Our  Canaries 
247 
MATING  FOSTERS  NOT  ESSENTIAL. 
"  It  is  not  necessary  to  pair  these  feeders  with  cocks.  I  find  that  they  settle 
down  better  after  laying  the  last  egg,  and  are  not  so  likely  to  want  to  nest  again 
too  soon.  Their  eggs  I  transfer  to  the  Lancashire,  and  let  both  sit  their  full  time, 
thus  keeping  the  Lancashire  hen  broody  and  saving  her  strength.  I  keep  these 
together  all  through  the  season. 
"  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  Lancashire  hen  takes  to  feeding  her  young,  she,  as 
a  rule,  makes  the  best  of  feeders,  being  a  strong  and  powerful  bird ;  and  a  nest  of 
three  or  four  Lancashires  require  a  lot  of  feeding." 
POINTS  OF  EXCELLENCE. 
The  points  of  the  ideal  bird  are  described  in  the  Standard  of  Perfection 
issued  by  Lancashire  and  Lizard  Fanciers'  Association,  here  appended.  As  will 
be  seen,  no  limit  of  length  or  size  is  imposed  by  the  standard.  Other  points  being 
proportionately  equal,  the  larger  and  longer  the  bird  the  better.  A  good  specimen 
will  often  measure  fully  eight  inches  in  length,  from  tip  of  beak  to  end  of  tail. 
THE  LANCASHIRE. 
Head — coppy               ....  ....  ....  25 
Neck — for  fulness  and  thickness     ....  ....  10 
Back — round,  full,  and  long  ....  ....  10 
Wings — meeting  at  tips  ....  ....  ....  5 
Length  of  Bird              ...  ....  ....  20 
Quality  of  feather          ....  ....  ....  5 
Position — upstanding     ....  ....  ....  10 
Condition  and  Cleanliness....  ....  ....  10 
Colour         ....             ....  ....  ....  5 
100 
"  Never  breed  with  a  bird  which  has  a 
hole  in  the  back  of  the  neck." 
X  2 
