Our  Canaries 
289 
the  beak  which  should  be  short.  Defects :  Flat  head  ;  it  is  impossible  to  get  a 
graceful  radiation  from  this  type.  '  Horned,'  that  is  feathers  standing  out  and 
turning  up  at  the  back  of  the  crest.  Pinched  front,  crest  narrow  in  front,  widening 
backwards.  Scarcity  of  feather  at  back  of  head  and  neck.  Crest-bred  should 
have  same  qualities  of  size  and  quality  as  Cresc.  The  important  feature  in  this  bird 
is  his  head  feather  which  should  be  as  long  as  possible  so  that  when  turned  over 
the  beak  it  should  reach  well  over  the  tip.  It  should  have  a  good  brow  and  width 
between  the  eyes.  Defects  :  Flat  head,  pinched  front,  long  beak.  Much  of  the 
after-results  will  depend  upon  the  selection  of  foundation  stock.  The  massive  Crests 
of  to-day  are  largely  the  result  of  a  wise  intermixture  with  the  Lancashire  Coppy. 
But  success  can  only  be  reached  after  several  crosses.  It  takes  time  to  eradicate 
the  Coppy  type  and  retain  what  is  best  for  the  attainment  of  a  typical  Norwich 
specimen.  There  is  no  need  to  start  with  the  Coppy  as  there  are  plenty  of  really 
good  birds  which  have  been  produced  through  inter-breeding  and  some  of  the 
initial  and  trying  years  may  be  avoided." 
PRINCIPLES    OF  MATCHING. 
"  In  Crest  breeding  it  is  necessary  to  pair  Crest  and  Crest-bred — that  is  a 
Plainhead  bred  from  parents  one  of  which  is  a  Crest — together.  The  Crest-bred 
is  required  in  order  to  maintain  formation  and  radiation  of  crest.  To  pair  two 
Crests  continuously  together  would  result  in  deterioration  of  crest  and  reversion  to 
type.  Double-crests  may  be  bred  for  one  year  with  good  results,  but  this  could 
not  be  continued  with  advantage. 
"  In  mating  it  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  defects  must  be  counter- 
balanced by  excellencies.  Where  one  bird  is  weak  in  crest,  size,  type  or  quality, 
the  other  should  be  strong  in  these,  and  so  compensation  will  result.  To  pair  two 
birds  similarly  defective  will  only  aggravate  the  weakness.  In  Crests  and  Crest- 
breds  it  has  been  customary  to  breed  double-buff.  This  gives  quantity  of  feather, 
but  Nature  has  her  limits  in  this  respect.  I  have  found  that  the  introduction  of 
yellow  has  been  most  beneficial  in  quality  of  feather.  Yellow  has  a  refining 
influence,  and  when  wisely  used  is  productive  of  the  most  pleasing  results." 
IN-BREEDING. 
"  In-breeding  is  an  important  matter.  There  is  no  doubt  that  up  to  a  point  a 
certain  amount  of  in-breeding  may  be  found  advantageous,  but  the  breeder  who 
wishes  to  build  up  a  sound,  strong,  vigorous  stock  will  resort  to  this  sparingly. 
My  own  experience  is  that  when  birds  have  been  mated  for  some  time  closely 
related  there  has  been  a  distinct  deterioration  in  stamina,  and  I  believe  this  to  be 
largely  responsible  for  blindness  and  other  defects  which  trouble  fanciers.  I  have 
found  in  certain  strains  of  my  own  stock  which  had  been  in-bred  that  several  of  the 
youngsters  developed  not  only  blindness  but  tumours.  I  have  had  some  of  these 
tumours  removed  as  large  as  a  small  marble  from  head,  neck  and  other  parts. 
Close  in-breeding  is  followed  by  its  natural  nemesis." 
AA 
