Classification oi Coppies. 255 



same arrangement is carried out with either variety, Coppies and Plainheads alike, and is as 

 follows : — 



Classification of Lancashire Coppies and Plainheads. 



ia) Clear Yellow. 



(/;) Clear Buff. 



{c) Marked Yellow. 



(ci) Marked Buff. 



Classes {a) and {b) explain themselves. In (c) and (d) the term " Marked," which we have taken 

 from the schedules of Oldham show, the largest All-England exhibition in Lancashire, is not 

 to be understood as referring to the description of marking found in other varieties, but simply 

 to the Ticked form of the bird, than which, we have explained, there is no further form of 

 marking. Isolated instances may occasionally present themselves in which the larger quill- 

 feathers are slightly discoloured to the extent of a grizzle, but the marking seldom extends 

 beyond the bounds of legitimate ticking, the slightest indication of which qualifies for admission 

 to the class, just as one foul body-feather disqualifies for competition among the Clears. In 

 both varieties the marking is frequently so very minute and delicate as positively to require 

 some information as to its whereabouts to enable any one to discover it, causing a distinction 

 so nice that if we were to stop for a moment to consider it we should find ourselves questioning 

 its advisability in dealing with a bird in which such tick is of no more consequence than in a 

 Belgian. But Lancashire has so determined it, and to Lancashire the bird belongs ; beyond 

 the confines of the county, in shows in which classes have been opened out for the encouragement 

 of the bird, the distinction is never recognised. Clear and Ticked competing on a common footing. 

 At home, however, where the competition is close and severe, the standard classification is 

 rigidly adhered to and is closely followed by all the local clubs. Some Coppies, we may add, 

 are very much marked on the crest, though strictly within the limits of what is known as " grey," 

 i.e., not entirely dark, but with some portions of every feather clear in colour. It is from such, 

 we are of opinion, that bond fide dark-crested Coppies might be bred, and probably will be, 

 though probably not in Lancashire. 



In suggesting hints for breeding these giants of Canarydom successfully, we do not think 

 we have anything to advance which may not be found embodied in our instructions for crest- 

 breeding in Chapter XV., in which the general principles affecting it were fully discussed. There 

 is not, certainly, in respect to Coppy-breeding, so much finessing required to keep up fine feather 

 in conjunction with crest, as with the Norwich, and in this respect the work is, to some extent, 

 more plain and straightforward, as will be evident if the licence allowed to comparative open- 

 feathering, as seen in the difference between the two varieties, be duly considered. The first 

 principle is the same : pair Coppy and Plainhead, and in accordance with the ordinary colour 

 rules. From this union both forms will result, and the rest is entirely a matter of pedigree- 

 breeding and selection. Plainheads, not being generally bred inter se to produce Plainheads, 

 but being the non-crested form of the Coppy proper, are, as a rule, obtained from the standard 

 mating of Coppy and Plainhead ; but that is no reason why exceptionally superior Plainhead 

 types should not be occasionally paired— a step which may be taken with great advantage, since 

 size and the other attributes of the Plainhead are not confined to the crested bird alone, but are 

 often found in excess in the non-crested, and in such case can be converted to good use with a 

 view to rearing large Plainhead stock for future Coppy operations. While doing this, it must not 

 be forgotten that the ultimate object is the crested form, and that therefore Plainhead pairing 



