.238 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



feathered a bird be so long as it has "model." The medium-sized birds alone have very 

 compact plumage; with increased size, feather seems to decline. Some of the best specimens 

 are rough and coarse to a degree which, to any one educated in the feather school, is 

 positively ugly. A bird may have its breast-feathers growing in all directions but 

 that in which feathers usually grow ; they may turn up like a drake's tail ; its thighs 

 may be enveloped in a rough frieze Ulster coat ; it may have a bunch of fluffy 

 feathers growing out of its back as big as a respectable cauliflower ; and it may have in 

 any place where its presence is most objectionable as much fluff as would fit out a decent 

 Cochin fowl ; but if it only have the essentials of " model " and " action " its calling and 

 election are sure. We are not exaggerating one whit. Colour is also not much esteemed, 

 though it might turn the scale in a close competition. All that we have said with 

 reference to exceptional roughness of plumage affecting the general outline of the Belgian 

 applies with equal force here, and we look upon the utter disregard of feather, if it be a fault, 

 as a fault in the right direction in so far as it is a carrying out of one of the principles of 

 pedigree-breeding, if not the whole art, in its entirety. Tiie Scotch certainly have concentrated 

 into one channel one tendency, and have never dropped one link of the chain, but have held 

 on to it with commendable pertinacity. But we cannot help thinking that one of the primary 

 laws which teaches how, when one feature is fixed, gradual attention should be given- to others, 

 might be worked out with advantage, and with all deference to devout worship of the crescent, 

 we think that to it might gradually be added feather, and to feather variations in plumage 

 pleasing to the eye. We admit the extraordinary beauty and grace of the Scotch bird ; no one 

 can help it ; it is the essence of beauty, but we are equally fond of beauty of plumage. Our 

 eye can follow its graceful lines, and fully enter into the grave solemnity of the mathematical 

 truth that if the line of its back includes i8o° it is better by 2° than one which includes only 

 178°, and we can raise something very like enthusiasm at a fine display of nerve and action; 

 we can appreciate neck, and shoulder, and back, and side, and tail ; we can tell when there is 

 too much on in front and not enough behind, and we can see the instinctive something which 

 declares the good bird ; but coarse feathering is not a beauty with us : it makes a stout 

 bird seem stouter, and in our eye breaks the lines of a bird " licht got up." To our Scotch 

 friends we would say, don't give up any of the beautiful symmetry you have gained, but 

 tiy and gradually develop other points in the bird ; don't drop the link, but endeavour to forge 

 another to it. 



The system of classification adopted by the Scotch fanciers is in one respect the same in 

 principle as that upon which Belgians are arranged, but is more elaborate in detail when it 

 touches colour distinctions. We say it is the same in principle, because the element of shape 

 is the prime agent in determining the first great division, viz., the separation of the sexes, which, 

 it is obvious, results from an admitted disparity between the general proportions of the male and 

 female, and is essentially the kind of arrangement we should expect to find in shows which are 

 not mere spectacular displays. The connection between the two systems, however, may be 

 said to cease at this point, though this point of resemblance runs through both classifica- 

 tions with an unbroken thread. Underlying the subdivisions may be traced some resemblance 

 to our English tastes, though that again is lost sight of when " marking," the apple of an 

 English fancier's eye, is swallowed up in comprehensive variegation. We give the recognised 

 standard forms with such explanatory notes as are necessary : — 



