MULE (OR BASTARD) BREEDING. 



107 



and destructive animals of a larger size, such as cats, 

 etc. 



Mule (or Bastard) Breeding. — It is notorious that 



canary females will, under favourable conditions, consent to 

 breed with birds of any other kindred finch species. It is 

 believed that such breeding can only be attended with really 

 good results when effected in separate cages. The same 

 applies to canaries of the Dutch breed. According to Lenz, 

 the modus operandi for breeding bastards is as follows : — 

 Seeing that, in the hatch, a male will sing but little, in a 

 disjointed manner, or not at all, it will be best not to couple 

 it with a female, until the latter begins, of her own accord, 

 to carry materials into the nest. This done, three females 

 should be placed into a cage divided into three parallel parti- 

 tions, but in such a manner that they cannot see one 

 another. For the sake of convenience, one may also place 

 the three cages in a row. As soon as the females begin to 

 carry, the male will be permitted access to one of them ; 

 then it will, by means of green herbs, etc. be, after about 

 six hours, enticed to the second, and, after a similar lapse of 

 time, to the third. The nesting-space must, of course, be so 

 arranged that he can, without inconveniencing the female, 

 wander from one to the other ; a habit which is not slow to 

 contract. A breeder of bastards whose communications 

 may be relied on, assures us that one single act of copulation 

 between a goldfinch male and a canary hen, will suffice for 

 several eggs, and even for a whole laying. The advantage 

 of thus separating the females consists in this, that they 

 cannot quarrel together ; further, that they are not dis- 

 turbed while hatching ; and lastly, that the male will pass 

 but little time with the female, and can devote his leisure 

 to singing. The male must, however, be hung in such a 

 position that he cannot see the hatching females. Even 

 when a male is set to nest with one female only, it may be 



