2 24 Caivakies and Cage-Birds. 



idol desoite all modern innovations and revolutions. The London Fancy breeders, tco, 

 are a small but enthusiastic band of devotees who worship only at one shrine ; and others 

 might be mentioned who are not triflers or men who play with their work ; but in 

 most cases the thorough-going genuine breeders of any one variety can be summed up with 

 few figures, while the general character of the Fancy here is indicated by a large amount of 

 energy spread over a very wide field. We do not mean to imply that any one man cannot 

 fix upon one object and, by his own individual thought and application of settled principles, 

 develop something like perfection. We see it done every day ; but as in Belgium, so in Scotland, 

 the entire community direct their attention to one bird — the enthusiasm which here exists only 

 in individuals, or comparatively small sections, being there so universal that we shall not be 

 considered as reflecting in any way on our English fanciers Avhen we say again we have 

 nothing like it here in the light of a whole Fancy striving after one object. 



We are not advocating this exclusiveness, but only stating a fact. Something resolute and 

 determined and grim there certainly is in the earnestness with which the pursuit is followed up, and 

 once in the race there is no such thing as looking back ; but we who see many things to charm us 

 in the Canary would prefer to roam more at large, acknowledging beauty wherever we find it, and 

 while giving our due meed of admiration to the one bird of Scotland, cannot abate a fraction of our 

 regard for any one of the many varieties cultivated in our English homes. We are all, however, 

 working for one purpose, are all fanciers and members of one craft. We will agree to believe that 

 there are beauties. in every direction, and each, in his own way, does his best to cultivate his 

 special liking, knowing well there is room for all. 



In describing the bird which can command the allegiance of a people, we wish to cast no 

 stain on its fair escutcheon, and think it is more in harmony with its character to consider it 

 as a form of the Belgian than as a mixed breed. A very brief description of its distinguishing 

 trait will show the groundwork of our position, one we think we shall have no difficulty in 

 maintaining. We define the Scotch Fancy to be a Belgian built on a curve instead of on 

 the ordinary rectangular scaffolding ; a definition quite accurate enough to start with, though 

 we do not wish it to be accepted strictly, and which implies no admixture whatever with 

 foreign blood, but rather a common-sense application of the ordinary principles of selection 

 in a given direction. The bird repeats itself, with never a reversion to any form not 

 essentially Belgian in type, nor is there anything in its conformation, as fixed by the best 

 standards, which it requires any other than Belgian blood to produce ; neither is any other 

 ever infused on a decline of any of those requisites which, though they may be viodifieo' 

 forms, are essentially Belgian, and can only be recruited from a Belgian fountain. The bird 

 can be regarded as belonging to a "mixed" breed only in the sense of mixing fresh Belgian 

 blood with the accepted standard type ; and it certainly does not follow that, because some 

 breeders may make a freer use of the Belgian element than others who possibly may wor!: 

 with such care and skill as not to require it, the bird is therefore to be spoken of as 

 of " mixed " blood. Gaps must be repaired and missing links supplied ; retrogression must be 

 carefully guarded against and any departure from a fixed standard of beauty at once 

 intercepted, by returning to the source whence derived ; but tliese requirements are no 

 evidence of alien blood, and no other evidence of alien admixture, however remote, crops 

 up in the best strains. If it be of mixed blood, what are its elements.' Belgian and zvliatf 

 We know that some of our English fanciers are apt to speak disparagingly of the bird, and 

 iissert that it can be knocked together out of next to nothing ; but we know of no two 

 varieties we should put together in the expectation of turning out a bird with the many 



