^76 CLASS AVES. 



top of the neck and back, are grey on the edges and brown 

 in the middle : the crupper, sides of the head, forehead, 

 throat, front of the neck, and chest, are of a yellow green, 

 varied on the flanks with brown marks ; a whitish tint pre- 

 vails on the belly in its lower part, as well as on the smaller 

 wing-coverts, and on the under tail-coverts ; but the upper 

 resemble the crupper. An embrowned shade prevails on the 

 greater wing-coverts and quills, and on those of the tail. Their 

 external edge is yellowish green. The bill is horn-coloured, 

 and terminated with blackish ; the feet are brown. The tints 

 of the female are less lively. 



Such is the canary-bird in its natural state, the type of 

 those numerous varieties attributable to the varied influences 

 of domestication. 



It would be endless to enumerate all the changes which 

 such influences produce. No less than twenty-eight perfect 

 varieties are enumerated by connoisseurs, independently of 

 the wild canary just described, and of that which is fully and 

 entirely of a jonquil yellow, which is generally the most 

 esteemed. To enter into descriptions of all those, would 

 neither suit our limits nor our plan. But as the canary is a 

 bird in such general estimation, we shall hazard a few more 

 observations concerning it. 



Great variations of disposition and temperament are 

 observable among canary-birds. Some males are of a melan- 

 cholic and sombre temperament, apparently bloated, singing 

 rarely, and when they do sing, in a lugubrious tone. They 

 take an infinite time in learning whatever is attempted to be 

 taught them, never know it but imperfectly, and generally 

 forget it after the first moulting, or the first malady with 

 which they are seized. They are so much chagrined at being 

 covered up from the light, during the period of instruction, 

 that they often perish. To draw them out of this apathy , 

 old canaries are brought as their instructors ; and these being 



