PASSERINE BIRDS. Ill 



till there were five in all, this appearing to be the usual number of a brood, though from time to time 

 we have found but three or four in a nest. The eggs are of a pale sea-green, spotted with reddish 

 brown, but are sometimes of a uniform colour ; they exactly resemble those of the tame bird, and the 

 time during which the female sits upon them is the same in both cases. The young remain in the 

 nest until fully fledged, and for some time after are tended by both parents, and fed from the crop 

 with great care. The Canary breeds usually four times in the year, but occasionally only three times. 

 In July the moulting season commences, after which no more eggs are laid. 



During the period of incubation the male bird perches upon a tree near his mate, and from 

 thence delights her with his song of encouragement and sympathy. It is a real pleasure to listen to 

 this pretty songster, as it inflates its throat and pours forth its lay, turning, as it sings, from one side 

 to another, as though to bathe, its glowing breast in the flood of bright sunlight. All at once it hears 

 the call of its little companion, and darts with responsive tenderness to perch at her side — indeed, 

 in our opinion this modestly-attired bird, as it sits surrounded by all the varied and delicious 

 blossoms of its native trees, is a far more attractive spectacle than its more brightly-coloured and 

 elegant brother, with whose appearance in captivity we are all so familiar. We do not deny that the 

 beauty of the objects that surrounded these Canaries had much to do with the admiration with which 

 they inspired us, and many a time they have caused us for a moment to forget that we were sojourning 

 in a strange land, their song exactly recalling the voices of the warblers we had heard at home. 

 Much has been said, and very varied opinions expressed as to the relative merits of the song of these 

 birds when free or in captivity, and for our part we consider that such as have been tamed in no way 

 surpass their brethren of the woods, either in skill or beauty of tone. Whatever trifling modifications 

 may be noticed, either as regards greater purity of sound or more artistic performance, the song 

 is unchanged, and proves that though the language of a country may be entirely lost, yet the notes 

 of these feathered songsters remain ever the same. We fully admit that our tame Canaries are at a 

 great disadvantage when compared with their brothers of the groves, for that which sounds delightful 

 in a dusty room, gains unquestionably a thousandfold by being heard in a spot where the singer has 

 God's heaven above him, and masses of roses and jessamine at his feet. We would, however, by no 

 means lead the reader to suppose that all wild Canaries are equally gifted ; with them, as with all 

 other singing birds, many degrees of skill and beauty may be observed, and some we have heard 

 would well stand the test of comparing their notes with the heart-stirring tones of the nightingale. 

 The flight of the Canary resembles that of the linnet, being somewhat undulating. In their passage 

 from tree to tree, the various members of a party fly at some little distance from each other, uttering 

 their call-note whilst on the wing. In the breeding season these birds live in pairs, but during the 

 rest of the year they associate in very large flocks, often, however, dividing into smaller parties, and 

 passing most of their time upon a chosen spot, spending a considerable portion of the day upon the 

 ground, and re-assembling after sunset to pass the night perched in the branches of their favourite trees. 



The capture of these birds is, owing to their great sociability, unattended with any difficulty, and 

 even nestlings will run at the call of a decoy. In the Canary Islands we have seen linnets or gold- 

 finches employed for this purpose with success. The snaring of this species should be carried on very 

 early in the morning, in such spots as are well watered and rich in fine trees. On these occasions we 

 have always found much interest in observing, from some place of concealment, the various movements 

 and lively gestures of the unwary little victims as they run to meet their fate, and have ourselves 

 seen from sixteen to twenty birds caught during a few hours ; of these the unfledged young formed the 

 larger proportion. The Canary is a restless creature, and must pass some time in captivity before it 

 can be taught to lay aside its wild habits. The birds we have kept began to moult at the latter end of 

 August, and some of them had not entirely resumed their plumage by the month of December. These 



