252 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



in the frequency with which it is found with what fanciers call all front and no back, that 

 is, with a perfect frontage, but showing little or no true crest formation or radiation from 

 the centre in a backward direction, the crest, in many instances, extending no further on each 

 side than serves to form a frontage of half a circle, the hinder portion either being destitute 

 of true radiation, or falling over the back of the skull in such a smooth way as to make it 

 difficult to say whether it consist of true crest-feather or not. This must not be regarded 

 as an exaggerated description, but such a crest contains an exaggerated form of a feature 

 which we have shown in Chapter XII. to be most valuable; we refer to the well-filled nape, 

 so valuable a feature in its place that the Coppy cross is frequently resorted to for no other 

 purpose than to obtain it. The form of crest we have described is, however, in a greater or 

 less degree, so far a representative form, that an approach to it when found in any other 

 crested variety is always described as Coppy-crested, by which is intended to be conveyed the 

 idea of all front and no back, as distinguished from the more perfect form. 



There is also a singularly neat description of crest not uncommon even on large birds, 

 though it is most frequently found on small skulls, the small area probably having a good deal 

 to do with it. It consists in a small, round, very fiat, very silky-feathered and exquisitely 

 finished little arrangement, reminding us of the flat, narrow brim of a straw hat as much as 

 anything. It is worn very jauntily, slightly elevated behind, just enough to give rather a rakish 

 expression, but always well filled in at the back. In its way it is very pretty, but has to give 

 place to the large, full, drooping coppy, a good example of which is as rare as is the perfect 

 development of any other cultivated feature. The Lancashire birds, nevertheless, show, among 

 any given number, considerably above an average amount of excellence, which is only what might 

 be expected in a variety long bred for this special feature; but the admirer of crested forms, 

 generally, must not labour under the misapprehension that Coppy is a term inseparable from 

 the idea of enormous crest. There is the high average in respect of size and good form, but 

 nothing further ; the rest is made up by the size and majestic carriage of the bird. As 

 regards comparative size of crest as seen in exceptional examples of the Coppy and the 

 modern Crested Norwich, there is really nothing to choose between the two, which is also 

 not a matter for surprise, as the latter is undoubtedly indebted to the Lancashire bird for 

 its large dimensions. In the best specimens of either variety the shape of the crest, too, is nearly 

 identical, which, again, does not require much consideration to account for. The monster crests 

 of either are not simply enlarged editions of its ordinary type. Only very few crests would, if 

 indefinitely increased in size, assume the form which common assent has declared to be 

 perfection ; it requires a certain description of feather to produce this, and only when it is 

 present, be it in Coppy or Norwich, is this exceptional standard of excellence obtained. 



One feature in connection with the Coppy crest is worthy of note, and in this respect it 

 takes the lead of all others, viz., in the average and exceptional superiority of its yellow 

 crests. The difficulty of obtaining a good yellow crest in the Norwich is well known, but 

 among the Lancashire birds some astonishing forms of the yellow are to be met with, and 

 are by no means uncommon. 



The highest standard of beauty in a Lancashire crest in respect to colour is the Clear 

 form, though the Clears do not usually contain the largest or best crests. These are generally 

 found among the Grey or Ticked Coppies, beyond which slight departure from clear feather the 

 Lancashire bird knows no variegation whatever. We will not stay to inquire why, with all 

 his devotion to crest, the Lancashire breeder yet allows the question of colour to interfere 

 with its production, nor will we speculate as to what might be done in the way of much 



