Varieties of Gold pinch Mules. 261 



indicative of the general character of the Dark Buff or Mealy bird, the distinction between the 

 two consisting in the colour, which in the Buff is less brilliant, and if we say greyer we shall 

 perhaps include the whole in one word. The face is also more Goldfinch-like in type, the blaze 

 not extending so far nor changing so much in character. 



The first departure from the Dark form is the Variegated, in which more or less of clean, 

 if not clear feather, is present, the slightest break rendering a bird eligible for the class. 

 This variegation assumes endless forms, knowing no law, and having no special value in 

 themselves, though some are very pretty. Among these Variegated birds are to be found 

 splendid examples of form, colour, and feather — birds in which every valuable property short 

 of technical marking is displayed in excess. They are judged entirely for their colour, its purity, 

 brilliancy, and extent, and every good quality except marking. For a bird to have any chance 

 of winning in this class in good company, it should at least have a clean breast, and if it 

 have, in addition, a clean cap, with simply heavy cheek-marks in place of pencilled eyes, 

 and a dark saddle, it may be regarded as a good average specimen ; and, better still, if it have 

 a clean tail, though neither this, nor any other form of irregular variegation, has any value. 

 The whole matter resolves itself into this : a display of clean feather being required, a 

 clean breast is better than a foul one, and a clean cap than a dark skull, and so on, never 

 forgetting that in this class rich colour and fine texture will at any time outweigh more 

 perfect marking, if still imperfect and unsupported by colour and generally superior style. 

 Natural beauty, as distinct from technical display, is the actual standard, and implies some 

 degree of regularity pleasing to the eye, though amenable to no rule. A combination of 

 Goldfinch and Canary traits, sometimes singular in their beauty, also has some weight. For 

 instance, we have seen a clean breast with a clean-cut Cheveral throat — that is, with the 

 blaze lined off from each side of the lower mandible as evenly as is seen in a Cheveral 

 or White-throated Goldfinch. We do not say that these and similar peculiarities come under 

 the head of standard show-points, but they all assist in giving character to a bird measured 

 by no special positive properties other than display of clear colour and disposition to approach 

 something resembling the recognised forms of standard technical marking. These observations 

 apply principally to the heavier types of variegation, for when it comes to a case in which 

 a Mule is almost, but not quite, up to the form demanded by the rules binding on Evenly- 

 marked birds, an average display of colour and general good quality will give it a prominent 

 place in this class, so valuable is approximate excellence in marking when once it passes the 

 line separating it from mere variegation. In this category, also, are placed Unevenly-marked 

 Mules, though free from the blemishes in body-feather which determine variegation as distinct 

 from marking. There is nothing inconsistent in their being so placed, since they meet on a 

 common footing, and are judged, not for their peculiar property, but for the general good 

 qualities shared alike by all. They start from one and the same mark, and run on even 

 terms, which, it will be remembered, is not the case in the corresponding grouping of Canaries 

 belonging to the Colour schools. 



Condensing this, the rule will be seen to be that this class of Mule is valued, in its 

 darker forms, according to its display of colour and quality, and, in the lighter, for its approach 

 to an approved style of marking. There is yet a third shape in which the bond fide Variegated 

 bird appears, which belongs to neither of the above forms, and that is when the entire body, 

 wings, and tail are clear, but the bird is disfigured by, not a simple tick, but a distinct patch 

 or blotch of dark colour on the head or neck. Such Mules are difficult to place ; but assuming 

 the body-colour and texture of feather to be unimpeachable, the fact of such a display of 



