186 
THE CANARY BIRD. 
Fringilla Canaria. 
Hark ! the numbers, soft and clear 
Gently steal upon the ear : 
Now louder, and yet louder rise, 
And fill with spreading sounds the skies. 
This delightful songster, which is now almost natur- 
alized to our climate, was brought into Europe about 
the fourteenth century, and, for many years, was 
sold for high prices, but they are now so easily bred 
in England, that few persons who are partial to 
birds are without one or two of these interesting 
little creatures, which now may be obtained at mode- 
rate prices. 
The canary is, without doubt, the most elegantly- 
formed of our cage birds : the exquisite symmetry of 
its make, and the delicacy of its plumage, would 
render it a favourite ; but when, in addition to these, 
