26 

 THE LONG BKEED, 



OR FRENCH CANARY. 



Tins bird is not as generally known as the common 

 canary, not being very many years introduced into this 

 country. We will, therefore, try and give a correct ac- 

 count of its origin and history. 



The canary may, as well as any other domesticated 

 animal, be improved in shape and size by a certain way 

 of mating them. The idea of this plan of improvement 

 was first thought of in Belgium and France — from which 

 circumstance they are commonly called French or Bel- 

 gian canaries. 



While the fanciers and breeders of Germany were 

 desirous of improving the so7tg, those in France and 

 Belgium were equally desirous of improving their size 

 and form. For this purpose they selected the largest 

 male and female for breeding : by this method, after 

 years of care and study, they were enabled to produce 

 these birds to the length of seve7i i?tches to seven and a 

 half; this, however, being the longest point achieved. 

 The general length of the canary is five inches. The im- 

 provement in length being conquered, their next view 

 was to improve their shape. 



For this purpose they mated those male and female 

 birds which came nearest the form they wished to 

 produce, the model of which was as follows ; the head 

 small and round ; neck thin, projecting in from the 

 back ; shoulders high, and the back from thence to the 



