48 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



since many of the handsomest Mules ever shown were bred by men who never 

 owned a Cheveral. 



The male Finch and female Canary are usually mated ; and the reason is, that, 

 from such an alliance, there is a greater chance of obtaining Mules resembling the 

 Canary, and also because the female Canary, being more domesticated, is likely to 

 be a more reliable mother : but the female Goldfinch will breed readily in confine- 

 ment mated with a male Canary, or with a Goldfinch, or even with a Linnet, Siskin, 

 or Bullfinch. Since such Hybrids are usually very dark, they are not considered 

 valuable, and are seldom bred. 



Select the Goldfinch early in the season, so he may be well tamed, and, in April, 

 feed with stimulating diet, such as egg, maw-seed, canary and rape seed, and hemp- 

 seed. When the last tinge of black has disappeared from his beak, and it begins to 

 assume that delicate, transparent pinky-white color, it is time to think of putting 

 him with his mate. If there are several Goldfinches, they may be mated with the 

 females just the same as Canaries ; but, if there is only one bird in prime condition, 

 he may be " run " through six or eight cages. He need not necessarily be allowed to 

 remain long with each bird. If permitted to settle down with a single mate, he will 

 be very attentive, and at once accept the responsibilities of his position, nursing and 

 feeding in a most exemplary manner. There is some risk in leaving an untried 

 bird with the female after she lays ; as he may be inquisitive, and try to find out 

 what the egg-shells contain. If he shows such a disposition, he must be taken -from 

 the cage before the egg is laid : after it is removed from the nest, he can be returned. 



Hybrid-breeding is fascinating, and has great charms, as its results are so 

 uncertain : the probabilities are, that all the Mules will be dark, ordinary-colored 

 birds ; the possibility is, there may be among the nest of fledglings a single 

 brilliant-colored bird, a bird whose wealth of white and gold is worth years of 

 experiments to obtain. 



Bullfinches mate with Canaries, and sometimes a handsome bird is obtained ; but 

 in this cross brilliant colors are not sought for so much as fine song. The Bullfinch 

 has a mellow, subdued note, produced through his wide throat ; and when the Mule 

 has the Bullfinch form and size, and is a singer, his tones are most delightful. 

 The brightest colors are obtained by mating the male Bullfinch with a light-colored 

 female Canary ; but as the female Bullfinch is very tame and a good setter, and is 

 more likely to mate than the male, the Mules are oftener bred from her and 

 a male Canary. 



Linnets and Siskins can also be mated with Canaries, and these and the 

 Bullfinch may be managed the same as Goldfinches. Nestling Mules should be fed 

 the same as nestling Canaries, with the paste made of hard-boiled egg both parts 

 and cracker-dust: crushed hemp-seed, and rape-seed soaked, so the hull is soft, 

 should be given when they are two to three weeks old. 



Canaries, like unfeathered bipeds, have their particular fancies ; and the male 

 you propose to mate, perchance may have set his affections elsewhere. If matters 

 are going on all right, place in the cage, where it may be easily seen and got at, 

 some deer's hair, washed very clean, and put lined wire nests, of the size and shape 

 of a bird's nest, in the platform of the cage ; these the birds will most likely pro- 

 ceed to line with the materials supplied for the purpose : should they not, you had 



