^370 APPENDIX. VI. 



the concert in the Europeaji woods is superior 

 to that of the other parts of the globe.* 



As birds are now annually imported in great 



numbers from Asia, Africa, and America, I have 



frequently attended to their notes, both singly 



»• and in concert, which are certainly not to be 



compared to those of Europe. 



Thomson, the poet, (whose observations in 

 natural history are much to be depended upon) 

 makes this superiority in the European birds to 

 be a sort of compensation for their great inferi- 

 ority in point of gaudy plumage. Our goldfinch, 

 however, joins to a very brilliant and pleasing 

 song, a most beautiful variety of colours in its 

 feathers, t as Avell as a most elegant shape. 



It must be admitted, that foreign birds, when 

 brought to Europe, are often heard to a great 

 disadvantage; as many of them, from their 

 great tameness^ have certainly been brought up 

 by hand, the consequence of which I have al- 

 ready stated from several experiments. The 

 soft-billed birds also cannot be well brouo;ht 

 over, as the succedaneum for insects (their com- 



* See Rochefort's Hist, des Antilles, T. I. p. 2QQ.—Ph. Tr. 

 Ahr. Vol. III. p. 563.— and Cateshy. 



•\ I cannot but think, that there would be a demand for these 

 birds in China, as the inhabitants are very sedentary, and bird 

 cages are commonly represented as hanging in their rooms. I 

 have been informed, by a Tyroleze, that his best market for Ca- 

 nary birds was Constantinople. 



