494 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
either as birds of passage or as permanent residents. They feed on 
various kinds of seeds and larvze of insects, the latter of which they 
obtain in the early mornings of summer and autumn by searching 
the lower surface of the leaves of oak, ash, and other trees. 
They inhabit indifferently the woods, gardens, or high mountain 
ridges. In the early days of spring the mellow, modulated “ tweet, 
tweet, tweet” of the Chaffinch is exceedingly pleasant to hear; but 
its monotony is apt to fatigue, for its eternal refrain makes it seem an 
affectation of gaiety, whence probably the French proverb, “(gad comme 
un pinson.” 
Fig. 212. Canaries. 
The Canaries (Fringilla canaria, Fig. 212) are only known in 
England and France as cage-birds, where they are recognised by their 
yellow plumage, more or less varied with green, although the facility 
with which they breed with the Linnet, Goldfinch, and others of the 
group, has introduced great varieties of colouring. Originally from 
the Canary Islands, they were first imported into Europe in the 
fifteenth century, and such was the charm of their song, added to 
their natural docility and gay plumage, that every One was eager to 
possess them. Buffon says, in his elegant manner, that if the Nightin- 
gale is the songster of the woods, the Canary is the chamber musician. 
Their race propagates, moreover, so rapidly, that the poorest can 
afford to possess them; for these elegant little creatures are to be 
found among every grade of society, pouring out their joyous melody 
