40 



JUDGING 



AND 



EXHIBITING. 



Although, as I have said in the chapter on breeding* German 

 Canaries, the birds so bred and selected are far in advance of their 

 British congeners in vocal ability, yet even amongst these cultured 

 songsters there are degrees of perfection, and those who have had 

 the opportunity only of hearing the birds which are imported into 

 this country have heard nothing but birds bred for export or dis- 

 carded from better stock. Not that an ordinary amateur would be 

 able easily to distinguish between a superlatively good songster and 

 one of only second or third rate quality ; to an experienced ear, 

 however, there are wide differences, and the competition between 

 German fanciers to produce perfection of song is as keen as that 

 between those of other countries in the direction of reaching the 

 standard of perfection in external points. 



It is necessary for me here to explain that whereas the first, 

 second, and third prizes at English shows mark the comparative 

 merits of particular birds at individual shows, the same awards in 

 Germany indicate respective degrees of proficiency in song. At one 

 competition there may be many first, second, or third prizes ; not as 

 in England, one only of each in a class. It must be understood, 

 therefore, that the appellation " First Prize," as applied to a German 

 bird, means simply that his performance approaches the idea], and 

 he should, perhaps, more properly be described as being 4i in the 

 First Class." Such distinctions as V.H.C., H.C., and C., are never 



