FINCH. 87 



inhabit, in a wild state, chiefly the Canary Islands, as well as some 

 others at Palraa, Cape Verd, Fayal, Madeira,* the South of Spain, 

 particularly the province of Andalusia, and the Island of Majorca ; 

 some likewise are now and then seen in their native dress at Gibraltar; 

 and it is said, that they affect to breed near watery places. I have 

 ventured to assimilate this with the Serinusof Kolben, which is said to 

 be of a yellowish green, mixed with grey on the back, and to sing 

 like a Canary Bird, and therefore to suppose it a native of the Cape 

 of Good Hope ; from which place I have received it, taken at large, 

 under the name of Cape Canary Bird. I have often seen the yellow 

 sort mixed with grey, more or less, in Chinese drawings ; but whether 

 they had been caged birds, could not be ascertained ; the same with 

 respect to India, but these last seemed to be more like the native sort. 

 This bird seems to have been known in Europe, in 1555, when Belon 

 wrote. — Aldrovand has given a bad figure of it ; but the first toler- 

 able representation will be found in Olina, from which Willughby's 

 figure has been taken, and that of Johnston ; since which time the 

 knowledge of this species has gradually increased, and sought after 

 by every nation as a song bird. As to the method of rearing this 

 favourite species in confinement, much has been said in various 

 authors, too diffuse to be inserted here. Buffbn has allowed more 

 than fifty pages on this head ; and Willughby has treated lightly on 

 the same subject ; likewise Albin, in his Hist, of Song Birds, as 

 well as others. We have, therefore, only to observe, that it breeds 

 freely with the Serin and Citril Finches, our two following species, 

 which in fact seem congenerous birds : — the first found in Italy, 

 Greece, Turkey, Austria, and Provence ; the other in Provence, 

 Dauphiny, Lyons, Bugey, Geneva, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, 

 and Italy. 



* Hist. des. Ois. iv. pp. 35. 45. Forst. Voy. ii. 590. Id. Obs. p. 26. Canary Finches 

 in the neighbourhood of Orotave in Teneriffe, said to be uniformly green, some with a yel- 

 low tint on their back. — Humboldt. In Salvage Island, said to be so abundant, that in 

 breeding time, you can scarcely walk there without breaking their eggs. 



