BRITISH FINCH AND CANARY HYBRIDS 



347 



bred of this Hybrid, \vliit-li is illuslralcd on [>. 

 351. 



Tlic Redpoll itself in its way is quite the 

 " Dandy of llie Town," so perky, active, and 

 happy is it, and the Hylirid from it and the 

 Canary takes largely after its sire in size, shape, 

 manner, colour, and marking, except that the 

 Jonques display a rich ruddy umber on the 

 breast, and the pencilling is darker and deeper 

 than that of Ihe BulT. If the Redpoll-Canary 

 Hybrid had more attention paid it in regard to 

 ijreeding, and was produced in greater numbers, 

 we should undouiitedly have more handsome 

 specimens produced and ])ossil)ly a '" clear " 

 yellow or bulV wliicli would be the highest stage 

 of excellence. 



This Hyltrid compares in jjopularity with 

 the Redpoll-Canary. It is larger, being ajjout 



the size of and not unlike a 

 The Twite= 3,,^,^,, Linnet-Canary in shape ; 

 Canary. 1 , <i t-> 1 • 



but the Dark specmiens are a 



darker brown, much mure heavily pencilled, 

 and with the throat and l)rcast a more reddish 

 brown. They are usually longer in tail, with a 

 more slender bill, and a small and neat head. 

 A buff Twite-Canary figures on our Coloured 

 Plate of Dark Mules. Twite-Canaries are of 

 sombre colour, and liaving little or no song, 

 and not being very attractive on the Show 

 Ijcnch, there is not much cncouragemenl to tlic 

 fancier to produce them. Both the Redpoll- 

 Canary and Ihe Twite-Canary would, however, 

 become more jiopular if a class for dark speci- 

 mens of these two crosses could be given at 

 exhibitions. Clear specimens could, of course, 

 compete with Clears of other crosses. An 

 almost clear specimen was shown by Dr. 

 Galloway in 1909, so that the feat of producing 

 a Clear Twite and Canary Hybrid does not 

 seem impracticable. 



The Cape Canary {Scrimis Canicollis) and The 

 Domesticated or English Canary Hybrid. 

 Although this Hybrid scarcely comes within 

 the scope of this chapter, we may be pardoned 

 for introducing such an interesting Cross. 

 The few specimens we have seen have all been 

 Dark, about the size of a small Greenfmch, 

 and of similar shape, except that the bOl is 

 not quite so strong or long. Birds of this cross 

 might indeed be easily mistaken for a Dark 

 Grcenfmch-Canary Hybrid if not looked care- 

 fully into, then you find the Green body colour 

 has a yellow reflect on its surface, and is of a 

 darker and more even shade throughout than 

 we have ever seen on the richest coloured 

 Greennnch Hybrid, and this attractive feather- 

 ing fits the body closely. Birds of this cross 



Classification. 



are of lively disposition, and the cocks are fine 

 songsters. About 1909 Mr. George Davidson, 

 Slanwix, Carlisle, bred one of these Hybrids 

 answering to our descriplion, and we see no 

 reason why light-coloured s]>ecimens should 

 not also be bred, and the Hybrid become 

 popular. 



We have referred to classification of 

 these various Canarj^ Hybrids, and sug- 

 gested fresh classes for 

 some, such as the Red- 

 poll and Twite Hybrids, but the matter 

 really rests with breeders and exhibitors 

 themselves, by breeding a good supply of 

 the v'arious hybrids to fill the classes when 

 given. There is no difficulty in obtaining 

 a separate class for Dark Goldfinch-Canary, 

 Linnet - Canary, or Greenfinch - Canary 

 Hybrids, and some exhibitions even give 

 one for Dark Siskin-Canary Hybrids. Why ? 

 Because all these Hybrids are bred in 

 good numbers, and the classes usually 

 fill well. The same holds good throughout 

 the Hybrid section ; only popularise them, 

 and there will be no difTiculty in getting 

 classes for them. The following classifica- 

 tion we think covers jDresent needs at our 

 largest shows for Canary crosses, and 

 could be extended as occasion arose by 

 giving separate classes for Yellow and 

 Bufl', and for other crosses as they be- 

 came numerous oiough to deserve special 

 classes : — 



(a) Clear, Ticked, and Evenly-marked 

 Canary Hybrid ; (ft) Lightly Variegated, 

 more light than dark, including two pointed 

 Canary Hybrids ; (c) Heavily Variegated, 

 more dark than light, Goldfinch-Canary 

 Hybrid ; (d) Heavily Variegated, more 

 dark than light, any other variety Canary 

 Hybrid (Canary-Bullfinch excepted); (<;) 

 Yellow Dark Goldfinch-Canary Hybrid : 

 (/) Buff Dark Goldfinch-Canary Hybrid : 

 (g) Dark Linnet-Canary Hybrid ; (/;) Dark 

 Greenfinch-Canary Hybrid ; (i) Dark Siskin, 

 Redpoll, or Twite-Canary Hybrid ; (/) any 

 other variety of Canary Hybrid. 



As to what constitutes a Clear, the 

 word speaks for itself, and of Ticked, 



