Points of Goldfinch Mules. 259 



with a short, stjong beak, while the beak of the latter has a larger base and much greater 

 length, more length, indeed, than many would suppose until made aware of the fact by 

 critical examination. The Goldfinch's beak also is very tapering, ending in so fine a 

 point that unless the bird has the opportunity of grinding it down upon some hard 

 substance, such as a piece of old mortar, it will require to be trimmed occasionally with a 

 pair of scissors. This Goldfinch form of head is indispensable in a good Mule, both on 

 account of the character it stamps on the bird, and also for other valuable Goldfinch 

 properties invariably displayed to greater effect on such a head than on one essentially Canary 

 in its formation. What these properties are we shall presently explain : here it is sufficient 

 to say that a good Mule should carry a Goldfinch-shaped head. The shape of the body and 

 general style of the bird will depend to a very great extent upon the style of hen from 

 which it has been bred, but a long, finely-built, erect bird is at all times to be preferred 

 before a small, chubby, sit-across-the-perch specimen, and size is in all cases a strong point. 

 The only feather-features it is indispensable to possess in every case are as much as possible 

 of the Goldfinch blaze or " flourish " on the face, and the bright yellow edging on the outer 

 edge of the flight-feathers. The tail, whether entirely or partially dark, will be found to 

 have the Goldfinch pattern stamped on it. Other features peculiar to certain forms of the 

 bird we shall describe as we come to them. 



The Dark self-coloured Mule stands first on our list, and is- the form in which ninety- 

 nine out of every hundred appear. Till within the last few years these birds were of no 

 value except for song purposes, for which they were, and still are, in great demand, as the 

 mixture of Goldfinch and Canary notes forms much more pleasing music than the unculti- 

 vated roistering of the pure Canary, whose larynx, we think, can turn out more noise than 

 any machine of its size. We may remark, in passing, that Dark hen Mules are entirely 

 worthless ; but what becomes of them all is a mystery. Possibly there is a market for them 

 somewhere ; and perhaps they may be useful to throw in with large lots when sold by the 

 score, something in the way in which a percentage of bad chestnuts given in with a coster- 

 monger's purchase increases the retail value of his investment. Variegated hens are of more 

 or less value according to the beauty of their markings, but they seldom find their way 

 into exhibitions unless of extraordinary merit, and even then are of comparatively little value, 

 owing to the absence of brilliancy of colour and the dash and commanding deportment 

 characteristic of the male bird. As a rule, the satisfaction arising from producing a good 

 hen is more than outweighed by regret that it is but a hen, and the only rent in the cloud is 

 the hope that the Canary which bred it may one day throw as good a cock. But with 

 regard to the Dark birds — the class we have now to deal with — the prizes offered for good 

 specimens at our exhibitions have led to their being bred in a much superior form than was 

 originally found among what was really only the refuse of nests bred for the off-chance 

 of obtaining variegation. The bird is now bred for itself from carefully-selected large hens, 

 and a perfect specimen is of more value than an irregularly-variegated one, though the latter 

 is, perhaps, much rarer ; but belonging as it does to a class in which even-marking is 

 the desideratum, its irregular marking, although a rare commodity, tells against it, and it had 

 better not have been marked at all than badly marked and imperfect in its way, while the 

 Dark self-coloured bird is perfect in its way, and, if a good specimen, is a bird of singular 

 beauty. The Jonques are the most taking in appearance, though a high-class Buff is a grand 

 bird, especially if carrying a good face. The Buffs are, however, for the most part, more 

 chubby in shape and deficient in length and style as compared with the Jonques. 



