266 
Our  Canaries 
"  Many  really  good  specimens  are  bred  with  slight  defects  which  ruin  their 
chances  as  show  birds.  A  white  face  :  very  often  on  one  side,  occasionally  on 
both ;  that  is,  when  light  feathers  extend  in  front  of  the  eye  to  the  base  of  the  beak. 
Over-capped  :  the  cap  spreading  to,  or  just  below  the  eye,  or  extending  backwards 
below  the  base  of  the  skull,  and  often  in  an  irregular  form.  Light-sided  below  the 
wing,  breast  and  waist.  Void  of  lacing  ;  white  wing  and  tail  feathers,  or  probably 
the  outer  webs  are  light.  These  imperfections  put  the  birds  out  in  keen  competi- 
tion, although  their  other  qualifications  may  be  excellent.  Ne-vertheless  these 
birds  may  make  grand  stock  birds,  and,  with  judicious  mating,  produce  future 
winners." 
MR.  F.  W.  BAKER'S  COMMENTS. 
For  the  following  valuable  notes  our  thanks  are  due  to  that  erstwhile  skilled 
and  successful  breeder,  Mr.  F.  W.  Baker,  of  Shaw.  "  I  am  convinced  after  many 
years  breeding  of  this,  and  many  other  varieties  of  Canaries,  that  the  Lizard  is  the 
most  interesting  and  beautiful  of  the  Canary  tribe.  One's  deepest  interest  is 
centred  in  the  bird  from  the  moment  the  pleasant  '  chip-chip  '  is  heard  after  its 
release  from  the  shell  until  the  time  when  the  youngster  shall  have  moulted  its  last 
feather,  and  solved  the  uncertainty  as  to  whether  the  deep  dark  rowing  shall  bloom 
out  into  a  nice  bright  distinct  spangle,  or  whether  it  shall  still  remain  a  rowed  or 
laced  specimen  only,  or  whether  the  rowing  shall  disappear,  as  it  were,  behind  a 
cloud.  It  is  only  a  one-year  show  bird,  but  this  should  be  an  extra  incentive  to 
the  amateur  to  take  up  this  variety.  For,  providing  he  procures  birds  of  a  reliable 
strain,  in  taking  up  this  variety  the  amateur  stands  practically  on  the  same  ground 
at  the  commencement  of  the  breeding  season  as  the  champion  breeders  and 
exhibitors  of  the  previous  season.  Few  birds  have  been  known  to  moult  out  a 
second  year  fit  to  compete  with  the  young  stock.  There  are  a  few  exceptions  but 
they  only  prove  the  rule. 
"  In  selecting  stock  for  breeding  purposes  choose  the  largest  and  broadest 
backed  birds,  for  without  width  of  body  it  is  impossible  to  get  a  sufficient  quantity 
of  those  beautiful  rows  of  spangles  thereon,  whilst  only  birds  with  a  good  ground 
colour,  and  nice  bright  black  wings,  tail  and  spangling,  should  be  selected. 
Whatever  you  do,  avoid  birds  with  a  'grizzled,'  or  grey,  wing  and  tail,  and  a  dull 
muddy  spangle." 
COMPARATIVE  VIRTUES  AND  FAILINGS. 
"  I  would  much  rather  breed  from  a  bird  with  a  white  feather  or  two  in  the 
wing  or  tail — the  remainder  being  black — than  the  above.  Some  breeders  object 
to  the  latter  :  I  would  not ;  as  it  is  far  easier  to  breed  out  white  feathers  by  using 
broken-capped  stock  than  it  is  to  breed,  out  the  'grizzled'  wing  and  tail.  It  is 
usual  to  pair  a  Silver  cock  to  a  Gold  hen  or  a  Gold  cock  to  a  Silver  hen.  Some 
breeders  to  obtain  size  pair  two  Silvers  together.     I  have  only  tried  this  a  few 
