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Our  Canaries 
CHAPTER  XIX. 
THE    CREST    AND  CREST-BRED. 
THAT  the  Crested  Canary  is  a  bird  of  ancient  lineage  we  have  already  amply 
shown  by  its  inclusion  in  the  list  of  known  varieties  published  by  Hervieux- 
But  whether  in  those  early  days  it  was  treated  as  a  separate  and  distinct  variety 
in  combination  with  its  ally  the  Crest-bred,  complete  and  perfect  all  its  points,  is 
not  known,  and,  indeed,  is  a  matter  that  is  exceedingly  doubtful.  In  those  days  it 
was  in  all  probability  in  the  most  embryonic  stage  of  development,  rare  m 
occurrence,  and  the  purest  of  freaks— a  mere  "top-knotted"  sport  which  would 
occur  from  time  to  time  from  the  ordinary  type  bred  for  singing.  From  an 
occasional  sport  of  this  kind  in  the  early  days  have  doubtless  arisen  all  the  crests 
we  have  since  seen  evolved,  of  which  our  present  day  Lancashire  Coppies  and 
Norwich  Crests— or  the  Crest  as  we  prefer  to  call  it—are  but  a  trifling  portion. 
For  crested  specimens,  or  varieties,  have  been  known  at  one  period  or  another  of 
the  historical  times  of  the  Fancy  amongst  all  the  principal  breeds  we  now 
cultivate.  The  Belgian,  Scotch  Fancy,  Cinnamon,  German,  and  the  Border 
Fancy  in  the  days  when  it  was  a  simple  nondescript  known  as  the  Common 
Canary,  have  all  contributed  more  or  less  their  quota  of  crested  specimens.  But 
if  we  go  backward  about  half-a-century  we  find  the  Norwich  type  of  Crested 
Canary  standing  apart  from  the  Norwich  Plainhead  as  a  recognised  distinct  and 
separate  breed,  though  inter-bred  with  its  own  plainheaded  ally  the  Crest-bred  as 
is  now  the  rule.  Even  in  those  comparatively  recent  times  the  variety  was  vastly 
inferior  to  the  present  type— a  small,  compact,  and  tightly  feathered  bird,  with  a 
neat,  daisy-shaped  crest  adorning  its  head.  The  resemblance  in  general  shape 
and  style  of  the  crest  to  a  well-blown  flower  of  the  old-fashioned  double  garden 
daisy  was  sufficiently  pronounced  to  warrant  the  term  "daisy"  crests  which  was 
later  applied  to  the  old  style  of  crest. 
THE    OLD  TYPE. 
Upon  the  rise  and  development  of  the  present  type  we  will  let  that 
experienced  breeder  of  the  bird,  Mr.  J.  H.  Scothern,  of  Nottingham,  speak  for 
himself.  He  writes: — "  My  experience  with  Crests  dates  back  thirty  years.  At 
that  time  the  majority  of  Crest  fanciers  were  viewing  the  introduction  of  Lanca- 
shire blood  with  very  grave  concern,  for,  previous  to  this  innovation,  the  crests 
that  had  held  the  field  were  of  the  small  daisy  pattern,  thinly  imbricated,  small  in 
area,  neat  and  hairy,  carried  on  a  body  not  exceeding  six  inches  in  length,  or  even 
less,  closely  and  shortly  feathered,  silky  in  texture,  rich  in  colour,  closely  fitting 
garments,  the  body  being  moulded  true  to  the  best  traditions  of  the  Norwich  type, 
which  was  much  more  diminutive,  closer  and  harder  feathered  than  is  the  accepted 
Norwich  Plainhead  of  to-day.    Even  a  whisper  of  an  outside  cross  was  anathema 
