. Canaries, hybrids, and British birds in cage and aviary. CHAPTER XXXIV HYBRIDS RP:TWEEN TWO BRITISH BIRDS GoIdfinch= Bullfinch Ix addition to the more coniinon hybrids of which the Canary is one parent dealt with in our two previous chapters, there are the rarer liybrids produced by pairing difTerent species of British l)irds together. Chief aniiHig these stands the Goldfinch- Biillfiiuli liyhrid. beyond all comparison the most beautiful exani|)le of the wiiole class, and though one of our oldest crosses a good speci- men still ranks high as an exhil)ition bird. It is almost needless to desc
. Canaries, hybrids, and British birds in cage and aviary. CHAPTER XXXIV HYBRIDS RP:TWEEN TWO BRITISH BIRDS GoIdfinch= Bullfinch Ix addition to the more coniinon hybrids of which the Canary is one parent dealt with in our two previous chapters, there are the rarer liybrids produced by pairing difTerent species of British l)irds together. Chief aniiHig these stands the Goldfinch- Biillfiiuli liyhrid. beyond all comparison the most beautiful exani|)le of the wiiole class, and though one of our oldest crosses a good speci- men still ranks high as an exhil)ition bird. It is almost needless to describe this lovely hybrid, for our coloured illustration is a singu- larly happy and life-like delineation, and shows how reniarkal)ly the plumage and shape of the parent finches are blended in their progeny. The bird illustrated is a cock, a good specimen of this cross, and its beauty is not exaggerated, for in some very exceptional specimens the under portion of the crimson blaze extends even farther than shown, being finally lost in the blending with the brown on the breast. We had such a specimen in 1894, and exhibited it with great success during 1895 and 1896. The hens of this cross are clad in sober attire, and more closely resemljle the female Bullfinch in colour. In size this hybrid should be as large as a good- sized English Bullfinch, and some are a little larger. It resembles the ISulb finch in its quiet demeanour and generally " old-fashioned " deport- ment, showing but little of the restlessness native to most Goldfinches. Its song is low, very sweet, and continuous, as distinct from a jerky, snatchy style of vocalisation. This is anotlier of our oldest hybrids, and so handsome that we are surprised that more are not bred. A glance at I lie specimen jiortrayed on our coloured plate will give the reader an excellent idea of what a good specimen is like. The rich vermilion tint of the breast, throat, cheeks, and forehead is marvellous, taking stronglj' after
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