THE CANARY. II 



Aldrovandus describes the bird in his Ornithology, 

 which bears date 1610. 



Many authors assert that the island of Elba was 

 the first European ground on which a canary found 

 resting-place, having flown thither from a ship bound 

 to Leghorn, which foundered near the island. These 

 sweet songsters, thus set at liberty by accident, found 

 a congenial clime, remained, and bred ; and doubt- 

 less would have continued to do so, had not bird- 

 trappers hunted them so assiduously, that not a 

 single specimen was left on the island. 



From Italy the birds were transported to France 

 and Germany ; and from the latter place the whole 

 habitable globe is supplied. So we might with truth 

 say, that, among the musicians who come to our 

 shores to charm us with their notes, the largest 

 orchestra is that of the singing-birds. They require 

 very little of our money, and never demand an opera- 

 house as the only theatre worthy their performance. 

 A few dollars will buy one of these sweet singers, 

 and a few more will build or buy an opera-house for 

 his performances. He charges nothing for his sing- 

 ing, and is not fastidious as to his accommodations, 

 carolling just as sweetly in the attic of the tired 

 sewing-woman as in the boudoir of the fashionable 

 lady. He becomes a friend to the lonely, and a 

 comforter to such as are in trouble. From his cage, 

 as well as from the wildwood, he sings of the love 

 and care of Him without whose knowledge not one of 

 the feathered tribe can fall to the ground. Like 

 flowers, birds are a beautiful gift to a friend, with this 



