Ticked and Clear Mules. 263 



other light than as positive blemishes detrimental, but not fatal, to the intctests of a Marked 

 bird, though altogether inadmissible in one claiming to be Clear. 



Within one step of the perfection reached in the Clear or Clean Mule — we use the terms 

 in this place as synonymous — is the Ticked bird, generally understood to mean, as among 

 Canaries, one without marking of any kind on eyes, wings, or tail, and having no body-marks 

 except an indistinct form of variegation. This is the strict definition ; but it is usual to 

 allow a little licence, which we think might be still further extended with advantage to 

 this class, and without infringing on the spirit of the rules governing any other. To convey 

 our meaning in terms as brief and concise as possible, we must explain that the term 

 "Ticked" is usually understood to apply only to body-feather, but really includes two ideas. 

 A bird is said to be "ticked," not only when one or more genuine dark feathers show 

 themselves in such a form as not to constitute a bold patch or blotch on the clear plumage, but 

 also when any of its feathers, either body-feather or the large quills, are not more discoloured 

 than arises from a grey or grizzly appearance as distinct from entirely dark stalk and web. 

 The former is strictly a minute form of genuine variegation, but the latter is the true 

 "Ticked" form; and a technically "Ticked" Mule, therefore, may either be one in which 

 the variegation, though distinct, is minute^ or one in which what would otherwise be technical 

 marking is so faint and indistinct as to be entirely devoid of character : hence a clear-bodied 

 bird with wings or tail slightly grizzled is said to be " Ticked," although the original 

 definition would confine ticks within the precincts of body-feather. The corollary is that any 

 minute or faint, hazy, indistinct form of variegation whatever, whether found in the domain 

 of variegation proper or marking proper, is, practically, a " Ticked " form. Extending this 

 principle to the one other region in which technical marking exists, viz., about the eyes, 

 we find a home in this class for birds which otherwise are disfranchised and have no sphere 

 in which they can compete on even terms with other birds, conditions we regard as 

 indispensable in every contest. We refer now to such Mules as being in all other respects 

 Clear, yet have an indistinct marking about the eyes as undecided and wanting in character 

 as is the grizzled feathering of the wings of birds otherwise Clear, but which are by licence 

 eligible for competition in a "Ticked" class. We admit the force of the argument that marks 

 are marks, and that marked birds, good, bad, and indifferent, should be shown together ; but 

 our contention is that law is not always equity. Mules are not Canaries, and are not bred 

 according to settled principles which lead up either to colour or marks, and therefore Canary 

 law, as deduced from principles affecting those features, does not apply : they are, so far as 

 we have any control over their production, essentially the result of chance, dropping from 

 the clouds in all shapes in utter disregard of every attempt to mould them after any set 

 pattern ; and the general character of any Mule, so far as regards colour, is in no way 

 affected by the character of the marking in which it happens to make its appearance, as is 

 the case with colour-Canaries, some of which; being bred for a set pattern of feather, are 

 willing to sacrifice some other point to obtain it. Mules are subservient to no breeding 

 law, and we therefore classify them irrespective of any connection with it, simply grouping 

 them so that the members of each section may compete in respect of some property they 

 share in common, and not in respect of dissimilar qualifications; and on this ground we urge 

 that the non-representative forms of class (p), i.e., the minutely and indistinctly variegated, and 

 the non-representative forms in class (c), i.e., those faintly and indistinctly marked by simply 

 grizzled feather, irrespective of any reference to what trifling claims either may have to be 

 connected with the class from which it has been taken, worthless as they are in comparison with 



