560 
4 
The food of the Canary consists chiefly of seeds of various kinds, tender shoots of plants, 
and fruit, especially figs, of which it is very fond; and Dr. Bolle remarks that he has never seen 
any Canaries feeding on the seeds of the thistle. Water is always a necessity to this bird; for it 
frequently flies off, usually in company with others, to drink, and is exceedingly fond of bathing, 
the wild bird making its plumage quite as wet as caged birds so frequently do. 
Wild-caught birds are difficult to tame, and it is long before they become accustomed to 
captivity. These wild birds, however, when they have been caged some time, will pair readily 
with the yellow tame bird; and the mules are highly prized. Large numbers are caught and sold 
as cage-birds, trap cages being generally made use of for the purpose of taking them; and a tame 
bird is used as a decoy or call-bird. A well-wooded place in the vicinity of water is usually the 
best locality for the bird-catcher, and early morning is the best time to look out for them. 
Dr. Bolle says that in such a place he has seen sixteen to twenty captured one after the other. 
The specimens figured are an adult male and female from Teneriffe, for which I am indebted 
to Mr. F. DuCane Godman. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a, dad. Oratava, Teneriffe, April 7th, 1871 (F.D. Godman). 6, $ ad. Teneriffe, April 28th, 1871 (Ff. D. G.). 
E Mus. Salvin et Godman. 
a,d,b,c,9. St. Michael’s, Azores, April 1865 (F. D.G.). d,?. Madeira, 1867 (F.D.G.). ef,9,6. 
Teneriffe, April 9th, 1871 (F. D. G.). h,@. Teneriffe, April 28th, 1871. 7,6. Madeira, June 23rd, 
1871 (F. D. G.). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a, 6. Canaries (Webb & Berthelot). 
