Correspondence.



183



in a satisfactory condition, and the back subscriptions still owing by

various members are coming in better. Donations for the illustration

fund are, however, always welcome.


The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks.


Rosie Alderson, Hon. Secretary.



CORRESPONDENCE.


ULTRAMARINE FINCH, ETC., OR COMBASOU.


Sir, —May I point out that my notes on this bird * should have been headed

Ultramarine Finch or Combasou, and not Long-tailed Combasou. Readers must

have noticed that H. ultramarina was the incorrect scientific term for Vidua

hypocherina, only casually referred to in the article. Whether this was my fault

or not I cannot say, because I have not my old MSS. by me. In any case, it is

as well to call notice to the error.


The notes on American Warblers, by Lady William Cecil, were a source of

interest to me. I have seen skins of many of them, and in an American bird book

I have, many are figured and talked about in a popular fashion, and I had often

thought how charming it would be to see or have them alive. I am delighted at

Miss Chawner’s success with Y.W. Sugar-birds, because, although not quite

absolute, to have gone so far is really “great.” Allen Silver.


THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE CANARY.


Sir,—I am much indebted to one of our French members (who, however,

does not favour me with his name), for a cutting from ‘ Le Cheml, Le Ponlailler et

I/Echo de L’Elevage Reunis ’ of June 26th, 1913, giving a short account of the

early history of the Canary, and referring in particular to a very early French

work on the subject by Hervieux de Chanteloup. My anonymous correspondent

has added a marginal note to the effect that the second edition of this old work,

entitled ‘ Nouveau Traite des Serins de Canarie,’ was published in 1713, and, if

this date is correct, it is evident that the ‘ Fancyer’s Delight,’ which was published

in 1711, the author of which claims priority over any other English work in

aviculture, was anticipated by an earlier French bird-book. On this our allies are

to be heartily congratulated.


Hervieux de Chanteloup seems to have been the first to suggest the some¬

what fanciful derivation of “ serin ” from “ siren,” on the ground of the fascination

of the song of the Canary, and Prof. Newton, in his ‘ Dictionary of Birds,’

accepts this derivation. I hardly think, however, that the majority of classical

scholars would follow Newton and Hervieux without further evidence, and the

‘ Oxford Dictionary ’ describes the etymology of the word as “ doubtful.” Besides,

the original Canary did not sing well. [The ivild canary has a charming song.— Ed.]


I must try to find a copy of this old work in the British Museum, for it

seems to be most interesting. There is, for instance, a delightful description

(quoted by “ Le Chenil”) of the arrival every spring and autumn of the Swiss

dealers, bringing consignments of Canaries from the Tyrol to Paris. They used



* P. 89, vol. 3, No. 3, January 17th.



