THE CANARY. 



The elegant little bird, which may so often be seen 

 in a gav-looking cage, or sporting about in the aviaries 

 of our countr}^ must not be passed by because of its 

 familiarity. Of canaries there are two distinct species, 

 the plain and the variegated : these are more esteemed 

 by amateurs than any of the numerous varieties which 

 have sprung from them. They are called the gay span- 

 gles, or meally, and jonks, or jonquils. 



A canary, a jonquil cock, used to nibble at his cage 

 till he opened it, and then escaping from its prison- 

 house, it would fly to the mantel-piece, where it would 

 place itself on a china ornament, flutter as if in the act 

 of w^ashing, and continue to do so till water was brought. 

 So docile was this bird as to come to the hand when 

 called, and hide trifling articles in the corner of its 

 cage, stopping and looking round as if to be encouraged 

 and applauded. But a favourite amusement was, to 

 perch on one of the branches of a tall myrtle, in a win- 

 dow where the cage frequently hung ; and so bold did 



