280 HISTORY OF 



foi-ward ; in which it differs from the rest of its kind. A]\ 

 these resemble each other so strongly ; that it is not without 

 difficulty the smaller kinds are known asunder. 



These are all known by their very large mouths, which, when 



Indifferent. The commonest mules are produced from the linnet, the green, 

 finch, and the siskin, and the most esteemed of tliese, for song and beauty, 

 are those from the male canary and a strange female. The mules from the 

 greenfinch are in general of a bluish colour, and the males sing very badly, 

 especially if the father be a greenfinch. The male mules from a linnet sing 

 much better, but their plumage is very ordinary. Those of the siskin are 

 small, and sing badly. Those from the bullfinch are susceptible of a perfect 

 education, and their plmnage is singular ; but this alliance rarely thrives. 

 The male feeds, it is true, like the canary, and pays much attention to the 

 female. But she dislikes and tlies from him. His cry, and the opening of 

 his wide bill, frightens her. It is necessary to choose a vigorous female or 

 male, which has been brought up with bullfinches, and has never coupled 

 with a bird of its own species. 



To have fine mules and good singers, they shouJd be of the race of tlie 

 goldfinch. This bird should be chosen robust, gay, ardent in singing, and of 

 a fine plumage. A goldfinch even taken in the net will couple, but he must 

 at least have passed a month with the canaries, and be accustomed to their 

 food from the moment he is taken ; for had he been previously fed on hemp, 

 seed, and suddenly deprived of it, he would assuredly pe^i^h. After coup- 

 ling, and when the young are produced, the goldfinch, whether cock or hen, 

 should receive thistle-seed from time to time, for these birds are extremely 

 fond of this seed, and it may be considered as their primitive and essential 

 aliment in a \vild state. Groundsel is also suitable to them, and may be 

 substituted for the thistle-seed when the latter is not mature. If a linnet 

 be chosen, it should be a male, for the experiment with a female is rarely 

 successful. Chaftinches and buntings are extremely difficult to make unito 

 with canaries. M. Vieillot says, that he knew but of one example of a fe 

 male of these species having produced fruitful eggs with a male canary. 

 From these facts it would appear that the siskin, male or female, will pro. 

 duce equally with the cock or hen canary ; that the hen canary produces 

 easily M'ith the goldfinch, less easily with the linnet ; that it can produce, but 

 not easily, wth the male chaffinch, bunting, greenfinch, and sparrow, aud, 

 very rarely, with the male b\illfinch ; but the male canary will not produce 

 easily, except with the female siskin, hardly with the goldfinch, and not at 

 all with the others. It appears also, from observation, that of all birds 

 coupled with the canary, the serinfinch, or green canary, as it is sometimes 

 called, has the strongest voice, and is most vigorous and ardent for propa- 

 gation. It would also appear that it is the only one whose mules are fer. 

 tile, which argues a close affinity, if not identity, of species. The siskin and 

 the goldfinch are neither so vigorous nor so vigilant. 



The mules sing longer than tlie canaries, are of a more robust tempera- 

 ment, and their voice is stronger and more sonorous. But they learn foreign 

 strains with greater difficulty, and always whistle them imperfectly. All 

 the young mules should be placed tuider old canaries, of a fine voice, aud 



