THE CANARY. 



Description Sensibility. 



THE CANARY. 



THE canary-bird or canary-finch, was origi- 

 nally peculiar to those islands from whence the 

 name is derived. They appear to have been first 

 brought into Europe about the fourteenth cen- 

 tury, but they are now so commonly bred in our 

 own country, that they may be easily procured. 

 It is about five inches and a half in length ; the 

 bill is of a pale flesh-colour ; the plumage in ge- 

 neral yellow, more or less mixed with grey, and 

 in some with brown, on the upper parts ; the tail 

 is somewhat forked; the legs are a pale flesh- 

 colour. 



BufTon enumerates twenty-nine varieties, and 

 many more might probably be added to the list. 

 In the places fitted up for the rearing and breed- 

 ing these charming birds, we are delighted to 

 see the workings of nature exemplified in the 

 choice of their mates, building their nests, hatch- 

 ing and rearing their young, and in the impas- 

 sionate ardor exhibited by the male in assisting 

 his faithful mate in collecting materials for her 

 nest, in arranging them for her accommodation, 

 in providing food for her offspring, or in chant- 

 ing his lively and amorous songs during every 

 part of the important business. The canary will 

 breed freely with the siskin and goldfinch; it 

 likewise proves prolific with the linnet, and also 



