94 The Canary. 



are paired with male goldfinches. The song of both 

 the linnet and goldfinch mule is sufficiently pleasing 

 and attractive, while that of all others may be said to 

 be the reverse, which again is a great recommendation 

 in their favour. After all, however, we think the trouble 

 and risk of disappointment are scarcely worth running 

 for the chance of a prize bird, which, like angels' visits, 

 is certain to be few and far between. For one hand- 

 some bird you may safely reckon on a dozen ill- 

 favoured, if not positively ugly. In any case if any one 

 wishes to make the experiment, he must remember 

 that whether he select the serin, the citril, the siskin, 

 yellowhammer, greenfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, linnet, 

 or goldfinch, to ensure success, the female must always 

 be a canary, and that these must not be old birds 

 caught by the birdcatcher as chance may direct, but be 

 brought up from the nest by hand ; otherwise disap- 

 pointment and failure will be almost certain to result. 

 As an occasional experiment the attempt to obtain birds 

 of this kind will have its charms and attractions for 

 many, but for ourselves we confess we care little for 

 mules in any shape or form. A wise Providence has set 

 the mark of sterility on all such heterogenous offspring, 

 and while it has thus said, as though in displeasure at 

 the attempt to transgress its laws, " Hitherto shalt thou 

 go, and no farther," on the other hand, we read on the 

 first page of Holy Writ how, when God commanded 

 the water to bring forth abundantly every living 

 creature that moveth, and every winged fowl, each was 

 to be " after his kind." In this way alone He bestowed 

 His blessing upon them and commanded them thus to 



