233 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, July 10, 1800. 
the most perfect Black-reds ever seen, took first position. The 
Cochin-China fowls were mostly very good, and some of the 
chickens particularly so. The llamburghs were first-rate, and 
the Polands throughout were very superior to classes of this 
variety as generally met with. The class for any other breeds 
held some particularly good Indian Game, and also Sultan fowls. 
Among the Bantams the Black were very good, and we were 
much pleased to see among the White ones a pen of decidedly 
the best White-booted Bantams we have seen for years past. 
The Game Bantams richly deserve the most favourable notice. 
There was a capital display of Bucks, and some very interesting 
pens of Mandarins, Shell Ducks, and other fancy varieties. 
The Pigeons appeared to excite an unusual amount of interest 
among the good people of Sheffield, and the general opinion of 
the collection throughout was most satisfactory. 
The Babbits were of very high character, and appeared locally 
attractive. 
In casting an eye over the whole of the appointments, there 
appeared to us but one open to improvement, and that certainly 
a somewhat important one—viz., the exclusion of exhibitors until 
the whole of the awards are completed. Another year’, no doubt, 
the Committee will see the necessity of adopting this suggestion ; 
and then, we think, the management of the Sheffield Committee 
may be safely copied by similar societies with real advantages to 
all interested in the pursuit. 
THE CANARY AND THE BRITISH FINCHES. 
{Continued from page 173.) 
5th Variety.—The London Fancy Canary. 
The London Fancy Canary, as its name implies, is a variety 
much cultivated in the metropolis, where there has been a Society 
established for promoting the improvement of those birds for 
nearly a century. 
Mr. Hook, of Walworth, a successful fancier and breeder of 
this variety, has kindly favoured me with a copy of the printed 
Rules and Regulations of the Society, as it existed in the year 
1779 ; and as it may be interesting to Canary fanciers to compare 
the laws of their grandfathers with those now in use in the present 
Society, I have thought it advisable to introduce them here. 
“ Articles. 
“For a Jonque and Mealy Fancy Canary Bird subscription, 
to be held at the George, Newington Butts. 
“ Article 1st.—That the subscription be opened on the first 
Friday in March, and to be continued annually, when each sub¬ 
scriber shall pay, or caused to be paid, into the hands of the 
Treasurer, 2,?. Gd. for every pair of birds each subscriber intends 
to breed with at one time, and may increase his number of pairs 
until the first Friday in May ; then finally to close, and all sub¬ 
scriptions filled up, with 5.?. towards the least on the show-day, 
which will be on the last Friday in November; but on non¬ 
payment of full subscription and feast, the money before sub¬ 
scribed shall be forfeited at the close of. the book, and no 
subscription to be taken for less than two pairs. Gay birds 
likewise to be subscribed for. 
“ 2nd.—That at the close of the subscription the money 
collected shall be settled on a fixed number of prizes, and the 
Treasurer to give a note of hand to the Stewards for the money 
received for the benefit of the subscribers then being. 
“3rd.—That two hens shall be allowed to one cock at one 
time, and no more, provided they are not in separate partitions; 
and no egg, or eggs, allowed to be carried out of the possession 
of the proprietor. Neither any brought in from other persons, 
nor any show-bird, or birds, to be carried out of the possession 
of the said proprietor until the show-day. On acting contrary 
to forfeit the subscription. 
“ 4th.—That all clean birds must be declared before they are 
four weeks old ; the day when hatched ; also, the marks of the 
cap, and where the breaks lay; also, pinion, or pinions, and 
which largest; also, which pair bred from with them marks, and 
who bred by. The declarations to be filed till the show-day, 
and then compared with the prize birds, and all not answering 
the declaration to be allowed no prize. The next bird in suc¬ 
cession to have it; and that the Stewards shall have a right at 
all times to see the birds. On acting contrary to forfeit the 
subscription. 
“ 5th.—Any Member subscribed for a pair and breeds a show- 
bird therefrom, and after deliver, return, or send such pair to 
another subscriber who shall breed therefrom, not any of the 
produce after so sent, delivered, or returned, shall be shown. 
“ 6th.—That the best bird to the standard, with eighteen long 
feathers in each wing, twelve in the tuil, and if more, to be shown 
with the full number he at any time had, all being black, and he 
have voucher within fourteen days of the Show ; and if a doubt 
arises by the Committee the bird to be detained. The next 
bird to be marked and the prize not paid till the Society is 
satisfied. 
“ 7th.—None but subscribers to bo admitted umpires, unless 
not a sufficient number to make a Committee. If any person 
shows a bird having an objection against any Umpire, by showing 
cause another Umpire to be chosen in his room; and at the 
previous Meeting to the Show, any person not having a show- 
bird shall have notice by a letter of his being chosen on the Com¬ 
mittee, and on refusing to attend shall forfeit 10s. 6 d., or be 
expelled the subscription. 
“ 8th.—That no person having bought, borrowed, or agreed 
for any declared bird, shall be an arbitrator when such bird is 
shown, on pain of forfeiting one guinea whenever discovered, or 
be excluded the subscription. 
“9th.—No subscriber shall unjustly reflect on any of the 
Umpires for their judgment in the deciding, on immediately 
forfeiting 5s. ; to be spent when convicted. 
“ 10th.—Subscribers to be admitted by ballot. The majority 
to determine, except any person who has been rejected by other 
Societies, who shall not be admitted on any terms whatever. 
“ 11th.—All monies forfeited shall become the property of the 
remaining members, and that the said sum, or sums, shall remain, 
unless otherwise expressed, in the hands of the Treasurer until 
the feast-day and then be spent. 
“ 12th.—Any subscriber who shall obtain a prize in violation 
of the above laws, shall return such prize to the Treasurer for the 
benefit of the next bird in rotation, or be entirely excluded the 
subscription in future. 
“ 13tli.—That no subscriber shall breed with any bird bred 
by a non-subscriber, except what he possesses before this law 
takes place, which shall be on the first Friday in May, 1779 ; 
and after that, if it is proved any subscriber shall buy, borrow, 
chop, or take into his possession any bird, or birds, on any pre¬ 
tence whatever, bred by a non-subscriber, he shall be expelled all 
subscriptions in future, and have no benefit of the present. 
“ 14th.—That no bird but what hath black in the stalk and 
web, as well as the flue of every feather in the back, shall be 
entitled to a prize. 
“ 15th.—That three Meetings are necessary to settle the business 
of the subscription. The days of opening and closing, and a 
