Article from American Canary Magazine, September 1941 Issue

Every now and we read of the desire of some writer or fancier to awaken our fancy to the realization that American does not possess one single canary that can properly be called an American canary.  For many years I have been aware of this desire on the part of those interested n cage birds, and have also had articles published for just such an enterprise.  Now Mr. A. G. Griffiths again suggests the enterprise.  Who will assist in the work necessary for such accomplishment?

Some few years ago when I judged tow Baltimore shows I thought that the answer to the above question was answered.  Those fanciers in Baltimore were on the right track when they started the activities by breeding a bird for special markings.  that bird was called, I believe, a Maryland Fancy, but I have not seen such a type outside of Baltimore.

Two or three years ago when judging the Dayton show I again thought our answer was put in the flesh and feather stage.  Mrs. Heady won first with her Columbus Fancy, a bird that would have been accepted by American breeders as the American type canary, but little strong contact was made by their members to promote this beautiful type.

Now again I vision the production of the American type canary, not the production of some local town or section of out land but a special type that is truly American throughout our whole country; a canary produced from only show winners selected from roller and type classification.  The foundation is constructed from best foreign origin and as truly American as we ourselves, for such mating will demand close attention to breeding details so as to produce not only a song bird but also a bird with inbred type lines.

Don't say that is cannot be done; foreign settlers came to this land, intermarried and produced children that we are proud of.  today we have the result of that union which is American.

take a look at our various local shows, and in manifold benchings there will be found a section for American Singers.  We have our organization complete with necessary publicity and with competent judges.  This year we will be called upon to vote for the best infusion of type selection so that all American Singers will be the same type quality.  The vocal organs will be set by roller blood from a selected winning stock, and within possible five years this selective breeding will have produced for all time that bird that so many of us have striven to produce.

To produce that bird that all, or most, American fanciers will like cannot be done unless jealousy and small-time tactics be frowned upon as childish misbehavier (sp) and treated as such.

I ask the continued support of the fancy to promote this American Singers project until it has been shown that something better can be constructed and if there are objectors to the A.S., let them with all honesty write to me just what qualified objections they have.