Other Canary Mules. 273 



not sufficiently striking to render it valuable except on account of its rarity. The feather of 

 both is very soft and silky, and, like that of most Finch Mules, very compact. 



Next to these in interest, both as regards natural beauty and the numbers bred, are the 

 Greenfinch-and-Canary Hybrids, of which any other than a heavily-variegated form is seldom 

 or never seen. The generality are entirely dark, being brilliant editions of the Finch, in which 

 its dusky green plumage is wonderfully brightened and made very transparent, especially in 

 the natural development of the yellow on the wings, which maintains a character so distinctive 

 as to indicate the parentage at a glance. The example in the coloured illustration, also the 

 property of Mr. Stevens, is a faithful delineation of the finest specimen of his day, and but 

 for the distinctive wing and a suggestive hue on the darker parts might be mistaken for a 

 Canary. 



The Hybrids produced by the union of the Siskin with the Canary are also pretty 

 birds, mostly resembling enlarged and brilliantly-feathered examples of the Finch. Some few 

 of them are pied to the extent of a few light feathers in the wings and tail, and we have met 

 with a few rare exceptions in which the pied form of plumage has extended in an irregular 

 way to the body. There is probably no reason why a more regular form of marking should 

 not occur both in this and the last-mentioned Mule, if sufficient numbers were bred to embrace 

 the possible chances ; but neither is so strikingly beautiful nor so generally attractive as to 

 commend itself to the fancier's attention, and anything like systematic breeding of them has 

 never been followed up. The Siskin itself is an engaging little cage-bird, though we cannot 

 say that the Greenfinch is a very popular favourite : neither holds the same place as a household 

 pet as does the Goldfinch or Linnet, and to this fact, perhaps, as much as to any other, is to 

 be attributed the scarcity of these and other still less interesting Hybrids; since few breeders, 

 except those who take up Hybrid-breeding for its own sake, apart from producing extraordinary 

 specimens for show purposes, would be at the trouble to procure the necessary material, which, 

 in the case of the more popular Finches, is at command in nearly every room. From any view, 

 however, it is a most interesting pursuit, and one in which those who do not take much interest 

 in Canary-breeding will find ample scope for amusement, in addition to the chances of unearthing 

 a valuable nugget. 



In addition to the more common Hybrids of which the Canary is one parent, there are 

 the rarer Finch-and-Finch Mules, by which we mean the Hybrids produced by pairing different 

 varieties of our native British Finches. Chief among these stands the BuUfinch-and-Goldfinch 

 Mule, beyond all compare the most beautiful example of the whole class, and also occupying 

 the highest place as an exhibition-bird. It is almost needless to give any description of this 

 lovely bird, in the face of our coloured illustration, which is a singularly happy and life-like 

 delineation of one of the most characteristic specimens which has graced our public exhibitions 

 for some years, and was bred by Mr. J. Drake, Ipswich. An examination of and comparison 

 between the Mule and the parent Finches, as depicted in our illustrations, in which is seen 

 life-like truth without artistic liberty, will show how remarkably the plumage and configuration 

 of each are blended in the progeny. The plate represents the cock-bird ; the hens are clad 

 in sober attire, and more closely resemble the female Bullfinch. In size a good specimen is as 

 large as an ordinary English Bullfinch, which it resembles in its quiet demeanour and generally 

 "old-fashioned" deportment, having but little of the restlessness native to many, though not all 

 Goldfinches. Its song is low, very sweet, and continuous, as distinct from a jerky, snatchy style 

 of vocalisation. It is a hardy bird, and content with plain fare, though not averse to dainty 

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