V 

 EUROPEAJV SOiVG BIRDS. 



THE CANARY. 



„THE UNIVERSAL PARLOR BIRD." 



This bird has its origin from the Canary Islands, 

 where its color is of a greenish gray, but has, owing to its 

 domestication, changed into a much more beautiful 

 plumage. We now find some of a greenish gray ; 

 some yellow spotted, some light yellow, and some deep 

 yellow. The latter color is generally the most admired. 



They were first introduced into Europe about the 

 sixteenth century,* where their notes, particularly in 

 Germany, were greatly improved, by raising them in 

 rooms, where other birds, such as nightingales, wood- 

 larks, sky-larks, &c., &c., were commonly kept. Adding 



* The arrival of the canary into Europe is thus described, 

 A vessel which besides its merchandise, was bringing a num- 

 ber of these birds to Leghorn, was shipwrecked on the coast 

 of Italy, opposite the Island of Elba, where these little birds, 

 having been set at liberty, took refuge. The climate being 

 favorable, they increased and would have become natural- 

 ized, had not the wish to possess them occasioned their being 

 caught in such numbers, that at last they were extirpated 

 from their country. From this cause, Italy was the first 

 European country where th^ canary was reared. 



