272 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



connection with a dark underflue. This species of blemish may appear to the uninitiated scarcely 

 worth notice, but in it consists the difference between Clear and not Clear. We have known 

 such discoloration to cover a considerable portion of the neck of an otherwise Clear Mule, 

 and yet to be so faint as only to be discoverable when the bird was rejoicing in the freshness 

 of a recent " tubbing," the slightest soiling being enough to disguise the true nature of the blemish, 

 something like a certain class of light-grounded carpets in which some housekeepers delight, 

 because they never "show the dirt." Where the underflue is dark, such a discoloration is gene- 

 rally permanent; but in the case of grizzled feathers^ in which the shaft and web are merely streaked 

 white, the underflue remains clear, and more especially with grizzled wings, the discoloration 

 is apt to become lighter with each successive moult, and sometimes ultimately disappears, to 

 induce which much-coveted result such feathers are persistently plucked as fast as they arrive 

 at maturity, and a really Clear bird is produced in one season. Of the morale of this pro- 

 cedure as concerns the comfort of the bird we say nothing; but it is a fact, and is a mode 

 of treatment not confined to Goldfinch or Pied Hybrids generally, but is also practised on 

 Canaries when an objectionable grey feather appears where it is not wanted, and which an 

 experienced eye at once sees is of such a character as to afford reasonable grounds for supposing 

 it will ultimately become Clear. The most remarkable instance of reversion from a Dark to 

 Clear form which has come under our observation was that of Mr. Spence's famous Linnet- 

 and-Canary Mule, a portrait of which appears in our coloured illustration. This bird was originally 

 very much marked on the skull, cheeks, and neck, and was also ticked on the saddle, but in the 

 course of time replaced the whole of these dark feathers with perfectly clear plumage, the eyes 

 and wings alone remaining dark. 



There is nothing fresh to offer in the way of general management of young Mules, which 

 in no respect differs from that observed in the rearing of Canaries, cayenne-feeding and every 

 other " move " being applied with telling effect ; and as not much is to be gained by flighting 

 and tailing, these practices are not much in vogue, indeed, except for the purpose of adding 

 colour to the bloom on the margin of the wing, nothing is gained by a practice now 

 becoming more honoured in the breach than in the observance. 



We pass on to a brief consideration of some other Canary Hybrids, chief among which 

 are Linnet-and-Canary Mules, and we need scarcely say that by Linnet we mean the common 

 Brown Linnet, or Linnet proper. These are bred precisely in the same manner as Goldfinch 

 Mules, the Linnet pairing readily with the Canary under ordinary conditions. The bulk of 

 these Hybrids also are Dark Selfs, bearing a strong resemblance to the parent Finch, and 

 are not, except when the latent Canary elements are brought to the surface under the 

 magic influence of cayenne, particularly showy birds. A "fed" specimen, however, if bred 

 from a colour-hen and possessed of size, is very beautiful, developing in the Jonque form a rich, 

 ruddy umber, its glistening breast showing up the Linnet pencillings in beautiful relief. The 

 usual Pied form is of the irregularly-variegated type, the blotches being patches of Linnet 

 feather. Anything like marking is exceedingly rare, and is seldom found in the shape of 

 decided eye-marks ; indeed, we do not remember having met with more than two " four- 

 marked " Linnet Mules in the course of ten years, the general form of the most noted 

 specimens being an approach to Clear, of which there are several now in exhibition. Mr. 

 Stevens's celebrity, which appears in our plate, has only about seven dark feathers visible. It 

 and Mr. Spence's bird have each taken not less than a hundred prizes, and are unique 

 specimens, the equal of which may probably never be seen again. We may add that most 

 of the Variegated Linnet Mules are Buffs; a few Jonques have appeared, but the colour is 



