Our  Canaries 
357 
for  the  same  bird.  The  machine  is  made  on  the  principle  of  a  shoe-maker's 
sliding  rule,  the  rule  being  on  a  base,  and  the  upright  ends  and  carriage  to  hold  the 
bird  sliding  along  it  on  grooves.  The 
second  figure  with  the  two  ends  actuated 
by  fixed  screws,  shows  a  type  of  Mr. 
Heath's  invention  as  improved  by 
Mr.  H.  W.  Naylor,  who  added  these 
screws  by  which  the  measurement 
The  Heath  Measuring  Machine.  ^^^^  obtained  is  retained  and  cannot 
be   lost    by  slipping    or   involuntary   movement   of   the  machine, 
THE    MACHINE   AND    ITS  USE. 
In  some  circumstances  the  increased  stability  of  the  moving  ends  obtained 
by  Mr.  Naylor's  additions  may  be  advantageous,  but  for  ordinary  home  use 
the  simpler  type  is  all  that  is  really  necessary,  and  any  handy  man  can  easily 
construct  either  type  to  suit 
his  own  fancy.    To  measure 
a  bird  with  this  machine  it  is 
first  rolled  up  in  a  strip  of  thin 
muslin  or   similar  material, 
four   or   five    inches  wide, 
leaving  the  head  and  tail  out ; 
then  lay  bird  on  the  carriage 
with  its  head  lying  in  the  slot  at  the  left  side,  and  slide  carriage  along  the  rule 
until  the  beak  just  touches  the  upright  end,  the  other  sUde  being  then  brought  up 
to  just  touch  the  tip  of  the  tail.  The  length  of  the  bird  may  then  be  read  off  the 
rule.  The  same  procedure  applies  when  using  the  type  of  machine  with  Mr. 
Naylor's  additions,  save  that  the  carriage  and  sliding  end  being  held  stationery 
by  the  screws  are  drawn  into  position  by  turning  the  heads  of  the  screws. 
MR.  BATTYE  ON  MATING. 
Writing  upon  this  subject  Mr.  H.  W.  Battye,  whose  experience  as  breeder, 
exhibitor  and  judge  are  too  well-known  to  need  comment,  says  :  "The  proper 
way  of  pairing  stock  to  breed  Yorkshires  is  to  mate  yellow  to  buff.  It  is  not  of 
much  importance  whether  the  cock  is  yellow  or  buff.  I  do  not  favour  the  practice 
of  breeding  with  double-yellow  or  double-buff,  though  in  some  rare  instances  it 
may  be  necessary.  Double-buffing  in  Yorkshires  will  frequently  produce  a  super- 
abundance of  long  broad  feather,  which,  if  not  of  a  superfine  quality,  will  cause 
endless  trouble  in  the  way  of  eyelash,  frilled  breasts,  and  feathery  thighs,  whilst 
double-yellowing  has  a  tendency  to  produce  scanty  feathered  birds  with  thin 
pointed  breasts  and  streaky  looking  feathers,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  wing 
butts.  If  a  buff  bird  is  bred  from  double-yellows  it  is  a  valuable  stock  bird  to 
pair  again  with  a  yellow.    I  have  known  birds  bred  in  this  way  to  produce  birds 
The  Improved  Heath-Naylor  Machine. 
