358 
Our  Canaries 
of  very  superior  quality,  but  as  a  general  practice  I  cannot  recommend  either 
double-yellowing  or  double-buffing.  In  breeding  for  colour  I  favour  the  system  of 
pairing  a  clear  and  a  ticked  or  marked  bird  together.  I  very  rarely  pair  two  clear 
birds  together,  and  by  the  continual  use  of  variegation  on  one  or  both  sides  I  am 
able  to  obtain  birds  of  good  sound  colour,  and  to  maintain  the  colour  without 
getting  too  many  heavily  variegated  birds,  which  is  a  frequent  result  of  the 
introduction  of  self-coloured  birds,  either  green  or  cinnamon." 
THE  EVEN-MARKED  YORKSHIRE. 
We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  J.  Overend,  of  Ravensthorpe,  for  some  racy  notes 
on  this  captivating  variety  in  the  days  of  its  popularity,  from  which  we  cull  the 
following  sentences.  "  It  was  in  the  70's  and  early  8o's  that  this  bird  received  the 
attention  of  breeders.  Of  late  it  seems  to  have  sunk  into  oblivion.  The  difficulty 
of  breeding  the  even-marked  bird,  and  the  scant  provision  made  for  its  exhibition 
doubtless  accounted  for  its  decline,  though  I  am  divulging  no  secret  in  asserting 
that  it  was  a  bird  that  proved  to  be  a  most  enticing  medium  for  manipulation  at  the 
hands  of  the  '  trimmer '  in  his  eagerness  to  pull  off  the  coveted  prize.  The  colour 
of  the  markings  may  be  either  green  or  cinnamon.  Technical  marks  must  be  had, 
and  undesirable  ones,  if  present,  must  be  eradicated,  Well-formed,  distinct  eye- 
marks,  encircling  the  eye  and  tapering  to  a  point,  also  lightly  and  exact  marked 
wings— which  can  be  produced  oftener  than  a  good  eye-mark — are  necessary. 
Any  body  marks  must  be  discarded,  and  should  not  under  any  circumstances  be 
tolerated.  Birds  should  be  chosen  at  the  start  that  are  entirely  free  from  body 
marks,  because  these  are  liable  at  any  time  to  be  reproduced  in  a  provoking  man- 
ner. Dark  underflues,  and  dark  legs  and  beaks  are  dangerous,  too.  These  are 
quicksands  to  be  avoided.  I  should  not  hesitate  to  breed  from  birds  having  one 
good  eye-mark  and  one  wing-mark  provided  there  was  an  absence  of  those  mark- 
ings and  splashings  that  we  do  not  require.  So  long  as  I  have  good  eye-marks, 
or  wing-marks,  I  regard  the  birds  as  suitable  material,  and  especially  so  when 
their  ancestors  were  of  the  same  type. 
"  Careful  pairing  is  essential,  and  it  must  not  be  forgotten  in  the  rage  for 
markings  that  colour  is  not  to  be  disregarded.  A  heavy  marked  hen  should  be  paired 
with  a  clear  cock,  or  vice  versa,  and  birds  with  eye-marks  only  with  those  with 
wing  marks.  Odd  wings  are  apt  to  be  reproduced.  When  it  is  found  that  any 
particular  pairing  has  fixed  a  point  aimed  at,  pair  the  birds  so  bred  amongst  them- 
selves methodically  and  so  strengthen  the  current,  and  retain  the  tendency  in  the 
right  course." 
THE  GREEN-MARK'S  OLD  POPULARITY. 
"  Up  to  1890,"  writes  Mr.  A.  Hirst,  of  Accrington,  "  in  some  districts  you 
could  scarcely  find  a  fancier  breeding  for  anything  save  even-marks.    It  was  quite 
common  to  find  in  the  East  Lancashire  district  local  shows  with  classes  of  thirty 
or  more  even-marked  birds.    Many  can  be,  and  have  been,  bred  perfect,  and  I 
