THE FINCHES. 95 



that identical specimen. Most people like a yellow bird 

 best, but the green ones are the strongest, as is usually 

 the case with domestic animals when they retain the wild 

 colour. Green or pied birds are often called mules, but 

 this is a mistake, the true mule Canary being the hybrid 

 offspring of a Canary and some other Finch, usually a 

 Goldfinch. Real mule Canaries are barren, but they are 

 good songsters and very strong and hardy. 



The breeding of Canaries is easily managed. They may 

 be kept in pairs in cages, or a cock and two or three hens 

 may be turned into a small aviary ; in a large one more 

 than one cock may be placed, but there should always be 

 plenty of hens, for the Canary, although not naturally 

 a polygamous bird, will, if opportunity allows, take to 

 himself more than one wife, and thus a large number of 

 young can be reared. Only small and harmless birds 

 should be put with Canaries in an aviary, as they are not 

 very well able to look after themselves ; indeed, in the 

 French slang " serin " (Canary) appears to be synonymous 

 with '■ muff " in ours. Zebra Finches and Japan Munias 

 would be suitable company for them, and all would breed. 



When nesting they should have little open baskets 

 given them to build in, and some moss and cow-hair as 

 building material. The eggs are pale-blue with brown 

 spots, and hatch in a fortnight, this being the usual period 

 with small birds. 



When the young are expected, some egg-food should be 

 supplied, a crumbly paste of hard-boiled egg and biscuit, 

 and salad and other green food be always on hand. Egg- 

 food is also good for the birds when moulting. 



