108 



CANARY .BIRDS. 



lured away while the latter is hatching, and may be put in- 

 to a separate cage. This separation of the sexes is always 

 necessary when breeding bastards, especially with gold- 

 finches, and still more with greenfinches, for the males but 

 too frequently destroy the brood. Opinions greatly differ 

 with regard to bastard-breeding, but it is generally estab- 

 lished that, with great patience, attention, and intelligent 

 care, very favourable and extremely interesting results may 

 be obtained. It should be observed that successful broods 

 have been effected only when canary-females have been 

 coupled with males of another species, while, on the contrary, 

 goldfinch females, etc., will much less easily nest with 

 canary males. (Instances where canary males have produced 

 bastards with goldfinch, linnet and other females, have, 

 however, been reported lately.) 



It is said, very plausibly, that bastard-breeding succeeds 

 best in the open-air. The cage is placed in a position where 

 it is safe from draughts, rain, and beasts of prey ; and the 

 birds are fed with such food as the males prefer when in a 

 state of liberty. For the raising of young— egg-food, soaked 

 bread, and chrysalis of ants, are likewise given. Good 

 results can only be obtained when the cocks are young and 

 have been taken from the nest and fed-up. Each of these 

 will, in autumn, be placed together with the hen, separately 

 from the other birds, so that they may get used to one 

 another. In order to obtain a fine bastard, who displays the 

 marks of his male parent, it will be necessary that the 

 females be of one colour only, preferably of a bright or a 

 whitish yellow. 



Goldfinch-bastards generally learn to sing well and 

 melodiously, and are persevering. Such as are marked 

 with a "swallow" pattern, and have the head and the wings 

 of the same colour as the male, while the rest of the body 

 is of a clear yellow, are greatly in request. Those which, 



