position might be shipwrecked in too hasty a recognition of the value of marking without being 

 accompanied by true Belgian conformation. What has been done with one variety may surely be 

 done with another ; and if technical marking has been to a great extent fixed in the Norwich with- 

 out destroying its character, and still more decidedly in the Yorkshire variety, there is no reason 

 whatever why it should not be done in the Belgian in harmony with our English views of beauty, 

 if at the same time there be a fixed determination that on no pretence whatever shall mere 

 marking outweigh the essentials of a true Belgian, and a resolve that the breeder will not nurse 

 his pet idea to such an extent as to allow it to over-ride common sense and delude him into 

 the belief that he has produced something he has not produced, and that specimens he would 

 fain persuade himself are Belgians are nothing of the kind. Adherence to this principle may 

 bring about a satisfactory result : departure from it can only lead to a disastrous issue. 



To breed birds of this description we should advise the selection of the most evenly and 

 accurately pencilled specimens procurable, in which, at the same time, exist the highest Belgian 

 properties. Such, though the children of chance, can be had. We have seen some, but not many. 

 These should be paired with high-class Clears — not with marked birds, or the marking will have a 

 tendency to assume the shape of irregular variegation, as we demonstrated in our earlier theories 

 on the subject. We need not follow the course to be pursued one step further, having detailed it 

 at length in Chapter XIV., but would only impress on the breeder the important fact that he must 

 not forget he is aiming at producing, not a nondescript, but a Belgian, and that his creations must 

 be prepared to meet such a condition as that we suggested for the schedule of the Norwich Show 

 in 1876 — viz., "High Belgian properties shall count above any marking, however good, not 

 combined with high quality." With these few hints we close our notes on mating for marks, and 

 mentally throw our oldest shoe after the adventurer about to embark in the enterprise, wishing him 

 good fortune and a niche in the temple of Fame beside Sir John Sebright, Mr. Laverack, and other 

 worthies with whom to plan was to do. 



Our remarks on breeding will now be general, and devoid of any application to special 

 forms. We preface them with a few observations on the physical constitution of the bird, 

 which is popularly supposed to be weakly in its character when compared with the 

 robust varieties cultivated among us. Opinions differ as to this, some maintaining that it is 

 delicate and tender to a degree, and others that it is equally hardy. We have seen it under 

 nearly every condition, and might instance examples in support of almost every statement as 

 to its robustness, or the contrary. Our friend's opinion is that " it possesses as good a 

 constitution as any other, but from the very careful breeding it has gone through it has 

 developed a most sensitive organisation. The results of various experiments I have tried with 

 the bird during some years lead me to this conclusion. Two years ago, during the winter, I 



