VARIETIES. 



11 



In Europe, bird fanciers, by crossing with 

 the long Belgium canary, have succeeded in 

 producing a bird of beautiful form and 

 symmetry, commonly called the French, oi 

 long breed. Those of clear yellow, mealy, 

 and high mottled yellow and green, being 

 esteemed the highest and most valuable. 

 Others, by crossing with less judgment, have 

 also produced a long bird, they are, however, 

 easily detected, their bodies being thicker and 

 legs shorter than those first mentioned. 



They obtained the name of French birds 

 from the fact, that most of these birds are 

 imported from Havre, although they have 

 derived their improvement from the Belgium 

 birds. They command high prices, some 

 having been sold as high as twenty-five dol- 

 lars per pair. 



The criterion to distinguish the French 

 breed from other large birds, is the tapering, 

 long shape of their bodies and length of legs. 

 These birds measure from six and a half to 

 seven inches. Full one inch longer than the 

 common canary; they are now fast super- 

 seding all other varieties in the estimation of 

 amateurs and breeders. 



In breeding the canary, great proficiency 

 is shown in judicious pairing. A Mealy bird 

 and a Jonquil being put together, the produce 

 will not prove a mixture of the qualities of 

 the parent birds, but the character of the one 

 or of the other will appear distinct, and the 

 produce of the nest will probably show spe- 

 cimens of each kind, Mealy and Jonquil. It 



