T5I 



pate trying, I would say — have patience, keep a stout 

 heart, never sa}' die, use the very best birds you can 

 procure, look well after their little wants, take the 

 advice (from the experiences of others) so freeh' given 

 through the press, and study nature as much as possible 

 in trying for rare crosses. 



The subject of hybrids, or, as they are more 

 generally called, mules, is one of such magnitude, that 

 to attempt to go fully into its intricacies would take 

 much more space than I have at command. 



I need hardly tell you that the ideal in hybrids is a 

 clear 3'ellow mule, though but a few can boast of ever 

 producing one. As a rule, you find if you are fortunate 

 enough to get a lightly marked or ticked bird, that it 

 has a tendency to get lighter after each moult, and I 

 may say that I do not know of a single instance of a 

 clear mule which was so in its nest feathers — the clear 

 mules one sees are birds that have lost the ticks thev 

 possessed, after the first moult or tw^o. The difficulty of 

 producing anything like light mules would be consider- 

 ably reduced if we members of the Club could be pre- 

 vailed upon to assist our fellow members, as I think we 

 should do. What I mean is that any member who has a 

 really good muling strain, should not guard itso jealously 

 and keep it all to himself, but allow other members to try 

 his celebrated strain. I well know one gentleman who 

 destroyed his surplus stock rather than allow another 

 breeder the chance of purchasing it. I am often asked, 

 " Where can I procure a sib hen that will breed light 

 mules ? " and although I know dozens of men who profess 

 to breed light mules, not one of them will part with a 

 bird, because they fear someone else will reap what they 

 have sown. Now I think it would be to the advantage 

 of all concerned if something in the way I have 

 suggested could be brought about. 



In producing mules, either dark or light, do not 

 place so much faith in colour-feeding, but go further 

 into the colour question, and breed for colour by choosing 

 only birds that you know are full of the requisite colour. 



