35 

 FRINGILLA CANARIA. 



Syit. Nat. 321. 



THE CANARYBIRD, 



PLATE XXXV. 



A he Canarybird, though not originally a British spe- 

 cies, has so long been propagated in this kingdom, that 

 it cannot properly be omitted in an History of British 

 Song Birds. At what time they were first introduced 

 into England is not exactly known. Gesner, who wrote 

 in 1585, makes mention of them; and Aldrovandus, 

 in his Ornithology, printed, at Frankfort, in the year 

 1610, gives the first good description of them. Vid. 

 vol. 2. p. 355. 



What colour they are in their original native coun- 

 try, is not clearly ascertained. Writers seem to concur 

 in supposing them to be green and yellow, and to bear 

 a near resemblance to our siskin, or aberdavine. Al- 

 drovandus, in the place above cited, describing the 

 Canarybird from Gesner, says, " Avis est vulgaris pari 

 " 7nagnitudine, rostra parvo et in acutum tendente: alarum^ 

 " et caudce pennis totis viridi color," Sec. He has given 

 a small figure, which he calls canariainas, table 14, 

 Jigure 31. It is, however, probable, the Canarybird 

 was not known in England till after the time of Aldro- 

 vandus, though Willughby, in his History of Birds, 

 tells us, they were common enough in his time. 



But whatever they originally were, their colours 

 are so much mingled and changed by domestication, 

 and their number so greatly encreased, that to give 

 particular descriptions, would be an almost endless, as 

 well as unnecessary task. 



