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REV. II. A. MACniER.SON ON HYBRID FINCHES. 
(2) The Greenfinch has interbred with the Twite in Mr. Verrall’s 
aviary, but tbe writer failed to examine the offspring. 
The foregoing data prove that the Goldfinch produces hybrids by 
union with five other Finches, viz., the Greenfinch, Linnet, Siskin, 
Redpoll, and Bullfinch ; that the Greenfinch interbreeds with five 
species, viz., Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Twite, and Bullfinch ; that 
the Bullfinch crosses wdth four species, the Goldfinch, Linnet, 
Redpoll, and Greenfinch ; that the Siskin has crossed with the 
Goldfinch, Greenfinch, and Lesser Redpoll ; that the Lesser Redpoll 
unites with the Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, and Siskin. 
The writer is further informed that the Greenfinch has interbred 
Avith the House Sparrow, and the Brambling Avith the Chaffinch. 
He has seen the Tree SparroAV pair Avith the House SparroAv, 
though, the experiment Avas incidental, and no results followed. 
Bechstein appears to vouch for hybrids having been produced 
between the House and Tree Sparrow. 
Of all the foregoing species, only three are known to the Avriter 
to produce hybrid young in a Avild state, i.e., the Goldfinch, 
Linnet, and Greenfinch, each of Avhich interbreeds occasionally 
Avith the other tAvo. 
The above-mentioned Finches, Avith the addition of the Serinfinch, 
produce hybrid young (frequently entirely yelloAv) Avith domesticated 
Canaries. Of such hybrids, the most frequent is that between the 
Goldfinch and Canary. Such birds usually possess the dark 
striations Avhich characterise the flanks of the Avild Canary. Many 
Goldfinch and Canary mules are Avhite-throated, or “cheverels,” 
even though bred from ordinary male Goldfinches. 
The onlj' Canary mule that appears to merit a description here, 
from its great rarity, is that obtained by a union Avith the 
Bullfinch. 
Such a hybrid Avas exhibited alive in the Westminster Aquarium 
Bird ShoAv of November, 188G. Its shape resembled that of a 
“ GlasgOAV don” Canary, as did the tail Avhich drooped slightly 
beneath the perch ; the plumage Avas soft and fluify ; bill Avhite, 
tinged Avith black, resembling rather that of the Canary than 
Bullfinch ; forehead tile-red ; croAvn black, each feather streaked 
* Mr. Otty, of Norwich, has paired the Hou.se and Tree Sparrow, and 
bred from them more tlian once, but only one of the hybrid offspring 
has lived to maturity. — J. IT. Guknea’, Jun. 
