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The Canary Bird. Paffer Canarienfis. 

 Numb. LXV. ' ^"^^ 



IT is of the BIgnefs of the common 'Titmoufe, hath a fmall white Bill, thick at 

 the Bafe, and contrafted into a fhaip Point ; all the Feathers of the Wings 

 .^nd Tail are of a green Colour. Some of them are white, and varioufly motled with yel- 

 iow ; the Cocks on the Breaft, Belly and upper Part of the Head adjoining to the Bill are 

 .more yellow .than the Hens ; they have a fweet and fhrill Note, which at one Breath is 

 jcontinued for a long time without Intermiffion ; it can draw out fometimes in Length, 

 ■ibmetimes rife very high, by a various and almoft muiical Inflexion of its Voice, making 

 very pleafant and artificial Melody. The German Birds are accounted the beft, excelling 

 in Handfomenefs and Song thofe brought out of the Ca?taries ; they are never fubjed to 

 ;be fat, their High Mettle, and lavilh Singing will hardly fuffer them to maintain Flefh on 

 /their Backs,' much lefs fat. When you make Choice of a Bird, let him (land with Life 

 :and Boldnefs, and not crouching nor fearful, hearing him fmg in a fingle Cage, fo you 

 : will be fure not to be cheated with a Hen for a Cock ; he that hath the moft Variety of 

 .Notes, and the longeft Song, is the befl Bird. You muft likewife obfcrve his Duno- 

 "which in a healthy Bird lies round and hard, with a fine White on tlie outfide, and dark 

 within ; if he bolts his Tail after he hath dunged, or if his Dung be very thin, with a 

 llimy White, and no Blacknefs in it, the Bird is not healthful. 



They are bred in Cages, or convenient Rooms fitted for that Purpofe, towards the Sun 

 rifing hanging little Nets, filled with Cotton Wool, fmall dead Grafs, Mofs and Elks Hair 

 mixed together, placing Heath Brooms, opening them in the Middle, or fmall Basket Nefts 

 for them to build in, placing likewife Perches or Boughs of Trees for them to fly upon 

 which they very much delight in, letting them have a good Quantity of Meat and Water 

 ,to laft them for fome time, that you may not difturb them too often when they are 

 building. When you perceive them begin to build, give them Chickweed, Turfs of Moufe- 

 Ear, and fome Loaf Sugar ; thefe caufe the Hen to lay her Eggs more freely. The Hen 

 many times dies in laying her firft Egg, which lofes your firil Brood, and unpairs the 

 Cock, which you muft take our, and match him again if poflible. When you find 

 they have finifhed their Nefts, take away the Nets that have the breeding Materials in 

 them. Tiiey breed ufually three Times a Year, beginning in April, and breed in May and 

 "June, and fometimes m Auguji, which is not very ufual, neither here nor in Germany. 



The young Birds muft be taken at nine or ten Days old, or elfe they will grow fullen, 

 and not feed kindly; put them in a little Baflcet, covering them with a Net, elfe they 

 will be apt to jump out when you firft open the Baflcetj and if they fall to the Ground, 

 they will be bruifed and die ; you muft keep them warm for a Week or more, they being 

 very tender, and upon taking Cold are fubjeft to the Cramp, and will not digeft their Meat : 

 You muft take them in the Evening, and, if poflible, not perceived by the old ones, which 

 are apt to take Diftafte when they fit again, and have young ones, and will almoft at eve- 

 ry Fright forfake both their young and Eggs. Make their Meat after this manner; take 

 Flower of Canary Seed, and the Infide of fcalded Hem.pfeed, of each a like Quantity, half 

 the Yolk of a boil'd Egg, and twice that Quantity of the Crumb of a ftale white Roll 

 fcalded -, mix and give it your young Birds : With this Food you may bring up Canary 

 Birds, Linnets, Goldfinches, Buffinches, and all young Birds that feed on Seeds : When they 

 begin to feed themfelves, fcald fome Rape-feed and ftrew over the aforefaid Meat, till 

 they are able to hull the Seed without fcalding ; in hot Vv^eather you muft make it freih 

 two or three times a Day, giving them but little at a Time. 



The 



