88 



vSAFFRON FINCH HYBRIDvS. 



Sir, — In" the May number of "Bird Notes" a corre- 

 spondent asks for advice as to the best way to obtain a cross 

 between a Saffron Finch and a Canary. 



I do not think it impossible to obtain such a hybrid, but 

 believe it very unlikely, for the simple reason that the Saffron 

 Finch is a Brazilian bird and as such his breeding season 

 commences in the Brazilian vSpring, i.e. our Autumn. Saffron 

 Finches will be in season when Canaries are out of season. In 

 my aviary Saffron Finches hatched and reared their brood in 

 December. 



It might be that a cock Saffron Finch could be found to 

 mate with a Canary hen, but it is almost certain that his 

 moulting time would interfere with the success of the brood, 

 I have had the pleasure of seeing Saffron Finches in their 

 native country, where they love to perch on fences, and look 

 very pretty when flying about. 



Another question is, what would be the use of such a 

 hybrid — which could only be produced b}' a mere chance 

 after much trouble and disappointment ? Its plumage w^ould 

 scarcely be distinguishable from that of a Canar}'. But that 

 raises the whole question of hybrid breeding, with which I never 

 had much sympath}'. I never yet saw a hybrid which I liked 

 so well as either of its progenitors. Unless the hybrids are the 

 offspring of nearly-related species, there is little chance of 

 their being reproductive. To produce a new species seems to 

 out of the question. 



Some of your readers may remember the Crystal Palace 

 Bird Show some 25 years ago at which the late Dr. Russ 

 of Berlin exhibited some very extraordinary hybrids. Among 

 these a cross between a Diamond vSparrow and a Zebra Finch 

 was, I think, the rarest I have ever seen. But a good specimen 

 of either of the parents would have pleased me better than this 

 curiosity. 



Australian birds seem to me to adapt their breeding time, 

 in captivity, somewhat more readily to our European con- 

 ditions than South American and African finches do as a rule. 

 Do the observations of more recent breeders of foreign cage 

 birds confirm this } 



Aug. F. Wiener. 



