The Scotch Faxcy Canary. 225 



pronounced features of the Scotch Fancy, while on the other hand we find no difficulty in 

 tracing the reflection of every feature, more or less distinct!}., in tlic Belgian bird alone, of 

 which, we repeat, there seems to be external and internal evidence that it is a skilfully 

 modified form, a lineage to be proud of 



We have given the general idea of this Canary in the brief statement that it is practically 

 a curvilinear Belgian : we will endeavour to describe it in detail, merely premising that some 

 of its features are not easily described in words. The head of a good specimen differs from 

 that of the Belgian only in that it is flatter ; how much so would scarcely be imagined 

 unless the two were compared side by side. This flatness on the crown adds to the apparent 

 length of the head, and the term " snake-headed " is well applied to the standard type. This 

 may seem but a small point, but we are particular in referring to it as illustrating the 

 extreme care which has been exercised in producing a curve which, continued to the very 

 extremity of the beak, shall not be seriously interfered with by any marked ri>ing of the 

 skull. In local sketches of the bird, in which faithful delineation frequently has to give way 

 before an attempt to depict the ideal, this is generally a most exaggerated feature, but one 

 which, nevertheless,, serves to show how the formation we have indicated is prized. A 

 large, coarse head is an abomination in the eyes of Scotch Fancy breeders, who, as a 

 class, can detect very trifling departures from the line and plummet with surprising 

 precision, the result of continued observation. A good head has all that pretty, graceful 

 style of modest carriage and all the delicately soft expression belonging to the Belgian 

 character, with nothing bold or vulgar. The jaunty and more confident bearing of the male 

 bird has no taint of swagger, but speaks the well-bred individual. Before we go further we 

 must remind our readers that our bird belongs to the erect school ; but while the Belgian, 

 when excited, throws his shoulders up and his head doivn, the Scotch Fancy holds his head 

 up fearlessly. Getting back to the head, then, we remark that it is set on a long neck 

 which should be neither thick nor clumsy, but delicately rounded and of just such a size as 

 shall agree in strict harmony with the well-turned shoulders ; and when we call attention to 

 the fact that head, neck, back and tail should form one continuous arc, it will be understood 

 what should be the correct carriage of the neck. In some types in which there is not so 

 great a display of Belgian points as in the more advanced forms, this curve of the neck is 

 very true in its continuation of the arc, but the arc itself is necessarily smaller, owing to 

 the bird being shorter in the neck; while in some of the best examples the very length oi 

 the neck, a point insisted on in a high-class bird, prevents the arc being continued with 

 that mathematical exactness observable in the former case. But when to a long neck is 

 united the ability to sustain it in the desired position, there can be no question as to its 

 beauty. It will be inferred that the longer the bird, the greater should be the included 

 arc, and hence the value of a long neck with a long reach as opposed to a shorter 

 development. 



The structure of the shoulder is one of the most wonderful features in the bird. The 

 Belgian shoulder, bear in mind, is at all times prominent, and is rendered more so when 

 the bird is put up ; but the Scotch Fancy, though possessing the same high shoulder, must 

 exhibit no such prominence, so that the curved line shall not be interfered with to 

 any appreciable extent, and it is surprising how in many instances the slightest projection 

 appears to have been shaved ofl". We must, however, remark that there is, in some districts, 

 sufficient variation in the fashion as to the correct thing in shoulders as almost to warrant the 

 assertion that there are really two distinct schools of birds. At first sight it does appear so, 

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