CANARY BIRDS. 15 



be much valued, and commands a high price. And 

 yet, nearly connected as they are, the ^Canary is 

 entirely of foreign origin, being a native of the 

 Canaries (from whence they took their name), a 

 cluster of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, near the 

 coast of Africa. They are very indifferent flyers, 

 which may account for their never having migrated 

 like other birds, and been thus occasionally found in 

 their wild state in other countries. They accordingly, 

 for a long time, remained unknown in Europe; in- 

 deed, it was not till the enterprising reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth, about three hundred years ago, when so 

 many of our now common fruits and vegetables, 

 such as nectarines, potatoes, &c., and even poultry, 

 such as turkeys, &c., first found their w r ay into 

 England, that Canaries were introduced; and they 

 were then, for a time, so prized and scarce, that none 

 but the most wealthy could purchase them. But 

 the desire of having them seems rapidly to have 

 spread, for not long after, the Spaniards found them 

 so profitable a trade, that an order was issued for 

 either destroying all the hens that were taken, or 

 setting them at liberty, that the breed might be 

 confined to the islands. The trade in Canary birds 

 is now much greater than it was then, though en- 

 tirely removed from the original spot. They are 

 reared irv Germany and other parts of Europe, by 

 people who bring them over to this country in great 

 numbers, every Spring. 



About thirty years ago, a very industrious people, 

 the Tyrolese, were the chief providers. They brought 

 over every year nearly two thousand, which they 

 carried all the way in cages on their backs, and 



