Two Yellow Canarys

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SISKIN CANARY ATS Canary & Cage Bird LINNET-CANARY Bird Life &

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Aids to Amateurs, Hybrids.-No. 2. SISKIN-CANARY AND LINNET- CANARY HYBRIDS. THE coloured plate is that of two rare specimens of their respective crosses In fact, a clear siskin-canary hybrid is more rare than a clear goldfinch canary, the same remarks applying equally to a clear or ticked linnet- canary hybrid, though these are not so rare as the siskin. As regards clear or ticked siskin and canary hybrids, by far the best specimens of modern times were shown during the show season of 1908, and made quite a sensation. He This hybrid, as might be expected from its parentage, is one of the smallest of our hybrids, equally as active and full of chatter as the gold- finch hybrid, taking largely to his sire, the siskin, in this respect. does well on a diet of canary seed, with a pinch of German rape and a few white sunflower seeds, with the husk just cracked, so that he can nibble out the kernel; just a pinch of thistle, knapweed, or dandelion seed also as a tit-bit, or a little of any good wild seed mixture. It is well to withhold hemp-seed from this bird, as he, like his sire, is liable to get too fat. A linnet hybrid of the description given on our coloured plate, that is clear except for a little grizzly patch on the head, is, indeed, a rare specimen of this cross, and there are but few so clear. They are attractive birds, nice size and shapely, full of life, excellent songsters, and good exhibition birds. Of course, like all hybrids where the canary is one of the parents the larger and richer in colour you get them the more valuable they are as exhibition specimens; and, again, you want the two extremes in colour-that is, either all dark or as light as possible. A heavily variegated bird stands but a poor chance against either of the two birds mentioned. He does well on a diet of two parts Canary seed to one of German rape and a pinch of linseed. A few white sunflower seeds, with the husk just cracked, may also be given, and a half-teaspoonfu! of mixed wild seeds two or three times a week as a tit-bit; also green food in season, likewise wild seed heads when procurable, both for the siskin and linnet hybrids, and a very little egg food occasion- ally. Both birds should be kept in a box cage and allowed to bathe freely, when they will keep in the best of health. JOHN ROBSON. USEFUL HELPS TO BREEDERS. Coloured Plates. Four of various Hybrids, each, post free, 1 d. Hybrid Birds. By W. H. Vale. A useful Handbook by an acknow- ledged authority. Post free, Is. Id. British Finches. By C. Prior. management of Finches, with and seeds necessary for feeding. Gives useful hints on the illustrations of wild plants Post free, Is. 1d. Catalogue of other useful Books on application. These cards are also published as postcards, post free 1d. each. or 7d. per packet of six; or, together with the books above, can be ordered through any newsagent or from THE FEATHERED WORLD CANARY AND CAGE-BIRD LIFE } 9, Arundel Street, Strand, London. ing