Chap. VIII. 



CANARY BIRD. 295 



The Canary Bird. 



As this bird has been recently domesticated, namely, within the 

 last 350 years, its variability deserves notice, jt has been 

 crossed with nine or ten other species of Fringillidse, and some 

 of the hybrids are almost completely fertile ; but we have no 

 evidence that any distinct breed has originated from such 

 crosses. Notwithstanding the modern domestication of the 

 canary, many varieties have been produced; even before the 

 year 1718 a list of twenty-seven varieties was published in 

 France, 45 and in 1779 a long schedule of the desired qualities 

 was printed by the London Canary Society, so that methodical 

 selection has been practised during a considerable period. The 

 greater number of the varieties differ only in colour and in 

 the markings of their plumage. Some breeds, however, differ 

 in shape, such as the hooped or bowed canaries, and the Belgian 

 canaries with their much elongated bodies. Mr. Brent 46 mea- 

 sured one of the latter and found it eight inches in length, 

 whilst the wild canary is only five and a quarter inches long. 

 There are topknotted canaries, and it is a singular fact, that, if 

 two topknotted birds are matched, the young, instead of having 

 very fine topknots, are generally bald, or even have a wound on 

 their heads. 47 It would appear as if the topknot were due to 

 some morbid condition which is increased to an injurious degree 

 when two birds in this state are paired. There is a feather- 

 footed breed, and another with a kind of frill running down the 

 breast. One other character deserves notice from being confined 

 to one period of life and from being strictly inherited at the same 

 period : namely, the wing and tail feathers in prize canaries being 

 black, " but this colour is retained only until the first moult ; 

 once moulted, the peculiarity ceases." 48 Canaries differ much 

 in disposition and character, and in some small degree in song. 

 They produce eggs three or four times during the year. 



45 Mr. B. P. Brent, 'The Canary, 4 7 Bechstein, ' Naturgesch. der Stu- 

 British Finches,' &c, pp. 21, 30. benvogel,' 1840, s. 243 ; see s. 252, on 



46 'Cottage Gardener,' Dec. 11th, the inherited song of Canary-birds. 

 1855, p. 184. An account is here given With respect to their baldness, see also 

 of all the varieties. For many mea- W. Kidd's ' Treatise on Song-Birds.' 

 surements of the wild birds, see Mr. E. 48 W. Kidd's ' Treatise on Song-Birds,' 

 Vernon Harcourt, id., Dec. 25th, 1855, p. 18 



p. 223. 



