276 HISTORY OF 



tribe have, continuing for some time in one breath 

 without intermission, then raising it higher and 

 higher by degrees, with great variety. 



It is this that has rendered the canary-bird, 

 next to the nightingale, the most celebrated 

 songster; and as it is more easily reared than 

 any of the soft-billed birds, and continues its song 

 throughout the year, it is rather the most com- 

 mon in our houses. Rules, therefore, have been 

 laid down, and copious instructions given, for 

 breeding these birds in a domestic state ; which, 

 as a part of them may conduce towards the na- 

 tural history of the bird, I will take leave to tran- 

 scribe. 



In choosing the canary-bird, those are best that 

 appear with life and boldness, standing upright 

 upon the perch like a sparrow-hawk, and not apt 

 to be frighted at every thing that stirs. If its 

 eyes look cheerful, and not drowsy, it is a sign of 

 health ; but, on the contrary, if it hides its head 

 under the wing, and gathers its body up, these are 

 symptoms of its being out of order. In choosing 

 them, the melody of the song should also be mind- 

 ed : some will open with the notes of the night- 

 ingale, and, running through a variety of modu- 

 lations, end like the tit-lark ; others will begin like 

 the sky-lark, and, by a soft melodious turn, fall 

 into the notes of the nightingale. These are 

 lessons taught this bird in its domestic state, and 

 generally taught it by others ; but its native note 

 is loud, shrill, piercing, and enough to deafen 

 the hearers. There are persons who admire each 



