230 The Canary Bird. 



to the growing plumage. The manner in which nalure performs 

 this operation is slow in its progress. When birds have attained 

 their full size, the pen part nearest the animal grows harder and 

 thicker in its sides, but shrinks in its diameter; in consequence of 

 the first of these processes, it draws gradually less nourishment from 

 the body of the animal, and by its decrease in size, it becomes 

 loose, till at length it falls off. In the meantime, the rudiments 

 of an incipient quill are forming; the skin becomes in shape like a 

 little bag, which is fed from the tody by a small vein and artery, 

 and which every day increases in size, till it is protruded. While 

 one end vegetates into the beard or vane of the feather, that part 

 attached to the skin is still soft, and receives a constant supply of 

 nourishment, which is diffused through the body of the quill by 

 the artery and vein. When, however, the quill has come to its 

 full growth, and requires no further nourishment, the vein and ar- 

 tery become gradually less, till at last the small opening by which 

 they are communicated with the quill is stopped, and the circula- 

 tion ceases. The quill, after it is thus deprived of new supplies, 

 continues for some months in the socket, till at last it shrinks, and 

 makes room for another repetition of the same process of nature. 

 The moulting season generally commences at the end of sunmier, 

 and the birds continue to struggle under the malady for a considera- 

 ble part of the winter; then the appetite of the animal is least 

 craving, while its provision continues to be most scanty. It is not 

 till the return of spring, when the feathers have attained their full 

 growth, that the abundance of food and the mildness of the season 

 restore it to its full vigor. 



THE CANARY BIRD. 



Fringilla canaria. 



The subject of our vignette and description, is the jonquil cock 

 and mealy hen of bird fanciers. The fancy bird has a tuft of feath- 

 ers of a fine gamboge yellow, inclining from the middle to each 

 side; the throat, breast, and under part the same; the neck, back, 

 and wings, beautifully waved and mottled with different tints of pale, 

 purplish-gray. 



In length, this beautiful species is about five inches and a half; 

 the bill a pale-flesh color, passing into reddish-white; eyes ches- 



