THE CANJ\RY 159 



grey, the yellow, the white, the blackish, and the chestnut, 

 are the principal varieties, and it is from their combination, 

 and from their tints, that we derive the numerous varieties 

 that we now possess. 



Those canaries, that have the upper part of the body of a 

 dusky grey or linnet brown, and the under part the yellowish 

 green of the green-bird, with dark brown eyes, are the strongest, 

 and most nearly resemble the primitive race *. The yellow 

 and -white often have red eyes, and are the most tender. The 

 chestnut are the -most uncommon, and hold a middle rank for 

 strength and length of life between the two extremes. But as 

 the plumage of the intermediate ones is a mixture of these 

 principal colours, their value depends on the pretty and regular 

 manner in which they are marked. The canary that is most 

 admired amongst us now, is one with the body white or yellow, 

 the head, particularly if crested, wings and tail, yellowish dun ; 

 the second in degree is of a golden yellow, with the head, wings 

 and tail black, or at least dusky grey. Next follow the grey 

 or blackish, with a yellow head and collar ; the yellow, with a 

 blackish or green tuft, which are very much valued. As for 

 those that are irregularly spotted, speckled, or variegated, they 

 are much less sought after, and are used to pair with those of 

 one colour, white, yellow, grey, brown-grey t, and the like. 



The female can scarcely be distinguished from the male, but 

 the male has generally deeper and brighter colours, a head 

 rather larger and longish, a longer body, a more elegant form, 

 neck not quite so short, and higher shanks. There is a feather 

 under the beak, of the shape of a bean, placed lower tjian the 

 rest, and the temples and circle round the eyes are of a deeper 

 yellow than the other parts of the body. 



The length of the canary is five inches, of which the tail 

 measures two and a quarter : the beak, five lines long, is strong, 

 very pointed, and whitish ; the shanks, eight lines in height, 

 are of a flesh-colour. 



* I have observed, says Adanson, that the canary which becomes white in France 

 is, at Teneriffe, of a grey, almost as dark as that of the linnet. — Author. 



t It is a mistaken idea that the difference of colour in canaries depends on the 

 difference of food. The wild birds vary much more than the domestic, yet their 

 food is more uniform. The being domesticated, the want of exercise and natural 

 food united, may occasion an alteration in the colours of the plumage. My birds 

 have only very simple food, and yet they are not the less of various colours — AcTHo^ 



