350 
Our '  Canaries 
ITS  SPREAD  IN  THE  NORTH. 
It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  a  bird  having  such  universally  attractive 
features  could  long  remain  secluded  in  the  county  which  gave  it  birth  and  name, 
and  it  no  sooner  became  an  established  breed  and  a  popular  feature  at  bird  shows 
than  it  began  to  win  adherents  among  all  classes  in  all  parts  of  the  country — a 
happy  augury  of  the  popularity  it  was  destined  to  gain.  The  history  of  its  pro- 
gress in  the  northern  counties  is  briefly  told  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Cuthbertson,  of 
Heighington,  from  which  we  take  the  following 
extracts.  "  My  connection  with  the  variety  as  an 
exhibitor  dates  from  the  year  1899.  At  that  date, 
except  in  Cumberland,  I  was  practically  the  only 
exhibitor  of  Yorkshires  in  the  counties  of  Durham, 
Northumberland,  Westmoreland  and  Cumberland. 
Although  having  hosts  of  admirers  the  variety  made 
practically  no  progress  in  the  north.  Breeders  were 
increasing  in  number  rapidly,  but  owing  to  lack 
of  classes,  and  the  strong  competition  from  southern 
exhibitors,  local  exhibitors  were  few.  All  this  was 
changed  in  1906  by  the  formation  of  the  Northern 
Yorkshire  Canary  Club,  which  was  due  entirely  to 
the  enthusiasm  and  energy  of  Mr.  T.  C.  Crawhall. 
Our  northern  shows  usually  gave  only  two  classes, 
but  the  club  insisted  in  its  first  patronage  year 
upon  four  classes,  which  were  well  filled  at  all  the 
shows.  The  following  season  the  patronage  was 
divided  into  two  sections.  Champion  and  Novice,  Above  all  try  to  avoid  broad 
which  had  the  effect  of  creating  greater  activity  tailed  birds, 
and  enthusiasm  among  the  new  members,  the  novice  classes  averaging  nearly  20 
per  class.  In  1909  Dr.  C.  Duncan  O'Neil  gave  a  solid  silver  rose  bowl  for  novice 
classes  which  further  stimulated  breeders  to  action,  and  the  competition  was 
very  keen.  That  the  N.Y.C.C.  has  done  a  great  work  in  the  north  is  proved  by 
the  number  of  members,  but  they  are  only  a  small  part  of  those  who  breed  the 
Yorkshire  up  here.  Where  breeders  of  this  variety  were  counted  in  units  four  or 
five  years  ago  they  are  now  counted  by  tens  and  are  still  increasing,  for  no  bird 
that  graces  the  show  bench  is  so  captivating  as  the  Yorkshire,  and  none  needs 
more  careful  study  both  for  showing  and  breeding." 
YORKSHIRES    IN    THE    GREEN  ISLE. 
The  rapid  spread  of  popularity  of  the  Yorkshire  in  Ireland  is  well-shown  in 
the  following  excerpts.     Mr.  C.  J.  Mulligan,  of  Sligo,  says  :    "  The  Fancy  in 
Ireland  never  looked  better,  and  the  future  promises  to  be  greater  still  as  we  all 
