w- 



THE CANARY BIRD. 29 



space around the eyes, are always of a brighter yellow than 

 the rest of the body. 



The original grey color of this bird, which merges into green 

 beneath, has, by means of domestication, climate, and inter- 

 mixture with other birds, become so multifarious, that Canaries 

 may now be met with of almost every hue ; but grey, yellow, 

 white, blackish and reddish-brown, are the prevailing colors, 

 which are individually seen in every degree of shade, or com- 

 bination, and thus present innumerable differences. Those 

 which are of a blackish-grey, or greyish-brown, above, with 

 greenish-yellow beneath, like a greenfinch, are the most com- 

 mon, generally the strongest, and approach the most closely 

 to the original color of their primogenitors. The yellow and 

 white ones have usually red eyes,' but are more delicate. The 

 chestnut-colored are the most rare, and in strength and length 

 of life are intermediate. The colors of most Canaries consist 

 of a mixture of these, and that bird is the most prized the more 

 regularly it exhibits the combination of these various shades. 

 That which is most generally admired, at present, is one with 

 yellow, or white, upon the body, and of a dun-yellow color on 

 the wings, head, and tail. Next in degree of beauty, is that 

 which is of a golden yellow, with a black, blue, or blackish- 

 grey head, and similar wings and tail. There are also blackish 

 or grey ones, with yellow heads, or with a ring about the neck, 

 white, with brown and black markings, ashy-grey, almost 

 black, with a yellew breast, and white head and tail, all of 

 which have a prominent value. Others, which are irregularly 

 marked, and are variegated, or mottled, are less esteemed. 



HYBRIDITY. 



As remarked in a preceding page, the original color of the 

 Canary bird is grey, which merges into green beneath, almost 

 resembling the colors of the linnet; but by means of domes- 

 tication, climate, and intermixture with other birds, as the 

 citril finch and serin, of Italy, and" with the Siskin and linnet, 



