The London Fancy is thought to have arisen as a mutation of the Lizard Canary in the early 1800s. The variety reached its zenith during the 1840s; the Illustrated London News of December 12th 1846 described an official Society dedicated to the breed. The bird was about 5.5 inches in length, had glossy black wings and tail with a deep yellow body.  The legs, feet and claws were all black, as with the Lizard Canary.

However, from its Lizard Canary ancestors, it inherited the handicap of only keeping its beautiful show plumage for a single season. After moulting for a second year the bird's appearance deteriorated, and as such it was an expensive variety to maintain. The London Fancy gradually lost favour and  the last specimens are thought to have become extinct in the 1930s.

Many fanciers would love to see this variety resurrected but it would almost certainly depend on another spontaneous mutation arising from within the Lizard Canary stocks.
 
 

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