38 



CANARY BIRDS. 



colour, and partly they have a dark or a clear crest, and are 

 marked in every conceivable manner ; thus we have a number 

 of steadily-bred and very popular birds. The "Variegated 

 Crested " is of a clear colour, with a splendid dark crest, a 

 grey neck and mantle, the two latter being united by a 

 broad, clear, cross-streak: it is marked darkly and in 

 swallow-fashion ; the wings are of the same colours, and 

 between these and the " mantle " there is again a broad, 

 clear band, becoming pointed towards the neck ; the cheek 

 and the whole lower side are of an even, reddish-yellow 

 colour. Another bird, " Variegated Crested Yellow," has a 

 dark crest and neck ; the whole back is of a pepper-reddish 

 yellow. The great feather wings, or fans, are a pure white, 

 the middle and the small ones are black ; the face, the throat, 

 and the front part of the neck are reddish-yellow ; the upper 

 breast, as far down as the belly, is marked with a brownish- 

 black, " flame "-like illustration, and the lower part of the 

 body is again speckled with a reddish-yellow. 



I could describe similar birds in manifold varieties, but 

 those mentioned will suffice since they afford us a complete 

 insight into the Norwich breed. The price of the " Crested 

 Norwich" is somewhat higher and amounts to about 30s. to 

 ■50s. a pair. The crest, however, must be large and perfectly 

 even. It descends almost over the eye, and must be deeply 

 curled in the middle, and without, however, showing a bald 

 spot. Its colour is either bright or dark yellow similar to 

 that of the bird. If of a mixed grey and yellow it is less 

 valuable, but if a deep grey or almost black it is most 

 highly prized. 



The Yorkshire Breed is distinguished from all the 

 rest by a long, slender body, and, in this respect, somewhat 

 resembles the small Belgian canary, nor is its size much larger 

 than that of the last-named bird • but there must not be, on 

 the whole body, any curled feathers, and, consequently, both 



