292 THE CANARY. 



of organ, less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the 

 Canary Bird has a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and 

 more memory ; and as the difference of genius, especially among 

 the lower animals, depends in a great measure on the difference 

 that exists among them, with regard to the perfection of their 

 senses, the Canary Bird, whose organ of hearing is more attentive 

 and more susceptible of receiving and retaining foreign impres- 

 sions, becomes accordingly more social, more tame, and more 

 familiar. It is capable of gratitude, and even of attachment ; its 

 caresses are endearing, its little humours are innocent, and its 

 anger neither hurts nor offends. Its education is easy, we rear 

 it with pleasure, because we are able to instruct it ; it leaves the 

 melody of its natural note to listen to the harmony of our voices 

 and instruments ; it applauds, it accompanies us, and repays the 

 pleasure it receives with interest. The Nightingale, more proud 

 of its talent, seems willing to preserve it in all its purity ; at 

 least, it appears very little to value ours ; and it is with the 

 greatest difficulty it can be taught to repeat any of our airs. The 

 Canary can speak and whistle ; the Nightingale despises our 

 words as well as our song, and never fails to return to the war- 

 bling of its own wild wood-notes. Its pipe is a master-piece of 

 nature, which human art can neither alter nor improve ; that of 

 the Canary Bird is a model of more pliant materials, which we 

 can mould at pleasure. This last, therefore, contributes in a 

 much greater degree to the comforts of society ; it sings at all 

 seasons ; it cheers us in the dullest weather ; and even adds to 

 our happiness for it amuses the young, and delights the recluse ; 

 it charms the tediousness of the cloister, and exhilarates the soul 

 of the innocent and the captive." 



This author enumerates as many as twenty -nine varieties, and 

 many more might be added, were all the changes incident to a 

 state of domestication brought into account. " The breeding 

 and rearing of these charming birds," says BOLTON, " forms an 

 amusement of the most pleasing kind, and affords a variety of 

 scenes highly interesting to innocent minds." In this country, 

 no less than in the old German " Fatherland," and amid the 

 green valleys of the Tyrol, many enthusiastic Canary fanciers may 

 be met with. There are societies in London for promoting the 

 breed of Canaries ; and amateurs distinguish upwards of thirty 

 varieties : these varieties are separated into two great divisions, 

 the Plain and the Variegated ; the former being called Gay Birds, 

 or Gay Spangles, and the latter Fancy Birds, or Mealy Birds ; 

 these latter are esteemed the strongest, and have the boldest song. 

 *Tonks, or Jonquils, is also a term applied to those of a pure yellow. 

 There is also a variety called the Lizard, the plumage of which is 



