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Our  Canaries 
Type  and  quality  are  of  the  next  importance.  The  body  should  in  shape 
resemble  that  of  the  Bullfinch,  possessing  substance  in  proportion  to  its  length, 
with  a  broad  back  nicely  arched,  full  and  well-circled  chest,  tail  short  and  narrow, 
wings  not  extending  beyond  root  of  tail,  nor  crossed  at  tips,  but  fitting  close  to  the 
body.  The  neck  should  be  full  and  the  beak  short.  The  bird  should  stand  well 
across  the  perch  on  short  legs,  with  thighs  and  hocks  well  set  back. 
THE  CREST-BRED. 
The  Crest-bred  should  possess  a  body  as  above  described.  The  head  should 
be  large  and  round,  broad  at  every  part,  with  a  small  beak,  with  an  abundance  of 
long,  broad  feather,  commencing  at  entrance  of  beak,  continuing  over  the  crown 
and  flowing  well  down  the  poll,  and  should  be  well  browed.  In  a  good  Crest-bred 
the  feathers  on  crown  when  turned  over  should  reach  to  end  of  beak,  and  the  heavy 
brows  should  give  the  bird  a  sulky  appearance  without  brushing.  When  two  or 
more  birds  are  of  equal  merit  in  crest  or  head  properties,  the  smaller  bird  should 
take  precedence,  if  of  the  correct  type. 
OBJECTIONABLE  PROPERTIES, 
(i)  Crest  and  Head  :  Crests  should  not  be  horned  at  back,  nor  open  at  poll,  nor 
split  at  sides  nor  front  ;  nor  should  the  centre  be  open  or  long,  nor  too  near  the  beak, 
nor  too  near  the  back  or  sides,  nor  should  the  crest  be  tilted,  nor  should  it  consist  of 
thin,  scanty,  hairy  feather.  The  head  of  a  Crest-bred  should  not  be  narrow  in  any 
part,  nor  pinched  over  beak,  nor  should  it  be  flat  nor  covered  with  short,  scanty 
feather,  nor  rough  or  "guttered,"  and  no  show  bird  should  possess  such  an  amount 
of  loose  fluff  or  body  feather  as  to  make  it  difficult  to  make  out  its  shape.  (2) 
Body :  Crests  and  Crest-breds  should  not  have  long,  thin,  erect  bodies  with  dispro- 
portionately long  tails,  should  not  be  dipped  in  back,  or  frilled  on  breast,  or  cross 
their  wings  at  tips,  or  carry  themselves  in  a  curved  or  slovenly  manner,  or  stand  on 
long  legs. 
"  Horns  arc  usually  found  on  heads  that 
arc  long,  flat  on  top,  and  narrow." 
