SONG. 



15 



hand, and it is most productive during the early hours of the 

 morning. Bolle has seen 16-20 specimens caught within a 

 few hours, and F. Bocker has made a similar observation. 



According to the statement of the latter, only the young 

 birds are generally caught, that is, the capture is attempted 

 only when the young of the first and second brood have 

 taken flight. 



The canary is caught much more frequently than other 

 birds of its kind ; not for the purpose of exportation however, 

 but only to gratify the fancy of native amateurs, or at the 

 desire of a stranger for a trifling compensation. At Madeira 

 Hartwig only noted catching by means of a trap cage. When 

 newly caught, the wild birds are extremely restless, and it 

 requires a considerable time for them to relinquish their 

 wildness ; when they are locked up together in narrow 

 cages, they are apt to bruise each other's plumage, but if 

 left unmolested, they are fond of billing, and the young 

 males may easily be recognised by their loud and continuous 

 chirping. Bolle's younger birds began to moult in the latter 

 half of August, but some of them had not quite finished 

 moulting even in December, probably they were those which 

 had been the last to take flight. 



The bright yellowish-green appears first on the chest. With 

 regard to the breeding in the islands, Bocker says that this 

 is not of any particular importance. The manner of breed- 

 ing at TenerifTe is the same as in the small breeding-places 

 at home of our common breeds, and the breeding is always 

 done in small cages made of cane or wire, partly by coupling 

 wild birds with tame ones, in which case, almost without 

 exception, the wild male is employed, and partly with 

 cultured birds, as it is done in this country. 



There, as with us, one male is allotted to several females ; 

 there, as well as here, complaints are heard respecting an 

 abortive after-breed. Crested and smooth-headed birds are 



