THE CANARY. ^ 17 



being, till they moult, of a very dark cast, 

 with the exception of the cap, which will be 

 of a soft yellow. When, however, they have 

 moulted for the first time, they will throw 

 off their black feathers, and become of a 

 beautiful orange colour, leaving the wings 

 and tail of a fine jet blacL When the fancy 

 birds are a year old, and moult a second 

 time, they will lose the greater part of the 

 black in their wings and tails, still retaining 

 the beautiful orange colour in the other 

 parts; nevertheless, this does not interfere 

 with the value of a good bird, as the pro- 

 duce from such will possess the jet black 

 wings and tail as before described. 



With regard to their song, that of the 

 fancy birds is much softer and sweeter than 

 that of the common canary. I have had 

 them to sing the notes both of the nightin- 

 gale and tit lark, which they will readily 

 acquire if placed within hearing of those 

 birds when young ; for this reason, I would 

 advise every one who breeds fancy birds, to 

 have a good song-bird for the young ones 

 to learn under, by doing which, he will 

 have the pleasure of possessing beautiful 



