BREEDIiNG FINCH-CANARY HYBRIDS 



355 



wants in that direction for the next year, 



and iiUing up any gaps made by sales or 



loss. Incidental!}', we may mention that 



tlie Cinnamon-colonred HyV^rids exhibited 



of some Canary crosses are produced by 



])airing a Cinnamon cock canary to a hen 



liritish bird. 



The selection of the British bird is the 



next important step. Any British bird 



will not do, for although good 



..^ ^r-*"u Hybrids are sometimes iiro- 

 the Finch. ' 



duccd from indiiTercnt finches, 

 such results are exceptional, and our 

 selection must be birds of good size and 

 shape, rich colour, and the other good 

 properties incidental to the bird. In the 

 case of the Goldfinch, we not only like birds 

 with a large blaze, but those which also 

 show a distinct yellow tint blended with 

 the breast colour. As far as possible 

 birds should be chosen which take kindly 

 to cage life, as these pair up readily, and 

 make good hybrid breeders. If jjossible 

 the British birds should be procured early 

 in the year, so as to become tamed and 

 thoroughly domesticated by breeding time. 

 Some fresh caught birds captured late, 

 just on the verge of the breeding season, 

 will breed readily in captivity, but are 

 frequently short-lived, and go off after the 

 first nest. Sound over-year birds which 

 have been moulted in captivity, and have 

 proved their ability, are much prized ; and 

 a breeder who wishes to have more than 

 one string to his bow will generally manage 

 to secure a few reliable cage moulted birds 

 in the course of a season or two, and very 

 old-fashioned little fellows they become. 

 Some breeders house moult a few " grey- 

 pates," that is. Goldfinches in their nestling 

 plumage, against which we have nothing 

 to say, as the experienced breeder knows 

 exactly how to supply all their wants and 

 get them safely through their first moult. 

 The inexperienced fancier will, however, 

 act wisely to secure nuiture birds that 

 have moulted at liberty, and are such a 

 plentiful conmiodity in the market that a 

 good selection can be made ; an extra 

 finch or two being very necessary, as 

 they have a little way of their own of 



making uj) their minds very quickly when 

 they think of departing for the hapj^y 

 hunting grounds, and often at a time of 

 year when it is next to impossible to 

 procure suitable birds. 



The Goldfinch, when in l)recding con- 

 dition, becomes very ])roud and conse- 

 quential, and as he alights 

 Signs of oji i^js pej.(-.i^ ^^.jti^ .J ij^ijt 



Breeding \ , , • 



Condition. ''I'l'y sprmg, he spreads his 



tail like a fan, whisking it 

 from one side to the other, and rings out 

 his '• ^Metallic " call sweetly and clearly, 

 rattling off his song in rapid succession 

 with his wings slightly drooped at the 

 tips. These signs, together with the dis- 

 appearance of the black streak on the tip 

 of the upper mandible — the beak putting 

 on a rich pinky flesh colour — are sure 

 indications of breeding condition, coupled 

 with his incessant song. 



The Linnet on coming into Ijrceding 

 condition, becomes very active, almost 

 dancing on his perches when not hopping 

 from one to the other, and showing himself 

 markedly sleek in appearance owing to 

 the compact condition of his plumage. 

 His beak too puts on a rich bluish-black 

 tinge as if polished, and his song is full 

 and continuous, his " Tolloe-ejup-i-weet- 

 weet-weet-cher," repeated in wild excite- 

 ment, and at times as if he had lost all self- 

 control. We have had (ioldfinches and 

 Linnets in such high condition as to drop 

 their wings to their sides tlie moment they 

 were introduced to the hen Canary, and 

 to sing her round the cage, similarly to a 

 cock Canary. 



A Greenfinch's coming into Inecding 

 condition is ajiparent by his coat looking 

 as if it had just been well brushed, his 

 plumage showing a nice rich sheen. His 

 song becomes more incessant and louder, 

 being chiefly composed of " Yek-yck-churi-- 

 yek-yek-clnn-r-churr,"' the latter " churr "' 

 swelling in volume. The fleshy pink eolovu' 

 of the beak also becomes very rich, and 

 the bird moves about his cage with marked 

 grace and precision. 



The Siskin, like the Goldfinch, is a very 

 active bird, and full of life, especially 



