THE NATURALIST'S VISION 355 



almost as thoroughly domesticated as are the 

 various breeds of common fowls. At the present 

 day the chief reasons for confinement of these 

 little creatures is one of protection. Obviously 

 their small size renders them an easy prey to 

 other domestic animals, and were they allowed, 

 in their innocence, the liberty, for instance, of 

 chickens and dogs, I fancy the race, to say the 

 least, would suffer. However, when confined in 

 cages, canary-birds nest and breed at proper 

 seasons whenever an opportunity is afforded. 

 Besides, the canary is one of the few small birds 

 of the passerine group that has been bred in 

 captivity for a long period, so that they are no 

 longer suspicious, do not resent intrusion, and 

 readily allow their attendant to be familiar with 

 them, even during that period of peculiar sensi- 

 bility when the perpetuation of the species is the 

 paramount passion. It is quite different with the 

 various other birds enumerated, as having crossed 

 with the canary ; and, moreover, most fanciers 

 have very largely confined their efforts with wild 

 songsters, to males of the several kinds, because 

 song is the principal attribute that has attracted 

 fanciers to keeping birds in confinement. Even 

 where both sexes sing, the males are easily the 

 finer performers. 



To follow my argument, it would seem that the 

 crosses derived from the various parents sug- 



