264 Birds. 



edges of the feathers grayish ; the rump and breast more 

 yellow. The plumage of the female is much less vivid, 

 inclining to brown. Its song is trifling, but in confine- 

 ment it becomes tame and docile, and will catch the notes 

 of other birds*. 



THE CANAKY-BIED. (FringiUa,or Carduelis canaria.) 



As his name imports, this bird is a native of the Canary 

 Islands ; where, in his wild state, he has a dusky gray 

 plumage, and a much stronger voice than when in a cage. 

 In our northern countries his feathers undergo a great 

 alteration ; and the bird often becomes entirely white or 

 yellow. Of this bird, Buffon says, " that if the nightin- 

 gale is the chantress of the woods, the Canary is the 

 musician of the chamber; the first owes all to nature, 

 the second something to art. With less strength of organ, 

 less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the Canary 

 has a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and a more 

 retentive memory ; and as the difference of genius, espe- 

 cially among the lower animals, depends in a great mea- 

 sure on the perfection of their senses, the Canary, whose 

 organ of hearing is more susceptible of receiving and 

 retaining foreign impressions, becomes more social, tame, 

 and familiar; is capable of gratitude and even attach- 

 ment; its caresses are endearing, its little humours 

 innocent, and its anger neither hurts nor offends. Its 

 education is easy ; we rear it with pleasure, because we 

 are able to instruct it. It leaves the melody of its own 

 natural note, to listen to the melody of our voices and 



