Our  Canaries 
"  Manchester  Fancy,"  but  these  terms  are  now  quite  obsolete.  Like  the  present 
term,  they  were  cumbersome  and  unwieldy,  and  although  as  a  rule  we  object  to 
the  alteration  of  popular  names  for  any  trivial  reason,  we  cannot  help  thinking 
that  some  advantage  might  accrue  towards  greater  popularity  if  the  term  were 
curtailed  and  simplified  by  referring  to  the  birds  simply  as  "  Coppies  "  and 
"  Coppy-bred." 
THE  LANCASHIRE  DESCRIBED. 
A  detailed  description  of  the  properties  of  the  massive  Lancashire— the 
acknowledged  giant  of  the  Canary  family — will  be  best  given  in  the  words  of  a  few 
of  its  oldest  admirers  and  practical  breeders.  To  that  devoted  disciple  of  the 
breed,  Mr.  Barker  Clegg,  of  Manchester,  our  thanks  are  due  for  the  following 
notes.  Mr.  Clegg  writes: — "To  describe  a  good  Lancashire,  when  you  have 
bred  this  variety  and  lived  in  the  county,  is  no  difficult  task.  The  Coppies 
should  have  abundance  of  nice  frontal,  flowing  forward  in  *  Horseshoe  '  fashion, 
lying  well  down  with  beautiful  radiation  and  shape ;  grand  upstanding  birds,  on 
pairs  of  strong  legs,  with  a  majestic  carriage,  and  the  feather  as  close  on  the  body 
as  moleskin.  The  Plainheads  show  to  perfection  their  gigantic  properties,  equal, 
and  at  times  surpassing,  the  Coppy.  Large,  bold,  sulky-looking  heads,  thick 
necks,  long  broad  backs,  and  well-carried  wings  and  tail.  These  properties,  with 
an  elegant  carriage,  position,  and  a  commanding  appearance,  are  the  admiration 
of  the  fraternity.  Some  twenty-five  to  thirty  years  ago  these  birds  were  very 
numerous  in  the  County  Palatine,  notably  in  the  manufacturing  districts  around 
Manchester. 
*'  For  size,  feather  and  position,  these  birds  have  been  the  storehouse  of  the 
Canary  family.  They  have  been  used  in  a  large  way  by  the  Crested  Norwich 
breeders  and  also  by  breeders  of  the  Cinnamon  and  Yorkshire.  Mule  breeders, 
too,  used  Lancashire  hens  largely.  There  are  many  good  and  typical  birds  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Lancashire  breeders  to-day,  some  even  that  would  comply  with  the 
description  here  mentioned.  But,  unfortunately,  they  are  not  seen  in  very  large 
numbers  at  our  exhibitions,  either  in  or  outside  the  county.  I  can  remember 
seeing  thirty-three  Buff  Coppies  in  a  class  at  a  Manchester  show,  and  every  one 
of  them  could  have  been  termed  a  winner.  Since  that  time  there  has  been  a  con- 
tinual draw  upon  the  number  of  these  birds  to  enhance  the  properties  of  other 
varieties." 
SUBSTANCE  A  CARDINAL  VIRTUE. 
Messrs.  G.  Fitton,  of  Oldham,  the  senior  partner  of  whom  has  a  record  of 
40  years'  experience  with  the  variety,  and  won  with  it  at  the  Alexandra  Palace 
over  thirty  years  ago,  and  in  more  recent  years  at  the  present  Crystal  Palace, 
give  their  opinions  and  experiences  in  the  following  paper. 
"  Its  principal  points,"  they  write,  "are  length  and  fulness  of  the  bird  through- 
out :  bold  neck  and  head,  stand  erect,  not  leaning  over  the  perch,  width  of  skull, 
