CANARIES AND SEEDBATERS 145 



in most districts of the Cape and Natal, but in the Orange 

 Free State and Transvaal it is uncommon and "local." 

 This bird has a fine sustained song of sweet full notes, the 

 quality of which varies, however, in individual members. 



It lives principally on weed seeds and insects, thus being 

 useful as well as pretty and a songster. It builds a neat 

 little cup-shaped nest and lays three or four eggs of a very 



Fig. 79. — Cape Canary at nest. 



pale blue, streaked and spotted at the obtuse end, with 

 purple and reddish-brown. 



It takes readily to confinement, being hardy and can be 

 bred in captivity ; it is in consequence much sought after 

 by the schoolboys of the Eastern Districts of the Cape, who 

 made a regular traffic in the catching and selling of 

 Canaries before the Wild Birds' Protection Act of 1899 

 was in operation. [Unfortunately no clause was inserted 

 allowing the collection of birds for scientific purposes.] 

 This Act is largely due to the praiseworthy efforts of 



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