CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS^ 
85 
fighting', but, like all hobbies, desperately ridden ; even bird- 
' fancying', sometimes, rims ofi into extravagancies ; thus, 
' immense prices have been given for prize canaries, l3y men 
' who could not afford to speculate in such uncertain ware, and 
• Jarger expenses are often incurred in the breeding and 
' ^'earmg of these beautiful songsters than was warranted by the 
bhance of a return, and the means of the breeder ; still, if 
:^ not carried too far, this cultivation, so to speak, of feathered 
songsters, is an innocent as it is a most agreeable pursuit, 
and may often be rendered profitable. But this is a digres- 
sion from which we must return, to observe that amid all 
the changes of taste and fashion, there are certain standard 
properties which are always considered essential to the 
gaining of a prize, and even to admission to the com- 
^' petition for one. The first property considered in the 
show bird is the cap, which must be of a good colour, 
large and regular 5 the second is richness and purity of 
^' colotir in the cap, and throughout the whole plumage; 
the third has regard to the wings and tail, which must 
be black quite home to the quill ; the fourth relates to 
^ the spangle, which should be distinct, the preference being 
given to the golden ones; the fifth consists in size and 
elegance of shape. Besides these properties there are what 
are called additional heaiities, not essential to the winning of 
P' a prize, but giving the bird a better chance of doing so. 
^) These are also five in number, as thus: — Finions for size 
\ and regularity ; swallow and throat for size ; fair breast for 
'•^ regularity ; legs and fl^ie for blackness. In explanation of 
this it may be remarked, that from the beak to the back of 
jthe neck is called the cap, and this should be of a clear 
^' orange colour, full and rich in the ground, and with blade 
edges to the feathers; the feathers on the loins, or the 
saddle, as it is sometimes called, as well as those of the 
breast, must be free from black, while the wings must have 
no admixture of any other colour. No bird can fairly com- 
ipete for a prize tiat has not black on the stock or web of the 
back, flight, or tail feathers, or that has less than eighteen 
i flying' feathers in each wing, or less than twelve in the 
tail, A bird without pinions is considered preferable to a 
ibird with one pinion only. To the bird which has all 
^' these requisites and beauties in the greatest perfec- 
