232 The Canary Bird. 



and adds to our happiness, by amusing the young and dehghting 

 the recluse, charming that activeness of the cloister, and gladden- 

 ing the soul of the innocent and captive.' 



There are said to be upwards of forty varieties of the breeds of 

 canaries, which can be easily distinguished; and the number is 

 increasing annually. In London they have societies for promot- 

 ing the breeds, and a premium is awarded to the competitor who 

 comes nearest to the mould of perfection given out by the society 

 the season prior to the competition. 



There are two distinct species of canaries, the plain and varie- 

 gated, or as they are technically called, the gay spangles., or mea- 

 ly; nnd jonJcs, or jonquils, both of which are represented in plate 

 xi. These two sorts are more esteemed by amateurs than any 

 of the numerous varieties which have sprung from them; and al- 

 though birds of different feathers have their admirers, some prefer- 

 ing beauty of plumage, others excellence of song, certainly that 

 bird is most desirable when both are combined. The first prop- 

 erty of these birds consists in the cap, which ought to be of fine, 

 orange color, pervading every part of the body except the tail and 

 wings, and possessing the utmost regularity, without any black 

 feathers, as, by the smallest speck, it loses the property of a show 

 bird, and is considered a broken-capped bird. The second prop- 

 erly, consists in the feathers of the wing and tail being of a deep 

 black up to the quill, as a single white feather in the wing or tail 

 causes it to be termed a ' foul bird;' the requisite number of these 

 feathers in each wing is eighteen, and in the tail twelve. It is, 

 however, frequently observed that the best colored birds are 

 ' foul' in one or two feathers, which reduces their value, although 

 they may still be matched to breed with. 



The dispositions of canaries are as various as their colors; some 

 are gay, sportive, and delight in mirih and revelry, while others 

 are sullen, intractable, and lazy. Some males are most assiduous 

 in assisting the female to build her nest, and even to aid in the pro- 

 cess of incubation, while others will destroy the eggs, or tear the 

 young from the nest, and kill them in their rage. The gray ones 

 will never build, and the person who superintends these must make 

 a nest for them. 



Mr. Syme informs us that he possessed a jonquil cock which 

 used to nibble at its cage till he opened it, and then escaping from 

 its prison house, it would fly to a mantel-piece, where it would 

 place itself on a china vase, flutter as if in the act of washing, and 

 continue to do so till water was brought. The .same bird was so 

 docile as to come, when called, to the hand, and hide trifling arti- 

 cles in the corner of its cage, stopping and looking around as if 



