ORDER PASSERES. 281 



for him. The same observation is also applicable to the 

 females. 



The males, however, exhibit more marks of natural anti- 

 pathy than their companions, and cannot couple, indifferently, 

 with all sorts of females. If the female which is presented to 

 a male, does not suit his taste, all possible care and attention 

 will be of no avail to reconcile him to her. They will quarrel 

 every instant, and fight incessantly. Their antipathy conti- 

 nually grows stronger and stronger ; so that this ill matched 

 pair, if left together, will soon cease to eat, grow emaciated, 

 and die. To assure one''s self of this natural aversion, it will be 

 only sufficient to separate them, to allow them to repose a 

 few days, and then to let them both loose in a large aviary, 

 where there are several males and females. They will soon 

 be seen in a few days, each attaching itself to another, and 

 pairing with as much promptitude with it, as if they had 

 been always together. The mutual antipathy between the 

 two former is still observed to exist, for if any dispute arises 

 in the aviary, this couple is sure to be in the midst of it, 

 fighting on opposite sides. This antipathy is very remarkable 

 between canaries of different colours. If one of a brilliant 

 colour has lost his female, he will display a most invincible 

 aversion for a female of another and more sombre hue — such 

 as the grey. 



There are some canaries, but few in number, which do not 

 sympathize with birds of their own species : their antipathy 

 is so great, that they cannot be brought to pair with any, and 

 will die sooner than couple. These individuals always re- 

 main sterile and inactive. There are more males than females 

 thus constituted. They are usually, too, the best singers, 

 and the most long-lived birds. Forced alliances, especially 

 in such cases, ought always to be avoided ; the only result 

 will be fruitless eggs, and, not unfrequently, the destruction 

 of the individuals so paired. 



