174 TKEATISE ON 



plenty of water to bathe in, — a new wooden cage, 

 and, if covered, it ought to be with new cloth, the 

 old being liable to attract moths, — ^and the food 

 and seed should be sifted and washed. If these 

 attentions are troublesome, they are nevertheless 

 necessary if it is wished to have a thriving bird. 

 When wild, it has already been remarked that all 

 birds require water ; and, for the canary, bathing 

 is so requisite, that, if a saucer or cup of snow be 

 put in their cage, they will flutter against it with 

 apparent delight, even dui'ing the most severe 

 winters* 



Description and Plumage. 



The length of this elegant little bird is about 

 five and a half inches ; the bill very pale flesh-red, 

 passing into reddish-white ; eyes chestnut-brown ; 

 the whole plumage is of a rich, deep primrose 

 yellow colour, inclining to gamboge-yellow ; edges 

 of the quills sometimes yellowish-white ; legs and 

 feet the same colour as the bill. This is the de- 

 scription of a canary bird by bird-fanciers called 

 a " jonquil," or " gay bird ;" the male of which 

 is distinguished from the female by his plumage 



