362 The Canary Book. 



case they are judged for the resemblance to a clear canary. 

 Next to a bird of this sort conies an evenly-marked bird ; the 

 dark varieties are of very little value. These hybrids are more 

 frequently shown in the classes for " any other variety of canary 

 mules " than otherwise. Personally, I prefer an evenly-marked 

 specimen, but have never seen more than one. In the dark birds, 

 size, colour, form, and condition are the chief characteristics. 



SISKIN AND CANARY MULES. Siskin mules are, generally 

 speaking, not very attractive birds to look at, and ninety-five 

 out of every hundred of them resemble the siskin so much, 

 particularly if bred from a small green canary hen, that it requires 

 a thoroughly practised eye to discern wherein the difference 

 lies. The one forming the subject of the engraving is quite 

 an exceptional bird; and I never remember having seen one 

 in which the canary colours predominated so strongly. This 

 bird was the property of Mr. R. Hawman, of Middlesbrough, 

 a well-known and esteemed fancier and successful exhibitor. 



It is said that siskin and canary mules are the only hybrids 

 which propagate their species, but I have never tried the 

 experiment, and cannot say, therefore, whether this is so or not. 



OTHER VARIETIES OF MULES. There are, in addition to 

 the varieties of canary mules already specified, those bred 

 between the greenfinch and canary; but they are regarded 

 as of little value, as they invariably favour the greenfinch 

 very much, both in colour and marking, as well as form, they 

 have a poor song, and are only shown in an " any other variety 

 of mule " class ; but whenever a good specimen of a brown 

 linnet mule or a mule bred between a bullfinch and goldfinch, 

 is shown against them, it invariably happens that one or other 

 of the last-named varieties bears away the palm. Bech stein, 

 in his book entitled "Cage and Chamber Birds," at page 286 

 mentions an instance where a friend of his (Dr. Jassay, of 

 Frankfort-on-the-Maine) succeeded in producing mules between 

 a bullfinch and canary, but I have never seen a well-authenti- 

 cated specimen of this cross. I know the birds pair readily 

 enough, but their eggs, so far as my experience goes, never 

 prove fruitful I have seen two birds, said to be hybrids 



