58 



British Cage Birds. 



no means attractive in appearance, but they are valued on 

 account of their rarity, as they are both diflScult to breed 

 and rear. 



Siskin and Other Mules. — Many other successful crosses 

 might be mentioned, such as the Greenfinch and Siskin, the 

 Goldfinch and Siskin, Redpoll and Siskin, Bullfinch and Linnet, 

 and so on. 



Indeed, most of the Finches which will breed in confinement 

 will pair with other Finches of a different species under favour- 

 able conditions and circumstances ; but it must not be ex- 

 pected that they can be bred and reared with the ease 

 and readiness that Canaries and their Hybrids are : if they 

 could, they would soon lose the great intrinsic value which 

 is placed upon them in consequence of their rarity. Several 

 of the Finch tribe, such as the Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, 

 and Linnet, breed freely with Canaries, in which case the hen 

 should always be the canary. 



The Germans appear to prosecute the breeding of Hybrids 

 much more than we Britons, and their success is consequently 

 greater, and the result of their experiments more wonderful 

 and astonishing. The principal rules to be observed and 

 remembered in breeding Hybrids are — first, to use only such 

 birds as have been house moulted ; secondly, to choose those 

 that are in robust and vigorous health and good condition ; 

 thirdly, to satisfy yourselves that the birds you select for 

 the purpose display apparent affection for each other, and do 

 not disagree and quarrel ; and, lastly, to be sure that all are 

 supplied with the requirements necessary in the shape of 

 materials for making a nest, and proper food for rearing 

 the progeny when hatched, and that they are not in any 

 way disturbed during the time of incubation, nor afterwards 

 unnecessarily. 



