The Yorkshire 
Canary. 
(196) THE BIRD WORLD. 
that during the decade, say, from 1882 
to 1892, far too many big cross-winged, 
long-feathered birds with broad, coarse 
heads and thick bulky necks were seen 
in the prize lists at our shows, and much 
dissatisfaction among the fanciers of this 
variety was expressed, especially towards 
the close of that decade. Previous to 
that time old fanciers had been at the 
other extreme, and used to talk about 
Yorkshires that were able to pass 
through an ordinary wedding ring, 
though I never saw one that looked like 
doing so. Many of them were very slim 
and pleasing to the eye, and perhaps 
preferable to the strong built, heavy 
feathered, half-bred Lancashire with its 
crossed wings and plain, ordinary car¬ 
riage of body, type or shape and posi¬ 
tion being acknowledged as the leading 
points of merit in an exhibition speci¬ 
men of the Yorkshire bird. Crossing 
with the Plainhead Norwich of that date 
could not fail to detract from the bird’s 
merits in these essential points of shape 
and position, and did not assist in over¬ 
coming the heavy build and plain, 
straight lines of the Lancashire, but 
rather emphasised these very points by 
giving additional stoutness of body. 
The Norwich-cum-Yorkshire bred birds 
though, were at the same time a decided 
improvement in regard to quality and 
silkiness of feather as well as enhancing 
the colour of the offspring, but, taking 
both the good and the bad points of this 
cross, and weighing both impartially, I 
should not consider the Lancashire and 
Norwich cross a success. At any rate, 
as regards producing a bird of the re¬ 
quired shape and position. 
The Old-Time Cinnamon Mark. 
Twenty years ago one occasionally 
came across a Cinnamon Marked York¬ 
shire, and I am of opinion that these 
birds were at that time mostly bred from 
a self Cinnamon cock and a Clear or 
Ticked Yorkshire hen. Here was a much 
better opportunity to produce birds of 
the required shape than with the Nor¬ 
wich cross, seeing that at the time named 
many self Cinnamons of Yorkshire type 
were bred and exhibited in the same 
classes as the self Cinnamons of the 
Norwich type, the Cinnamon at that time 
having no recognised type. I well re¬ 
member that when calculating the stage- 
room at our own show in the early 
eighties for this particular section, we 
usually allowed room for half-open wire 
cages and half-box cages. This the 
Cinnamon marked variety of the York¬ 
shire Canary, I as a fancier, greatly ad¬ 
mired, and still take a deep interest in, 
and may say without egotism that I have 
done some little towards making known 
its usefulness in the breeding-room, and 
have assisted in other ways to its gain¬ 
ing its present popularity. Though the 
above was most probably the way the 
bulk of them were bred at that time, 
many of them were lacking in type and 
style, and as no classification was pro¬ 
vided, and no type was insisted upon, 
the birds had to be exhibited in the 
A.O.V. class, and were judged more for 
markings and quality than for type. 
For some years the Cinnamon Marked 
Yorkshires were in very few hands, and 
competition was limited. Here the use¬ 
fulness of the Union of Ornithological 
Societies in Yorkshire was in evidence. 
The Union took these birds up and de¬ 
cided that classes should be provided 
at Union shows for Cinnamon Marks, 
but stipulated that they should be Cinna¬ 
mon Marked Yorkshires, and be judged 
by their standard for this variety of the 
Yorkshire Canary. This was a wise 
step, for while not creating a new variety, 
they gave an impetus to a variety that 
was in danger of being extinguished for 
lack of support and encouragement. 
From that time the bird has multiplied. 
Breeders became interested in producing 
them, and at the present day they are 
greatly admired by many of the visitors 
at our shows. They are gradually over¬ 
hauling their dark-eyed brethren, the 
Yorkshire proper, in the matter of type, 
style, and position, and the Clears from 
this variety are responsible for much of 
the improved quality of feather shown in 
late years in the ordinary Yorkshire. 
This, many practical breeders and ex¬ 
hibitors will readily admit, whilst the 
artistic loveliness of a well-marked, 
typical specimen of the Cinnamon 
Marked* Yorkshire appeals to all who 
