THE BELGIAN CANARY. 



31 



the body must gradually, but regularly, grow narrower, so 

 that it actually forms a symmetrical wedge which should grow 

 pointed in a downward direction. Of great importance, 

 moreover, is a strong abdomen ; the tail must be very long 

 and narrow, and must not become broader at the lower part 

 of the body ; the legs ought to stand out in strong relief 

 from the body, and ought to form a straight line ; if the 

 joint inclines towards the front instead of the back, this, 

 which occurs very often, would not be a defect, provided that 

 the bird does not abuse this posture ; the whole plumage 

 must be smooth ; if a single feather were to curl backwards, 

 this would be accounted a serious defect. The birds are 

 divided into yellow and white ones. The former are always 

 somewhat more slender, and their plumage fits closely every- 

 where ; the latter are of coarser build, and their plumage is 

 softer. At the exhibitions, prizes are awarded to them in 

 two classes. There are, besides, speckled birds, which, how- 

 ever, are of inferior value. When breeding, yellow and 

 white, or vice versa, are always paired. The finest of these 

 birds are always very delicate and sensitive, the eggs are 

 therefore usually taken from them, and given to commoner 

 birds to hatch. Malines-canaries (Serins de Malines) are 

 usually the foster-mothers. These latter birds are a variety 

 which, in Germany, is kept chiefly for their song, and of 

 which very dark specimens are often met with. The breed- 

 ing of Belgian birds is very uncertain ; expert fanciers who, 

 for some twenty or thirty years, have had from forty to 

 sixty pairs, do not, sometimes, breed twenty young in the 

 course of two or three years ; on the other hand, it will hap- 

 pen that a beginner will realise a small fortune by this breed. 

 Faultless birds always find customers at very high prices ; 

 the mediocre birds will command about £2 10s. a pair, while 

 the superior and the best sell at from £5 to £20. Most of 

 the Belgian canaries which, at the great exhibitions in Eng- 



