114 cassell's book of birds. 



peace, which is not always the case. The place in which the cage hangs ought to be kept tolerably 

 warm, but should the bird be exposed to a hot sun a screen should be provided. In winter the 

 females may be kept without injury in a room in which the temperature is below freezing-point, but 

 the male under such circumstances refuses to sing ; many experiments have proved to us that these 

 birds can endure extreme cold if only well fed, and provided with snow to drink instead of water. 

 Canaries should be screened from draughts. Some perfumes are very injurious to them ; one evening 

 we placed a blooming Orchis bifolia in a room occupied by three of these delicate creatures, and in 

 the morning found the two females dead, and the male so overcome that he was only saved by prompt 

 attention. The use of the common kind of lamp-oil blackens the feathers, but does not in other 

 respects injure the bird. As to the most suitable food, we can only refer to the treatment adopted by 

 the inhabitants of Andreasdorf, of which we gave a detailed account in a previous page. The average 

 age attained by the Canary in Malaga is sixteen years, but we have heard of cases where by great 

 attention they have lived to the age of twenty. The number of eggs laid by this species is large, and 

 one reared by us produced as many as twenty-nine within the year ; the eggs are white, and dotted 

 with red at the broad end. The female broods from about thirteen to fifteen days ; the young birds quit 

 the nest soon after leaving the egg, and feed themselves within a week of that time. Before a month has 

 passed the feathers, with theexception of those on the tail and wings, begin to moult, and the change 

 is not completed for some months. By the ensuing moulting season the young birds have commenced 

 singing, and the males are then easily recognised by the fluency of their song, the notes of the young 

 female being quite unconnected. Should it be desired to render a favourite very tame, no food should 

 be given in the cage, the bird being thus compelled to take all from the hand. The Canary is well 

 known to be a most docile pupil, and will learn to exhibit its skill by spelling words that are repeated 

 to it, selecting the letters in proper order from an alphabet laid before it ; will find the required pieces 

 of cloth from amongst several others ; and has been taught to add up, multiply, or divide figures by the 

 assistance of numbers given it to choose from. Others will sing when commanded, pretend to fall 

 dead when a pistol is fired, then allow themselves to be laid on a little car to be carried to the grave 

 by two other canaries, and when the journey is accomplished will jump up and sing a lively song. 

 All these tricks are taught as with dogs or horses, by keeping them without food until the order has 

 been obeyed. 



THE FINCHES (Fringilla). 



The birds belonging to this group are distinguished by an elongated, round, and somewhat blunt beak, 

 a tarsus of moderate height, narrow and somewhat pointed wings, and a long and rather excised tail ; 

 the body is elongated and straight, the plumage compact, and in the male bird of bright colours, which 

 vary considerably according to the time of year. The female is not so handsome as her mate, and the 

 young, after the first moulting, resemble their mother. Finches are found all over Europe, in forests 

 and plantations, or in rocky places covered with a growth of trees and underwood. They are very- 

 sociable, but by no means peaceful in their habits, as, though they associate freely with other birds, they 

 are seldom long in their company before quarrelling commences. Seeds of plants and insects consti- 

 tute their principal food ; the young are generally fed with insects. All the males of this family are 

 busy creatures, some of them much valued on account of their vocal powers, and the little injury they 

 do is fully compensated by their many services, among which their song should take the first place. 

 These birds are considered, especially in Germany, as migratory, being much addicted to long flights, 

 although some are known to remain in the same country during the whole winter. They usually make 

 their appearance amongst us early in the year, and build elegant and artistic nests, breeding from 



