of this sort, but I am convinced that the one was a flecked canary with a malformed bill, and the other a mule between a canary and a greenfinch. For further information on the subject of hybrids, see the chapter devoted to "Mule Breeding." The bullfinch and brown or grey linnet will breed together, but their produce are rather raræ aves than specimens of elegance. I have likewise seen a bird exhibited as a hybrid between a yellow-hammer and a canary. I examined it very carefully and could trace no characteristics of the last-mentioned species. It appeared to me to be a yellow-hammer pure and simple. I have never observed any amatory tendency to exist between the yellow-hammer and canary, but the reverse. CHAPTER XXV. WASHING CANARIES. To the uninitiated, washing birds is not only a tedious but a difficult operation, and one not unfrequently attended with fatal results in the hands of inexperienced manipulators, but to those who have been regularly accustomed to prepare birds for exhibition, for any lengthened period, it becomes a matter of small concern, and a bird is toiletted and put through its ablutions without the least compunction or misgiving; but for all that it requires great care and skill to do it well and satisfactorily. If a bird is improperly washed it looks worse than it would do if it were moderately dirty. Fanciers who live in suburban residences or in the country do not require to wash their birds so frequently for exhibition as those people who live in large over-grown towns where smoke and dust appear as though they were component parts of the atmosphere, so that clean, sprightly, gay-coloured birds get so begrimed and so besmeared with dirt, that they are barely recognisable a week after they have been washed. In all such cases as these, birds shown for colour chiefly, or even where colour forms an important consideration, must of necessity be washed for each show at which they are intended to be exhibited, otherwise the labour and expense incurred in sending them will be entirely thrown away, for unless a bird is as clean "as paint" it has a meagre chance of success. A number of amateur fanciers nowadays rush headlong into the too prevalent practice of claiming prize birds, thinking, as they no doubt do, that it is only necessary to secure a few birds of this stamp, and send them to a certain number of shows, when, according to their theory and calculations, they will be reimbursed for their outlay by obtaining prizes. But they appear to forget, or entirely ignore the fact that these birds require to be properly prepared for each essay; and if they are neglected the chances are that they will be inevitably overthrown, for it is astonishing what a change in position a slight difference in appearance will effect at times. But this is not to be so much wondered at after all, if people would only consider the great difficulties judges have to encounter, now and again, in discriminating between the relative qualities of two birds (especially in clears), so closely is the race for honours contested in some classes. To give an instance in point, I may relate that I have known a bird take prizes at every show it was sent to by one man, yet when it fell into the hands of another, and was sent to compete among the same birds that it had hitherto defeated, with the same judges officiating, it got nothing beyond a mere commendation, and in one instance was passed by without notice. I refer to these facts in order to show plainly the necessity for the closest attention and care in washing birds properly and thoroughly, and in preparing them in a systematic and artistic manner, without which it is a waste of time and money to attempt to show birds. Before you begin to practise upon a bird it would be advisable, if an opportunity presented itself, to watch some experienced person perform the operation, as you would doubtless learn more readily in this way than in any other; but where it is not possible to do so, then it will be best to proceed in the following manner: First of all, supply yourself with a piece of good soap-I prefer old brown Windsor to all other kinds-two pieces of soft flannel, scrupulously clean; two or three nice soft cotton cloths, or old silk handkerchiefs, without spot, stain, or tinge upon them; two large-sized basins-washbasins are most suitable-two quart jugs, a large kettle full of boiling water, and a plentiful supply of pure cold water as well; a chair or two, and a stool made for a low seat. Some exhibitors use curd, Pears', white Windsor, or other soap. Pears' soap I have found to answer well, as also white curd, but if a bird is very dirty, thoroughly begrimed, then I advise the use of soft soap and powdered borax, ldr. of the latter to loz. of the former. Mix these ingredients well together and use in moderate quantities, as this mixture makes a powerful lather and requires a good deal of rinsing off to get the soap out of the feathers, but if well done it makes the birds washed with it thoroughly clean. Another formula, which is used for both cleaning and beautifying the feathers, is as follows: Curd soap, dried and powdered, loz., good yellow soap (also dried and powdered) 1oz., three Jordan almonds, skinned and blanched, orange-flower water and rose water 1dr. each; put the powdered soaps into a jar with sufficient water to moisten them, but no more, and place the jar in a saucepan of hot water until dissolved. When the almonds have been skinned and dried with a clean towel, pound them well in a mortar, and when fine add the rose- and orange-flower water gradually, stirring them with the pestle all the time; then strain, and add the soap as soon as it is dissolved, and thoroughly incorporate the whole of the ingredients. When they begin to stiffen, pour into a small tin ready for use. Catch the birds you intend to wash and put them in a cage altogether. If they quarrel, throw a cover over them; for, if they are show birds, which is generally presumed, they must not be permitted to pluck each other. Place them upon a table or some convenient spot near you; but, ere you begin to operate, you must provide yourself with another cage, which should be thoroughly cleaned out and washed, or well rubbed with a cloth, and the bottom of it sprinkled with silver sand; this is to put the birds in to get aired off. In addition to this, you will require a drying cage. Formerly I used a Belgian canary show cage, which I laid upon its side, with perches fixed crosswise inside of it, and I had it entirely covered externally with flannel, except the doorway, and firmly sewn all over it, with a long piece stitched at the hinge side of the door to fold over the opening cut out to allow the door to work when needed; this is a most essential and indispensable requisite, as the birds dry more rapidly in this way than in any other. Latterly, however, I have used a box which I contrived purposely for drying birds in, and it answers admirably; it is sixteen inches long, eight inches wide, and ten inches in depth; it is made with a solid wood bottom; the portion forming the body is framed with inch square laths, and then covered with flannel; one of the ends is done over with perforated zinc to admit the air, whilst the other has a framed glass door hung on hinges to let in light (the glass could be made to slide in a groove if need be), which enables the operator to see at a glance if all is right within, and likewise how the occupants progress. Two perches are fixed inside by letting two upright miniature posts into the bottom; these are three inches in height, and cross pieces are fastened to them with small screws from the top. When the drying box is not being used it should be folded in two paper covers and kept in another box or calico bag to keep the dust from it. : I will now proceed to describe minutely the process of washing First of all place the stool a short distance from the fire; stir the fire if necessary and make it a good one, and rake out all the dust from the bars. Having done this, place the drying-box or cage upon the stool to get it thoroughly warmed through; spread the cotton cloths, or old silk handkerchief, over it so that they may get well warmed by the time they are required; pour out some hot water into one of the jugs and some cold into the other. Next wash your hands perfectly clean, and having poured some hot and cold water into one of the basins in such proportions as to leave it at about 75deg. to 85deg. temperature, commence to make it into a soap lather; and having folded the two pieces of flannel ready for use, rub some soap on to one of these also. Some fanciers prefer to use a shaving brush instead of a piece of flannel to rub in the soap lather. I do not approve of this plan, for the reason that the hairs of the brush often get into the eyes of the birds and cause irritation, and, in |