2KS 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



GOLDFINCH-AND-CANARY MULES. 



GoldfincH-AND-Canary Mules, or, as they are generally termed. Goldfinch Mules, are, as 

 the name indicates, the hybrids resulting from pairing the Goldfinch with the Canary ; and if 

 we begin by saying that of all varieties of cage-birds these hybrids are among the most 

 beautiful, we shall only be saying what we have said before about something else, and will 

 probably say again when fresh beauties are under consideration. The truth is that every 

 variety is beautiful in its way, and we lessen our enjoyments just in proportion as we narrow 

 our field of observation. A true fancier is a true lover of Nature in all her marvellous works, 

 and is affected none the less by the most insignificant display of her handiwork simply 

 because certain individual forms attract his special attention. Not the least we can say of 

 the curious tribe of birds, the subject of this chapter, is that, apart from their cultivation 

 as cage-birds, they afford an interesting study from a naturalistic point of view. 



We shall proceed at once to their classification, and then describe them in detail, merely 

 premising here that they range from the self-coloured Dark bird through the many phases of 

 technical variegation up to the Clean bird, to breed which means immortal fame and Westminster 

 Abbey. For the sake of convenience we shall invert the usual system of arrangement and 

 commence at the base. A clearly-defined distinctive character of feather runs through the 

 whole, separating the two divisions of Jonque and Mealy in the most unmistakable manner, 

 and requiring to be seen but once to be recognised beyond any doubt. Plumage of a 

 nondescript character occasionally appears in some of the advanced variegated forms, but is 

 of rare occurrence, and is disposed of just as is a similar undecided type among Canaries, 

 according as it more nearly approaches one or other of the recognised fixed forms. 



Classification of Goldfinch Mules. 

 (a) Dark. 

 (d) Variegated. 

 (c) Evenly-marked. 



(d) Ticked. 



(e) Clean. 



A few words descriptive of the general contour and such feather-features as are common 

 to all will suffice for the whole, so far as these matters are concerned. In shape a good 

 Goldfinch Mule should resemble the Canary as much as possible, with the exception of the 

 head only, which ought to be long and " snaky," like that of the Finch. There is a great 

 difference in shape even in the heads of Goldfinches, and the practised eye soon learns to 

 single out the long beak and peculiar form of head which give the character to the bird so 

 much prized by fanciers, and it is this formation which should be shared by the Mule. We 

 will not stay to describe the exact difference between the head of the Canary and that of the 

 Goldfinch, but a glance at the coloured illustrations will show that the former is furnished 



