354 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



argument. It is well known that for upward of a 

 century bird-fanciers have turned their attention 

 among other matters to the breeding of hybrids. 

 Bechstein, dealing with this subject as long ago 

 as 1795, enumerates the following crosses with 

 the canary-bird. He describes them all in much 

 detail. 



1. Canary-bird crossed with the European gold- 

 finch. 



2. Canary-bird crossed with the siskin. 



3. Canary-bird crossed with the green finch. 



4. Canary-bird crossed with the serin finch. 



5. Canary-bird crossed with the linnet. 



In addition, other authors have spoken of hy- 

 brids between canaries and nonpareils, canaries 

 and bobolinks, as well as crosses between canaries 

 and indigo-birds. Moreover, it does not seem 

 improbable that crosses between canaries and 

 various other finches might be obtained. But 

 it is sufficient for the purpose we have in view 

 to have emphasized the factor of hybridity as 

 one of common occurrence, by the examples set 

 forth above. 



Now, the usual method of obtaining hybrids is 

 to utilize as parents female canary-birds mated 

 with the male of one of the foregoing kinds of 

 birds, and the reasons for this is obvious, but 

 perhaps worth elucidation. Through many gen- 

 erations of captivity the canary-bird has become 



