280 THE CANARY. 



3. The mule between the Canary and the Greenfinch closely 

 resembles the next variety. 



4. The mule between the Canary and the Serin Pinch, if not 

 bred from a female Canary, which is either yellow or white, 

 cannot be distinguished from the common grey or green 

 Canary, except by its smaller size, and thick short beak. 



5. The mule between the Canary and the Linnet, if bred 

 from a, grey Canary, can hardly be distinguished from it, 

 except by the length of its tail ; if from a yellow or white one, 

 is variegated in colour. 



The other known mules are less common. 



Habitat. Except in the breeding season, the mules should 

 be kept in small bell-shaped cages, made of wire, which ought 

 to be not less than one foot in height, and eight inches in 

 diameter, and provided with two perches, placed crosswise, 

 one above the other. The females may either be allowed to 

 range the room with clipped wings, or be confined in a cage of 

 such a size, as to admit of constant and varied motion. This 

 exercise has a great effect in preserving health and strength. 

 In the small cages, adapted for one bird, the seed and water 

 vessels should be placed at the extremities of the lower perch. 

 They should be made of glass, and the seed-trough should be 

 provided on the outside with a covering of some sort, to prevent 

 the bird from scattering its food. For the same reason, the 

 seed-drawers for the larger cages are covered with a net of 

 fine wire. As cleanliness is the most effectual preventive of 

 many diseases to which this pretty bird is subject, the bottom 

 of the cage should be so constructed as to draw out ; and ought 

 to be cleared and strewed with river sand not less than once 

 a week. The cage ought never to be left in winter in a room 

 without fire, as these domesticated little foreigners have never 

 been inured to the severity of our climate, though in summer 

 they delight in fresh air. They always sing best in broad 

 sunlight, and when the natural warmth of the day prompts 

 them to take the refreshment of the bath. 



Food. Under this head, the most important, as regards 

 the management of Canaries, it may be laid down as a gene- 

 ral rule, that the simplest and most natural diet is the best. 

 The best food for Canaries is the summer rape seed; that, 

 namely, which is sown late in spring ; and neither so large 

 nor so black as the winter rape seed, which is sown IE 



