IV/Lv Canary. 41 g 



CANARY FINCH [Serinus Caiianus), Canary Islands. 



Fringilla Canaria (Russ), Crithagra Canaria, Dryospiza Canaria. English dealers' name — Canary Finch. 



Gennan name— " Wilder Kanarienvogel. " French name — "Serin des Canaries." 



The wild Canary, the progenitor of our household friend, ought to be one of the best 

 known foreign birds, but the fact is that we know very little indeed about him. It may be taken 

 for granted that the Canary-bird is the descendant of a green Siskin-like Finch brought from the 

 Canary Islands three hundred years ago. At present Canary-birds are sent from Europe to the 

 Canary Islands, and unfortunately very few wild Canaries are sent back. And even as regards 

 these I find the authorities disagree, for the African coast opposite the Canary Islands produces 

 several kinds of Finches belonging to the same family which are so similar" that it seems 

 difficult to determine which should be considered the true Canary Finch. A further difficulty 

 arises from the fact that bird-catching and the export of live birds is a trade on the African 

 coast, but little practised in the Canary Islands ; wherefore birds arriving from the islands 

 may, after all, be caught in Africa. 



There are many so-called Green Canaries bred now and priced by breeders for producing 

 high-coloured or curiously marked progeny, which resemble very much the wild Canary, who 

 looks much like a cross between a Greenfinch and Siskin. Those who have heard the 

 Canary's song on his native islands have praised it, but as a cage-bird the wild Canary is but 

 a poor songster, delicate of constitution, and of unpretending plumage. When, where, and how 

 the transmutation of colour was brought about is unfortunately not known. 



The Spaniards took possession of the Canary Islands first in 13 11, and again in 1478, 

 and by them Canaries were first brought to Europe, and the birds became highly-prized pets 

 of noble Spanish ladies. About the year 1550 a number of Canaries are said to have 

 escaped in the Mediterranean in consequence of a Spanish vessel being shipwrecked, and 

 these birds are supposed to have flown to the Isle of Elba. But this story seems somewhat 

 doubtful. What chance of escape have small birds in cages on board a shfp when it is being 

 wrecked .•" And the Spaniards were about the last people in the world to take compassion on 

 the little prisoners by opening their cage-doors in the excitement of a shipwreck. So much is 

 certain, that a book published in Germany in 1669 mentions that at that time Canaries were 

 already bred there in cages, and before the beginning of this century Canaries bred in Germany 

 v/ere exported in considerable numbers to England. Since then the cage-bred Canary has 

 thrown his wild ancestor so entirely into the background, that in speaking of Canaries we never 

 think of the little green finch to be found wild on Teneriffe and the other islands of the 

 Canary group, but of our household friend whose plumage has been so completely altered by 

 cage-breeding. 



