CHAPTER XXIV. 



CANARY MULES. 



GOLDFINCH AND CANARY MULES. Formerly these elegant and 

 highly-prized hybrids were all shown in one class, under the 

 general name of " Goldfinch and Canary mules," and the rule 

 for judging them in those days was, to use the vernacular of that 

 period, "nearest the canary," which is meant to signify a bird 

 with the fewest dark feathers on its body. At the present day, 

 however, there are several classes for these birds at most of our 

 "All England" shows, and they are capable of the following 

 divisions and sub-divisions : Clear or ticked yellow, clear or 

 ticked buff, evenly-marked yellow, evenly- marked buff, un- 

 evenly-marked yellow, unevenly-marked buff, dark jonque, dark 

 buff. 



A goldfinch and canary mule with a perfectly clear body and a 

 rich, deep broad flourish round the beak, is the rarest and most 

 valuable of all the canary hybrids, more particularly if the 

 under flue or small body feathers next the skin are clear as well, 

 Next in estimation to a bird of this description is one very 

 lightly ticked ; in fact, the one most nearly resembling a clear 

 bird hence the term " nearest the canary." Size, colour, contour, 

 feather, and condition are all points of merit in birds of this 

 kind; but the aforenamed qualities far outweigh every other 

 consideration in judging them. The evenly-marked variety is 

 to my thinking, by far the handsomest, and it is without doubt, 

 the most popular. The even markings, the rich orange band 

 that surrounds the bill, commonly called the " flourish," the 



