Our  Canaries 
using  a  cock  marked  on  one  wing,  then  this  hen  should  have  both  wings  clear,  but 
may  be  marked  on  one  or  both  eyes ;  and  if  the  cock  is  marked  on  one  or  both 
eyes,  the  hen  should  be  lightly  marked  on  one  or  both  wings,  but  the  eyes,  and 
head  altogether,  including  the  beak,  must  be  clear.  To  complete  the  group  of  five 
a  green  marked  may  be  added,  and  if  six  hens  are  required,  the  sixth  should  be 
either  a  self  or  a  broken  green.  The  group  might  also  be  formed  in  the  same 
manner,  but  with  the  colour  transposed,  having  the  buff  on  the  cocks'  side  and 
the  yellow  on  the  hens',  the  markings  remaining  the  same. 
ON   A  LARGER  SCALE. 
In  making  up  larger  groups  for  more  extensive  aviaries  this  suggested  group 
may  be  duplicated  with  only  the  difference  of  omitting  one  ticked  cock,  leaving 
two  clear  cocks  and  one  ticked  only  for  a  group  of  ten  or  twelve  hens.  If  twelve 
hens  are  used  it  will  also  be  advisable  to  omit  the  second  green  hen  and  substitute 
in  her  place  a  clear  with  a  similar  pedigree  to  the  otherLclears.  The  object  is  to 
avoid  breeding  too  large  a  proportion  of  variegated  birds  whilst  retaining 
a  sufficiently  strong  leaven  of  green  blood  amongst  the  stock  to  keep  a  good  deep 
rich  tone  of  natural  colour  in  the  clear  birds  that  will  be  bred.  Quality  should 
be  neglected  on  neither  side,  but  type  and  feather  should  figure  as  strongly  as 
possible  on  the  hens'  side,  which  may  with  advantage  be  of  a  medium  size.  The 
cocks,  if  yellows,  should  be  of  large  size,  of  good  substance  for  the  breed  in 
question,  well  feathered  and  free  from  harshness,  and  of  good  shape  and  typical 
throughout.  Given  these  elementary  conditions,  it  is  quite  possible  to  produce 
some  really  good  birds  in  this  way.  Selection  on  the  part  of  the  owner  will  also 
come  into  play  to  an  appreciable  extent,  and  by  adhering  to  the  lines  laid  down 
the  general  standard  of  the  stock  bred  will  be  materially  raised  and  there  will, 
after  breeding  a  few  years  on  this  system,  even  be  a  sporting  chance  of  producing  a 
few  moderately  good  exhibition  birds.  But,  nevertheless,  the  breeder  whose  chief 
object  is  the  breeding  of  birds  for  exhibition  must  not  rely  upon  this  method. 
Only  that  absolute  control  over  the  mating  of  the  birds  and  full  and  reliable 
knowledge  of  their  pedigree  which  is  got  by  breeding  in  separate  cages,  will  enable 
one  to  reach  the  highest  rung  of  the  ladder,  or  even  to  maintain  a  position  much 
above  the  level  of  mediocrity. 
ANOTHER  ASPECT  OF  THE  QUESTION. 
But  it  would  appear  that  breeding  in  cages  need  not  of  necessity  preclude  one 
giving  the  birds  the  benefits  of  open-air  life.  The  experience  of  Mr.  E. 
Pretty,  of  London,  affords  some  striking  proof  in  this  direction,  and  also 
gives  very  strong  evidence  of  a  practical  kind  that,  as  we  have  already  said,  highly 
developed  fancy  points  do  not  necessarily  render  any  variety  less  able  to 
exist  and  flourish  under  natural  treatment;  or  at  least  as  nearly  approaching 
the  natural  conditions  as  is  possible  in  domesticated  creatures ;  or  call  for 
any  abnormal  artificialities  in  the  treatment  of  the  stock  so  developed. 
