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Correspondence



of the west coast there is a race of the very handsome Senegals, which,

however, are not very common anywhere. The two I have known were

not only redder but distinctly larger than any birds of the typical

northern race. I should like to know if skins bear out my idea.


E. Hopkinson.



HOODED SISKIN MULES


Sirs, —A note in the last number was also of particular interest

to me. This was not the one on p. 134, but Mr. Astley’s article on his

Hooded Siskin mule.


I have seen a good many of these birds on my frequent visits to the

Canary Islands on my voyages to and from West Africa. A good many

are bred there, especially at Grand Canary, where they are known

as “ Mistos ”. Misto, of course, merely means hybrid, but these are

The Mistos in the Canaries. The local name there of the male parent,

the Hooded or Red Siskin, is “ Cardenal de Caracas ”.


I have never had a “ Misto ”, but have bought several cock Hooded

Siskins, and one year on my way home got two hens, which apparently

are but rarely exported from Venezuela. For Mistos large prices were

always asked, but the average price of cock Hooded Siskins at the

Canaries used to be about a pound. This year, on revisiting the islands

after five years’ absence, I find that their prices, like that of all other

birds (and everything else everywhere, for the matter of that) has

soared to £5 or more, though I heard that just as we were leaving two

were being offered (and no takers) at £3, and would probably have been

handed over as the anchor came up for a visible £2 in British silver.


In pre-War days one was almost always sure of seeing plenty of

South American birds at Las Palmas, many of which were very rare,

especially in England, for the boats which brought most of them belonged

to an Italian line running between Northern S. America and Genoa.

This year this trade, which the War stopped, seems to be getting into

its stride again, but at prices which would appear prohibitive, though

with the sailors buying common Canaries at £1, and 4s. each being

asked for the commonest African Waxbill, £5 for a Red Siskin, I suppose,

should not seem dear.



E. Hopkinson.



