TJie Cananj-Bird. 255 



instruments. It accompanies us, and repays the pleasure 

 it receives with interest, while the nightingale, more 

 proud of his talent, seems desirous of preserving it in 

 all its purity, at least it appears to attach very little 

 value to ours, and it is with great difficulty that it 

 can be taught any of our airs. It despises them, 

 and never fails to return to its own wild wood notes. 

 Its pipe is a masterpiece of nature, which human art 

 can neither alter nor improve ; while that of the Canary 

 is a model of more pliant materials, which we can 

 mould at pleasure; and therefore it contributes in a 

 much greater degree to the pleasures of society. It 

 sings at all seasons, cheers us in the dullest weather, 

 and adds to our happiness, by amusing the young 

 and delighting the recluse, charming the tediousness 

 of the cloister, and gladdening the soul of the innocent 

 and captive." It breeds generally twice a year when 

 domesticated ; and it sometimes happens that the female 

 lays her eggs for the second time before the first brood is 

 fledged. The male then good-naturedly takes her place 

 on the eggs while she feeds the young ones, and feeds 

 them in his turn, when she sits in the nest. They are 

 very easily tamed, when brought up with attention and 

 kindness, and take their food out of the hand, often 

 perching on the shoulder of their mistress, and feeding 

 out of her mouth. The Canary-bird is sometimes, and 

 with success, matched with the linnet or the goldfinch ; 

 and the produce is a beautiful bird, partaking of the 

 talents and plumage of both. 



Canary-birds live twelve or thirteen years in our 

 climate, and sing well to the end of their life. 



The following curious anecdote of one of these birds 

 is related by Dr. Darwin : " On observing a Canary- 

 bird at the house of a gentleman near Tutbury, in Derby- 

 shire, I was told it always fainted away when its cage was 

 cleaned ; and I desired to see the experiment. The cage 

 being taken from the ceiling, and the bottom drawn out, 

 the bird began to tremble, and turned quite white about 

 the root of the bill : he then opened his mouth, as if for 

 breath, and respired quick; stood up straighter on his 

 perch, hung his wings, spread his tail, closed his eyes, 



