THE CANARY BIRD. 73 



they employ the nightingale as master musician to the 

 whole flock of Canaries, and it is this which gives 

 some foreign birds a different tone of voice from those 

 bred in this country. 



These little birds are exceedingly timid, and some 

 of them are so sensitive as to fall down and appear as 

 if dead, when frightened. Dr. Darwin relates an 

 anecdote of one which used to faint away when its 

 cage was cleaned. 



Being at a friend's house where a Canary bird was 

 kept, he was told that it always fainted away every 

 time its cage was cleaned. The Dr. desired to see 

 the experiment. The cage being taken down, and 

 the bottom drawn out, the bird began to tremble, and 

 turned white about the root of the bill Soon after, it 

 opened its mouth, as if for breath, and breathed quick; 

 it then stood up on the perch, hung down its wings, 

 spread its tail, closed its eyes, and appeared quite 

 stiff and motionless for nearly half an hour. It then 

 with much trembling and panting, gradually came to 

 itself again. Similar instances it is believed, are not 

 uncommon. 



The following anecdote is taken from Mr. Bingley's 

 Animal Biography, and serves to show, how much so 

 simple an animal as the Canary Bird, can be taught 

 by time and perseverance. 



In the month of May, 1820, says Mr. Bingley, a 

 Frenchman, named Dujon, exhibited in London twen- 

 ty-four Canary Birds, some of which, he said, were 

 from eighteen to twenty-five years old. These birds 

 performed some very extraordinary feats at the com- 

 mand of their master. 



