BRITISH BIRDS. 263 



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THE CANARY FINCH. 



(Fringilla Canaria, I. inn. Lc Serin dcs Canaries, 

 Buff.) 



Is about five inches and a half in length. Bill 

 pale flesh red; general colour of the plumage 

 yellow, more or less mixed with grey, and in 

 some with brown on the upper parts; tail long 

 and somewhat forked; legs pale flesh colour. 



In this country they are never seen but in a 

 state of captivity. In a wild state they are found 

 chiefly in the Canary Islands, whence they 'have 

 been brought to almost every part of Europe. 

 Buffon enumerates twenty-nine varieties, and many 

 more might probably be added to the list, were 

 all the changes incident to a state of domestica- 

 tion carefully noted and brought into the account. 

 The breeding and rearing of these charming birds 

 form an amusement of the most pleasing kind, 

 and afford a variety of scenes highly interesting 

 and gratifying. In the places fitted up and ac- 

 commodated to the use of the little captives, we 

 are delighted to see the workings of nature exem- 

 plified in the choice of their mates, building their 

 nests, hatching and rearing their young, and in 

 the impassioned ardour exhibited by the male, 

 whether he is engaged in assisting his faithful 

 mate in collecting materials for her nest, in ar- 

 ranging them for her accommodation, in provid- 

 ing food for her offspring, or in chaunting his 

 lively and amorous songs during every part of 

 the important business. The Canary will breed 



