THE CANARY. 



345 



Several species are knovm, inhabiting the southern country, as the Mexican and the 

 Gaudeloupe Snow Birds. 



Allied to the preceding are numerous species of Towhees. 



The Chewiitk, or Towhee {Pqnlo erythropthalmus) is the more familiar species in New 

 England and the Northern States. It is quickly recognized, if present, by its curious habit of 

 scratching among the dried leaves of the forest. 



Four other species are known. One, the Oregon Towhee, inhabits the far west, on the 

 Pacific slope. Another is the Gaudeloupe Towhee, inhabiting the extreme southern limits of 

 North America. Others aud varieties are found in the canons of Colorado, and in California. 

 The Towhees are especially interesting birds ; are shapely, and though the plumage is sober 

 in color, it is nevertheless pleasing. 



The cheery, busy Northern Towhee, as he is seen and heard scratching among the leaves 

 of the forest during the fall months, is always pleasing. 



We must now pass on to another sjiecies, which everywhere has become so far naturalized, 

 that to many eyes it is even more familiar than the sparrow. 



TiTE pretty little Canary Bird, so prized as a domestic pet, derives its name from the 

 locality whence it was originally brought. 



Rather more than three hundred years ago, a ship was partly laden with little green birds 

 captured in the Canary Islands, and having been wrecked near Elba, the birds made their 

 escape, flew to the island, and there settled themselves. Numbers of them were caught by the 

 inhabitants, and on account of their sprightly vivacity and the brilliancy of their voice they 

 soon became great favorites, and rapidly spread over Europe. 



The original color of the Canary is not the bright yellow with which its feathers are gener- 

 ally tinted, but a kind of dappled olive-green, black, and yellow, either color predominating 



./c, j/iH/iM/ui-r 



WUD CANAEY.— Sen«K« cmuirtus. 



according to circumstances. By careful management, however, the bird-fanciers are able to 

 procure Canaries of every tint between i\\Q three colors, and have instituted a set of rules by 

 which the quality and arrangement of the coloring is reduced to a regular system. Still, the 

 original dappled green is always apt to make its appearance ; and even when two light-colored 

 birds are mated, a green young one is pretty sure to be found in the nest. For my own part, 

 I care little for the artificial varieties produced by the fanciers according to their arbitrary 



Vol. II.-44. 



