The Scotch Fancy Canary. 227 



remembered how we showed that a prominent breast was a redeeming feature in the structure 

 of a Belgian ; yet here, where we have Belgian formation throughout, we must have no promi- 

 nence in this region. If one proof were required more than another to show the connection 

 between these two Canaries, we should point to this prominence of the breast, which shows 

 itself in the Scotch Fancy only too frequently to please its admirers. Yet, notwith- 

 standing this, they have succeeded in reducing it within very small limits, and in a really 

 good specimen we look in vain for any sign of prominence, in place of which there is 

 almost a hollow. The rule says it shall be hollow ; and in the painted standards, which are 

 to be accepted as ideal perfection, the breast is absolutely concave. An approximation to 

 this, however, is more generally the rule ; but the demand is, nevertheless, inexorable, and an 

 otherwise good bird is passed over without much compunction if, as the judges remark, it 

 require the spokeshave. 



It is not of so much importance that the bird be very tine and slim, though these are 

 strong points, as that it shall be proportionate and shapely. The shape of the body, taking a 

 section cut through the shoulders to the breast, should be round, or nearly so, gradually 

 tapering away in the waist, but not abruptly, which causes the tail to appear as if it 

 were stuck in instead of growing naturally ; indeed, as we have shown, the outline is 

 materially affected by the character of the feathering in the neighbourhood of the 

 waist. 



The legs should be long and well clothed on the thighs, and the bird must, for reasons 

 hereafter to be mentioned, have as much control over its legs as over its tail. It must not 

 stand so as to expose too much of the nakedness of the thigh — none if possible, for a 

 stripped thigh, even if only " a wee bit streppit," is an eyesore ; but it must stand erect, with 

 just as much and no more of the thigh exposed than is feathered. Neither must it stand as 

 if cow-hocked, or as if its legs were not strong enough to sustain its body, but with legs 

 straight and firm, ready for the indispensable " hop," which it must perform ad lib. Vvfithout 

 disturbing or ruffling a feather and without opening its wings to assist it in any way. To 

 "travel" properly the bird must be possessed of two requisites, "nerve" and "action." If the 

 cage be taken in the hands gently and quietly without alarming or in any way disturbing the 

 bird, which we will suppose to be in the attitude of " attention," as seen in the cut on page 235, 

 and if the thumb of the hand, which we will suppose to be elevated against the wires at the 

 end of the cage next the bird, be suddenly depressed, the bird will hop to the other perch and 

 instantly face about and assume its position, continuing to do this almost any number of times at 

 command, showing in its action its true shape and never once attempting to flurry itself The 

 promptness with which it acts, the liveliness and sprightliness of its motion, and the sharp way 

 in which it whisks itself round into position, determine the merit of the performance. Some 

 will not do this neatly or with spirit, but will either steady themselves at each hop by taking 

 hold of the side of the cage with one foot, or will clap their tails under the perch with an 

 ugly "break" and soon end their performance with a flutter in which all trace of symmetry 

 is completely lost. The female is more lightly built and is less sprightly than the male — so much 

 so that the two are not supposed to be able to compete on equal terms, as we shall presently show 

 when dealing with classification. 



Shape and position in the Belgian find their counterpart in "model" and "action" in the Scotch 

 Fancy, which must possess both properties. Model without action cannot win, though, as an 

 authority once told us, "for-r-r-mation is a r-r-recommendation." So important is model that every 

 consideration as to feather is entirely ignored, It matters not one iota how rough and open- 



