228 BIRDS 



sitting well, it is customary to remove the cock and allow 

 her to perform her maternal duties unattended. The 

 young birds at all stages are fed and treated as are young 

 canaries. 



The most popular hybrid is the Goldfinch-Canary 

 Mule. As already stated, clear or lightly ticked birds are 

 the most valuable and are correspondingly rare. Such 

 specimens are often of the deepest yellow, but always re- 

 tain a deeper flush corresponding to the crimson face of the 

 male parent, and also the sharp, tapering beak. Hand- 

 somely marked variegated birds are common, but as ex- 

 hibition specimens rank below sound-colored selfs, which 

 are now given more attention than was once the case. Such 

 birds are of a rich brownish hue in general, with a tinge of 

 yellow below. The Goldfinch characters are seen in the 

 wings and tail, and in the orange blaze on the face. Self 

 mules should be as rich and deep in color as possible, and 

 must be free from light feathers throughout. The nape 

 is a particularly weak spot, a great many birds showing 

 a few small, light feathers here. 



The Linnet-Canary Mule is another hybrid which has 

 received some attention on this side. Clear or even light 

 birds are still more rare in this cross, the great majority 

 being dark selfs. These latter resemble closely the Linnet 

 father, but of course never show the red in cap or breast, 

 which this bird has before a molt in captivity. 



The Canary-Bullfinch Mule is the only one which is 

 commonly bred by pairing a cock Canary with a hen Bull- 

 finch. There is little difficulty in getting the birds to mate 

 and lay, but the eggs had best be transferred to a canary. 

 Fertile eggs are the exception rather than the rule, and such 

 hybrids are not common. 



Many other canary hybrids have been produced, chiefly^ 

 in Europe, but interest in their breeding is not great ii 



