SONG BIRDS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



bird extends to fourteen or fifteen years.* The 

 female can scarcely be distinguished from the male ; 

 but the latter has generally deeper and brighter 

 colours, a head rather larger and longish, a longer 

 body, a more elegant form, neck not quite so short, 

 and higher shanks. 



The length of the Canary is five inches, of which 

 the tail measures two and a quarter. 



Those Canaries that have the upper part of the 

 body of a dusky grey or linnet brown, and the 

 under part the yellowish green of the green bird, 

 with dark brown eyes, are the strongest, and most 

 nearly resemble the primitive race. The yellow 

 and white often have red eyes, and are the most 

 tender. The chestnut are the most uncommon, 

 and hold a middle rank for strength and length of 

 life between the two extremes. But as the plumage 

 of the intermediate ones is a mixture of these 

 principal colours, their value depends on the 

 pretty and regular manner in which they are 

 marked. 



The most wholesome food for these birds, accord- 

 ing to Bechstein, is summer rape-seed. This seed 

 alone, he says, agrees with Canaries as well as 

 with linnets ; but to give them the pleasure of 

 variety, a little bruised hemp or canary, or poppy 

 seed is added to it, especially in the spring, when 

 they are intended to breed. A mixture of summer 

 rape-seed, oatmeal, and millet, or canary seed, may 

 be given them as a great treat. But, whatever 



* Jennings' Ornitliologia. 



