198



Correspondence



and what became of some of these hybrids was recorded in Cage Birds

of 20th September, 1930.


In 1925 and 1926 I reared quite a number of Cape Canaries, Green

Singing Finches, Yellow-rumped Serins, Zebra Finches, Bengalese,

Common Grey, Orange-Cheeked, St. Helena, and Cordon Bleu Waxbills,

as well as a nest of Linnets and Goldfinches.


In 1927 I mated a Cock Yellow-rumped Serin to a hen Boiler Canary

which produced three young, all having the yellow rump of the cock

and various other yellow and white markings in the plumage. Cock

Green Singing Finch was mated to a hen Cape Canary, 4 young reared.

These were pretty hybrids, showing the markings of both parents.

They were all strong, vigorous birds, with excellent vocal powers.

Cock Brown Linnet was mated to a hen Cape Canary. One young reared

—a hen—which strongly resembled the Linnet, except that it had

greenish yellow breast markings.


In 1928 I mated a Cock Common Grey Waxbill to a hen St. Helena

Waxbill. These hatched and reared a cock and hen, which I exhibited

at the Crystal Palace Show in 1929. This same pair again nested

in 1929 and reared 3 young. These were also exhibited at the Crystal

Palace. One pair of these birds went to Miss Bousfield and the other

three to Gamages.


In the same aviary a cock Common Grey Waxbill mated to a hen

Orange-cheek Waxbill, reared 2 young, which were also sent to

the Crystal Palace, but died upon arrival. A cock Brown Linnet mated

to a hen Green Singing Finch, three young reared. These three strongly

resembled the Linnet, except they had brighter yellowish green breast

markings.


A cock Cape Canary mated to a hen Green Singing Finch, two

young reared, strongly resembling the Cape Canary cock, with bright

yellow markings.


A significant fact was, that these hybrids showed most of the male

parent’s plumage, except in the Waxbill hybrids whose colouring

was more evenly blended.


A hybrid Yellow-rumped Serin cock was mated to a hen Boiler

Canary which laid five eggs, one of which was fertile, but did not

hatch.



