Our  Canaries 
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now  have  something  to  look  forward  to  winning.  When  I  started  we  had  only  the 
prize  money  and  a  few  '  specials,'  but  to-day  we  have  between  15  and  20  challenge 
cups  and  gold  medals.  The  Yorkshire  has  taken  premier  place  on  the  show  bench 
here.  When  you  enter  a  showroom  you  might  imagine  you  were  in  the  county  of 
broad  acres  to  see  such  a  display  of  Yorkshires — often  300  exhibits.  And  why 
should  not  this  be  so  when  real  enthusiasm  is  put  into  the  variety  ?  We  have  two 
clubs  to  look  after  our  interests  and  six  cups  for  competition,  and  all  the  members 
send  out  their  birds  to  the  different  shows  held  under  club  patronage.  In  con- 
nection with  these  two  clubs  the  closed  ring  has  been  adopted,  and  two  cups  are 
provided  for  the  competitor  gaining  most  points  at  shows  held  under  club  rules, 
only  three  nominated  birds  of  each  competitor  to  compete.  This  gives  the  novice 
a  fine  opening." 
A    HAPPY  INAUGURATION. 
"  The  Yorkshire  came  into  general  favour  in  Ireland,"  writes  Mr.  C.  A. 
O'Reilly,  of  Dublin,  "with  the  advent  of  the  Y.C.C.  of  Ireland,  due  in  great 
measure  to  the  able  influence  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Powell.     Previous  to  this,  in  the  year 
1903,  at  a  show  held  in  Rathmines,  Dublin,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Dublin 
P.  and  C.B.  Society,  three  classes  were  given  for  Yorkshires.  In  the  Autumn  fol- 
lowing, the  Yorkshire  Canary  Club  of  Ireland  was  launched,  and  in  November, 
1904,  held  its  first  show  under  somewhat  unique  conditions.  Only  Yorkshire 
classes  were  provided,  and  about  400  birds  were  staged,  being  judged  by  Mr.  W. 
Mundell.  At  this  show  no  prize  money  was  given — only  prize  cards  and  specials, 
of  which  there  was  a  goodly  number.  A  registration  fee  of  2d.  each  exhibit  was 
charged,  and  this  money  was  pooled,  and  out  of  it  was  paid  the  carriage  of  the 
country  member's  exhibits.  Each  succeeding  year  has  seen  a  marked  improvement 
in  the  quality  of  the  birds.  At  the  Y.C.C.  of  Ireland  show  in  1908  a  Mr.  Fleming, 
of  Belfast,  exhibited  an  unflighted  yellow  hen  which  I  consider  one  of  the  best 
birds  ever  shown  here.  As  a  young  bird  I  think  it  went  right  through  the  Irish 
shows  without  being  beaten.  In  the  same  year  I  bred  a  clear  yellow  cock  which 
created  a  sensation  over  here,  and  for  which  I  refused  an  offer  of  12  which  I 
believe  is  a  record  as  far  as  Ireland  is  concerned." 
POINTS  OF  STOCK  BIRDS. 
The  essential  features  to  be  looked  for  in  stock  birds  are  well  shown  in  a  few 
pointed  sentences  by  Mr.  Thos.  Bennett,  of  Bradford,  which  we  give  in  his  own 
words  :  "An  ideal  stock  bird,"  he  writes,  "  should  possess  length — seven  inches — 
good  position,  not  too  erect ;  short  feather  of  a  fine  silky  texture,  carried  very  close 
to  the  body ;  should  be  well  up  on  leg,  but  not  stilty,  showing  a  little  of  the  thigh, 
which  should  be  free  from  long  fluffy  down,  yet  not  bare  but  neatly  clothed  ;  the 
Jiead  should  be  pear-shaped,  round  on  top  (not  flat,  which  gives  the  bird  a  snaky 
appearance) ;  should  have  good  length  of  neck  and  narrow  shoulders  ;  the  back 
well  filled  in,  not  spouty  ;  the  side  appearance  of  the  bird  showing  a  well  drawn 
