Our  Canaries 
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Clegg,  of  Manchester,  "  may  well  be  termed  the  aristocrat  of  the  Canary  family, 
its  ancestry  dating  back  to  a  very  remote  time.  It  was  known  in  this  country  200 
years  ago,  and  we  have  authentic  information  that  it  has  been  bred  in  similar  form 
and  character  over  a  century.  Its  name,  doubtless  from  the  spangling  of  its 
plumage,  we  may  fairly  assume  was  taken  from  the  reptile  of  that  name.  Early 
in  the  last  century  they  were  bred  in  large  numbers  by  the  weavers  of  Spitalfields, 
and  the  birds  found  their  way  Northwards  with  the  commerce  to  Nottingham, 
Derby,  Leicester,  Lancashire,  Newcastle,  and  Durham.  Forty  years  ago  we  found 
them  well-established  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  both  North  and  South,  and 
being  exhibited  with  the  same  properties  and  characters  as  we  see  them  to-day." 
THE  LIZARD  CHARACTERISTICS. 
'*  The  ideal  bird  is  the  '  clear-cap.'  We  must  have  a  large  head,  other- 
wise it  is  impossible  to  display  what  is  termed  a  good  thumb-nail  cap  ;  not  narrow 
in  front,  but  even  width,  no  corners,  and  with  a  fine  dark  lash  over  the  eye.  Broken- 
Caps  or  Non-Caps  were  at  one  time  discarded  as  exhibition  specimens.  Yet  these 
birds  have  fought  their  way  into  recognition,  for  season  after  season  we  find  the 
most  distinct  and  profuse  spangling  of  highest  quality  in  the  Broken  Caps. 
Hence  when  the  classification  is  left  open  we  frequently  see  the  Broken  Cap  beat- 
ing the  Clear-Cap." 
'*  The  spangling,  work,  mooning,  rowing,  or  creeling,  is  formed  by  the  lapping 
or  folding  of  the  feathers  on  the  back.  Here  again  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  good 
wide  back  that  will  show  to  advantage  an  abundance  of  work.  The  Silvers  gener- 
ally exhibit  a  much  bolder  mooning  than  the  Golds,  and  the  cocks  more  than  the 
hens.  The  spangles  should  be  clear  and  distinct,  standing  out  well  in  clearness 
and  definition,  being  largest  in  the  centre  of  back,  and  gradually  decreasing  in 
size,  but  retaining  all  their  clearness  and  distinct  outline,  right  on  to  the  butts  of  the 
wings,  and  down  to  the  meeting  of  the  wing  tips  above  the  tail.  In  the  Non-Caps 
some  beautiful  work  is  shown,  extending  right  from  the  beak,  forming  in  a  creel 
and  developing  into  rows  in  lovely  order." 
THE  BREAST  WORK. 
"  This  is  the  lacing,  which  sometimes  is  very  profuse.  Breeders  now  pay 
great  attention  to  this  necessary  adornment,  and  the  more  you  can  get  of  it,  well- 
defined,  and  extending  down  the  breast,  along  the  sides  and  waist  and  on  to 
the  thighs,  the  better  your  chance  of  winning.  The  wings  and  tail  must  be  dark^ 
the  rib  of  the  feathers  being  black  right  down  to  the  base,  and  the  webs  shading 
in  harmony  with  the  coverts,  and  the  general  ground  colour  in  both  Golds  and 
Silvers — the  coverts  and  wings  forming  an  artistic  finish  to  the  spangle.  A  good 
rich  ground  colour  is  a  most  desirable  quality,  and  must  be  sound  throughout, 
the  feathers  fine  in  texture,  dense  in  volume,  and  fitting  the  bird  like  wax.  The 
legs  and  beak  should  be  dark  :  this  is  a  point  which  may  decide  an  award  and  is 
worth  noting.    Size  is  very  desirable  in  a  good  bird,  but  it  is  not  imperative. 
