CANARY BIRD. 631 



SECTION XII. 



Canary Bird. 

 Fringilla Canada. Linn. 



This bird is of the finch tribe. It was originally peculiar to 

 those isles to which it owes its name ; the same that were known 

 to the ancients by the addition of the fortunate. The happy 

 temperament of the air; the spontaneous productions of the 

 ground in the varieties of fruits ; the sprightly and cheerful dispo- 

 sition of the inhabitants ; and the harmony arising from the number 

 of the birds found there, procured them that romantic distinction. 

 Though the ancients celebrate the isle of Canaria for the multi- 

 tude of birds, they have not mentioned any in particular. It is 

 probable then, that our species was not introduced into Europe 

 till after the second discovery of these isles, which was between 

 the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. We are uncertain when 

 it first made its appearance, in this quarter of the globe. Belon, 

 who wrote in 1556, is silent in respect to these birds : Gesner is 

 the first who mentions them ; and Aldrovandi speaks of them as 

 rarities: that they were very dear on account of the difficulty 

 attending the bringing them from so distant a country : and that 

 they were purchased by people of rank alone. Olina says, that 

 in his time there was a degenerate sort found on the isle of Elba, 

 off the coast of Italy, which came there originally by means of a 

 ship bound from the Canaries to Leghorn, and was wrecked on 

 that island. We once saw some small birds brought directly from 

 the Canary islands, that we suspect to be the genuine sort ; they 

 were of a dull green colour ; but as they did not sing, we supposed 

 them to be hens. These birds will produce with the goldfinch and 

 linnet, and the offspring is called a mule bird ; because, like that 

 animal, it proves barren. 



They are still found on the same spot to which we were first 

 indebted for the productions of such charming songsters ; but they 

 are now become so numerous in our country, that we are under no 

 necessity of crossing the oceau for them. 



[Pennant. 



2s4 



