40 THE CANARY BIRD. 



SIN&ING. 



No certain rules can be laid down with re- 

 gard to the singing of the Canary, by which 

 all will be satisfactorily guided. All birds, 

 indeed, are agreeable in their different songs ; 

 the sky-lark for his vast compass of natural 

 notes ; the linnet, for his docility in imitating 

 regular music, and taking the wood-lark's 

 song ; and the goldfinch for his agreeableness, 

 and attachmatit to his house. 



Canaries with long, straight, and tapering 

 bodies, are found, by observation, to be the 

 finest in song, while, on the contrary, short, 

 thick-set cocks are found to be harsh and 

 abrupt in their notes, and to be deficient in the 

 power of their lungs. When it is desired to 

 make young Canaries good songsters, they 

 should if possible, be put under the nightin- 

 gale or tit-lark for tuition. The German 

 method, but we beg to doubt its propriety, 

 to produce fine songsters, is to cover the cage 

 all day, and expose the birds in the evening 

 to a strong light, when by making any noise, 

 they are induced to sing. 



It is better to place two or three birds to- 

 gether, as they will vie with each other. 



The Canary, when young, is easily taught, 

 by means of a flageolet or bird organ, to 

 retain and sing entire tunes. From experi- 

 ence, we would recommend the following 

 method, as best calculated to teach them an 

 air or tune : — Ten or twelve days after you 

 observe your bird to feed himself, take him 

 from all your other birds, and put him in a 



