MULE BREEDING. 29 



sary to observe the following rules when 

 you pair them. 



They should be taken young and brought 

 up by hand, or under a Canary hen, and fed 

 on rape and canary — mostly canary seed; as 

 otherwise they will be found very difficult to 

 pair. Of hemp seed they are so fond as to 

 eat to excess, which is very hurtful in the 

 breeding time, and ultimately rots them, 

 changing the brightness and color of their 

 plumage to brown. 



Before you pair the Goihfinch, cut off the 

 tip of his beak about the thickness of a six- 

 pence, with sharp scissors; as of all birds, 

 this has the most pointed beak. There may 

 be two or three drops of blood, but a Uttle 

 piece of moist sugar will cure it. This will 

 prevent him from flying at the hen Canary, 

 many of which are often killed by a Gold- 

 finch, and from hurting the young ones when 

 feeding them ; otherwise he is apt to pierce 

 their little throats with his sharp beak, and 

 kill them. 



A Goldfinch hen put up with a Canary, 

 ought to be two years old, as they seldom 

 lay the first year in a cage ; a fact which is 

 but little known, and prevents many who are 

 disappointed the first year, from venturing 

 upon a second trial. 



The wild birds meant to breed or cross 

 with, should be kept in a fly with Canaries, 

 so that they may choose the hen from amongst 

 a number, for they are difficult in their choice 

 sometimes. Fresh caught birds must also be 

 3* 



