ON THE SINGING OF BIRDS. 3^ 



tinue long enough in a place, for the hearer to 

 recollect his notes with accuracy. 



Besides this, birds in the spring sing very 

 loud indeed; but they only give short jerks, 

 and scarcely ever the whole compass of their 

 song. 



For these reasons, I have never happened to 

 meet with any person, who had not resided in 

 London, whose judgment or opinion on this 

 subject I could the least rely upon ; and a 

 stronger proof of this cannot be given, than that 

 most people, who keep Canary birds, do not 

 know that they sing chiefly either the titlark, or 

 nightingale notes.* 



* I once saw two of these birds which came from the Canarij 

 Islands; neither of which had any song at all : and I have been 

 informed, that a ship brought a great many of them not long 

 since, which sung as little. 



Most of those Canary birds, which are imported from the 

 Tyrol, have been educated by parents, the progenitor of which 

 was instructed by a nightingale ; our English Canary birds have 

 commonly more of the titlark note. 



The traffick in these birds makes a small article of commerce, 

 as four Tyroleze generally bring over to England sixteen hun- 

 dred every year^ and though they carry them on their backs 

 one thousand miles, as well as pay 20l. duty for such a number, 

 yet, upon the whole, it answers to sell these birds at 6s. a 

 piece. 



The chief place for breeding Canary birds is Inspruck and its 

 environs, from whence they are sent to Constantinople, as well 

 las every part of Europe. . _, 



