ON BREEDING HYBRIDS. 
61 
and aviary. In the former case, the Indigo Bunting not only nearly 
worried the Canary to death by its frequent attentions, but interfered 
with both nest and eggs. In the latter ease, he ignored her altogether. 
But, although I failed to obtain this hybrid, Mr. August Wiener, in 
“ Cassell’s Cage-birds,” states that, “ In the very rare cases where 
young cross-breeds resulted their colours were disappointing,” and 
Hr. Russ, in his “ Handbuch fur Vogelliebhaber ” (“Handbook for 
Aviculturists ”), says, “ I know that in one instance the hen laid 
Mr. Wm. Ramsay'. 
( Thirty years a hybrid breeder). 
fertilised eggs.” My friend Professor Scott, of Princeton University, 
assured me that he had bred this hybrid withont difficulty (see F. \V. 
for 23rd March, 1900), and that the Mules were green birds, not 
unlike a hen Indigo Finch, but rather smaller, and with more 
yellow in their plumage. 
It used to be asserted that it was impossible to obtain a hybrid 
between the Saffron Finch and Canary. This belief Yvas based 
partly upon the fact that the species of Sycalis (Saffron Finches of 
various kinds') lay eggs which resemble those of the Tree Sparrow ; 
in the second place, because Saffron Finches were walking birds and 
Canaries hopping birds ; in the third place, because Saffron Finches 
make their nests in covered places, but wild Canaries in the open ; 
