Our  Canaries 
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useful  and  should  be  paired  together,  as  there  is  every  probability  of  their  pro- 
ducing a  good  even-mark.  One  of  the  best  I  ever  saw  was  bred  this  way.  But 
should  these  birds  in  turn  produce  a  green  it  should  not  be  used,  as  it  shows  that 
the  green  blood  has  taken  too  firm  a  hold,  and  would,  in  all  probability,  produce 
only  stock  with  what  we  wish  to  avoid,  i.e.  body  markings,  in  addition  to  technical 
marks.  There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  what  constitutes  a  well  marked 
pair  of  wings.  Some  fanciers  prefer  them  on  the  heavy  side,  but  I  prefer  the 
lighter  side.  I  think  they  look  much  neater,  and  have  a  more  finished  appearance. 
My  ideal  of  a  pair  of  perfectly  marked  wings  is  from  five  to  six  feathers  in  each 
wing,  and  these  must  not  have  a  break  in  them ;  that  is,  there  should  not  be  a 
light  feather  between  the  dark  ones.  In  the  breeding  of  even-marks  in-breeding 
must  be  resorted  to.  Indeed,  there  can  be  no  strain  unless  it  is  done.  If  I 
had  two  birds  whose  markings  just  'hit'  I  should  not  hesitate  to  mate  them 
together,  no  matter  how  close  the  relationship,  provided  only  that  they  were  both 
thoroughly  healthy  and  strong.  The  breeder  who  wishes  to  found  an  evenly 
marked  strain  must  have  no  scruples,  but  must  thoroughly  instil  into  his  mind 
that  markings  he  must  have,  even  if  he  has  to  sacrifice  something  for  the  time 
being  to  obtain  them." 
STANDARD  OF  PERFECTION. 
Below  we  give  the  standard  of  perfection,  and  scale  of  points  adopted  by  the 
Norwich  Plainhead  Canary  Club. 
Points. 
15 
Head :  Round  and  neat,  with  short,  stout  and  clear  beak 
Neck  :  Short  and  thick    10 
Chest:  Deep,  broad  and  full      ....       ....       ....       ....       ....       ....       ....  15 
Back  :  Broad  and  well  filled  in     10 
Wings:)  ^,                         1       1       •  f^o 
„  .,      ■  Short,  compact,  and  good  carriage  
I  atl :  15 
Feathers:  Soft  and  silky,  with  brilliancy  and  compactness    15 
Legs  and  Feet :  Legs  well  set  back,  and  clear  ....       ....       ....       ....       ....  5 
Colour:  Deep,  bright,  rich,  pure  and  level  throughout    15 
Condition :  health,  cleanliness,  and  sound  feathers  essential. 
Total    100 
Length  :  not  to  exceed  6^  inches. 
Streaked  beak  and  marked  legs  not  to  be  a  disqualification,  but  to  count  against 
the  bird  according  to  their  extent. 
EE  2 
