Chap. VIII. CANARY BIRD. 31 J 



The Canary Bird. 



As this bird has been recently domesticated, namely, within 

 the last 350 years, its variability deserves notice. It has been 

 crossed with nine or ten other species of Fringillidse, and 

 some of the hybrids are almost completely fertile ; but we 

 have no evidence that any distinct breed has originated from 

 such crosses. Notwithstanding the modern domestication of 

 the canary, many varieties have been produced ; even before 

 the year 1718 a list of twenty-seven varieties was published 

 in France, 46 and in 1779 a long schedule of the desired quali- 

 ties was printed by the London Canary Society, so that 

 methodical selection has been practised during a considerable 

 period. The greater number of the varieties differ only in 

 colour and in the markings of their plumage. Some breeds 

 however, differ in shape, such as the hooped or bowed canaries, 

 and the Belgian canaries with their much elongated bodies. 

 Mr. Brent 47 measured one of the latter and found it eight 

 inches in length, whilst the wild canary is only five and a 

 quarter inches long. There are top-knotted canaries, and it is 

 a singular fact that, if two top-knotted birds are matched, the 

 young, instead of having very fine top-knots, are generally 

 bald, or even have a wound on their heads. 48 It would 

 appear as if the top -knot were due to some morbid condition, 

 which is increased to an injurious degree when two birds in 

 this state are paired. There is a feather-footed breed, and 

 another with a kind of frill running down the breast. One 

 other character deserves notice from being confined to one 

 period of life, and from being strictly inherited at the same 

 period ; namely, the wing and tail feathers in prize canaries 

 being black, " but this colour is retained only until the first 

 moult; once moulted, the peculiarity ceases." 49 Canaries 



46 Mr. B. P. Brent, 'The Canarv, <8 Bechstein, ' Naturgesch. dsr Stu- 

 British Finches,' &c, pp. 21, 30. benvogel,' 1840, s. 243; see s. 252, on 



47 'Cottage Gardener,' Dec. 11th, the inherited song of Canary-birds. 

 1855, p. 184: an account is here With respect to their baldness, see 

 given of all the varitties. For many also W. Kidd's 'Treatise on Song- 

 measurements of the wild birds, see Birds.' 



Mr. E. Vernon Harcourt, ibid., Dec. 49 W. Kidd's 'Treat ire on Song- 



25th, 1855, p. 223. Birds,' p. 18 



