5^86 CLASS AVES. 



* 



Chaffinches and buntings are extremely difficult to make 

 unite with canaries. M. Vieillot says, that he knew but of 

 one example of a female of these species having produced 

 fruitful eggs with a male canary. From these facts it would 

 appear that the siskin, male or female, will produce equally 

 with the cock or hen canary ; that the hen canary produces 

 easily with the goldfinch, less easily with the linnet ; that it 

 can produce, but not easily, with the male chaffinch, bunting, 

 greenfinch, and sparrow, and, very rarely, with the male bull- 

 finch ; but the male canary will not produce easily, except 

 with the female siskin, hardly with the goldfinch, and not at 

 all with the others. It appears also, from observation, that of 

 all birds coupled with the canary, the serinfinch, or green 

 canary, as it is sometimes called, has the strongest voice, and 

 is most vigorous and ardent for propagation. It would also 

 appear that it is the only one whose mules are fertile, which 

 argues a close affinity, if not identity, of species. The siskin 

 and the goldfinch are neither so vigorous nor so vigilant. 



The mules sing longer than the canaries, are of a more 

 robust temperament, and their voice is stronger and more 

 sonorous. But they learn foreign strains with greater diffi- 

 culty, and always whistle them imperfectly. All the young 

 mules should be placed under old canaries, of a fine voice, 

 and fond of singing, to instruct them, and serve as music 

 masters. The same thing should be done with the young 

 canaries. There must be always, either in the aviary, or near 

 it, three or four old canaries that are good singers. Accord- 

 ing to the observation of Pere Bougot, there are more males, 

 among the mules than females, for in eighteen young mules 

 from a female canary and a goldfinch, there were sixteen 

 males ; but this fact requires further authentication, from re- 

 peated observations, before we can venture to generalize it. 

 These mules, as we have said, are stronger, and have a more 



