BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 175 



being deeper in the yellow round the bill and 

 eye, and on the breast and edge of the wing, pa - 

 ticularly the false wing ; he is also rather less, 

 and more slender in form towards the tail. 



The fancy, or spangled bird, has a tuft of fea- 

 thers on its head, with a gi'oove in the centre, — 

 the feathers of the tuft bending or inclining from 

 the middle to the sides. — This tuft is of fine gam- 

 boge-yellow; the throat, breast, and under parts 

 the same; and the neck, back, and wings are 

 beautifully waved and mottled with different tints 

 of blackish grey, passing into very pale purplish- 

 grey, or what bird-fanciers term agate colour ; the 

 tail is blackish-grey. The bill, legs, and feet are 

 of the same colour as those of the gay canary. 

 The cock-bird is altogether much brighter in his 

 plumage, but best distinguished fi'om the female 

 by his shape, which is more slender towards the 

 tail. 



Song. 



It is difficult, at the present day, to distinguish 

 what originally were the natural notes of this 

 bird, as most canaries are now brought up under 



