MULE BBEEDING. 31 



can procure it, you will find a small quantity 

 of thistle seed to be of great service, which 

 is the proper food for young goldfinches at 

 first, and they are very partial to it. Your 

 goldfinch and canary should be put in a small 

 cage immediately, or as long as possible be- 

 fore the breeding season, that they may be 

 accustomed to each other before they pair. 

 From birds selected as thus directed, you 

 may expect fine mules, with various and 

 elegant plumage, the richiiess of the cock 

 and the beautiful colors m the hen, causing 

 them to be handsomely marked beyond de- 

 scription. Sometimes this will be the case 

 with a cock goldfinch and a canary hen, but 

 more frequently they are much plainer and 

 less valuable. 



Young mules ought always to be put 

 under old canaries of fine song, that they 

 may take their song, which is far preferable 

 to their natural notes. If you have cock 

 linnets, take from the nest as sodn as they 

 can feed themselves, place them under these 

 old canaries, and they will in six months, 

 sing so loud and well that you can scarcely 

 distinguish your linnet from your Canary. 



There is a dangerous complaint to which 

 the goldfinch is subject, called epilepsy, or 

 falling sickness; when he is seized with it, 

 he flies about very violently, and falls on his 

 back. With a pair of sharp scissors, cut off 

 the ends of his hinder claws ; sometimes two 

 or three drops of blood may follow ; in that 

 case, wash his feet with white wine, and 



