CLASS II. AYES: ORDEE 2. PASSERES. 167 
This bird, as well as linnets and canaries, has been taught to perform various ingenious tricks ; 
it is common throughout Europe. 
The Siskin, C. spinus, is four and a half inches long ; greenish-olive above, streaked with 
dusky black ; beneath yellowish-greeu ; feeds upon seeds. It is an attractive bird in regard both 
to its plumage and its song, the latter being generally little more than a continuous chirrup, re- 
sembling the noise made by a stocking-loom, a peculiarity w^hich renders it a favorite with stock- 
ing-weavers. It imitates the songs of tits, larks, and chaffinches, but does not seem able to learn 
to whistle a tune. It sings throughout the year, except during the moulting season, and by its 
continual twittering invites all the birds in the aviary to sing. When taken, it feels the loss of 
freedom so little as to eat as soon as put into the cage, and on the second day to manifest no sign 
of alarm if any one approaches. It may be taught to draw water, and many tricks of a similar 
character ; and in winter may be trained to come and go, by placing the cage outside the window, 
and strewing poppy and hemp-seed before the open door. It generally comes back, and brings 
several comrades with it. It breeds in confinement, and paired with canaries produces a hybrid 
valued for its song. The Siskin is a northern European bird, migrating to the south in winter, 
and returning in the spring. 
The Canary-Bird or Ganart-Finch — Fringilla Canaria of Bechstein — is a native of 
the Canary Islands, where it breeds on the banks of rivulets. It is said to have been intro- 
duced from thence into Europe in the sixteenth century by a ship bound for Leghorn, and 
which foundered near the island of Elba. Being here set at liberty, they bred on this island ; 
from thence they were taken to Italy, and in the course of years spread over Europe. The orig- 
inal color of the bird was gray, inclining to green on the lower parts of the body, but this has 
undergone a complete alteration from domestication and change of climate. The length of this 
bird is five inches ; mules have been obtained by breeding with the goldfinch, siskin, green-finch, 
serin-finch, linnet, lesser redpole, and citril-finch, and these hybrids propagate their kind. 
The canary has always been a favorite cage bird, not only on account of the beauty of its plu- 
mage and the excellence of its song, but also for its docility, afi"ectionate disposition, and the readi- 
ness with which it breeds in confinement. Another source of gratification connected with this 
bird is the observation of its peculiarities of disposition. Some are melancholy, others lively ; 
some of a peaceful, others of a quarrelsome disposition ; some docile, others stupid ; some eager 
to pair, others delighting in solitude, &c. Their chief recommendation, however, consists, beyond 
doubt, in their loud, lively, and various song, which is continued throughout the year in some 
cases, even in the moulting seasons. Some, which are very much esteemed, will sing even at 
night, if a light be placed near their cage ; a peculiarity which, though natural in some, is in 
most the result of long training. The singers of the Tyrol, so called from the country where they 
are caught, which imitate the nightingale's song, are considered to hold the first rank; and next 
to these the English canaries, which have acquired the warbling of the wood-lark. In Thuringia 
those are most esteemed which, instead of a sonorous song of their own, have been taught to descend 
through the notes of an octave in a clear silvery tone, occasionally introducing a trumpet-like song. 
Buff"on contrasts the canary and nightingale as follows : "If the latter is the enchantress of the 
woods, the former is the musician of the chamber. The fi^rst owes all to nature ; the second de- 
rives something from our arts. With less strength of organ, less compass of voice, and less vari- 
ety of note, the canary-bird has a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and more memory; and 
as the difference of genius, especially among the lower animals, depends in a great measure on 
the diff'erence that exists among them with regard to the perfection of their senses, the canary- 
Lbird, whose organ of hearing is more attentive, and more susceptible of receiving and retaining 
foreign impressions, becomes accordingly more social, more tame, and more familiar. It is cap- 
.^.ble of gratitude, and even of attachment ; its caresses are endearing, its little humors are inno- 
cent, and its anger neither hurts nor off"ends. Its education is easy; we rear it with pleasure, 
because we are able to instruct it ; it leaves the melody of its natural note to listen to the har- 
mony of our voices and instruments ; it applauds, it accompanies us, and repays the pleasure it 
receives with interest. The nightingale, more proud of its talent, seems willing to preserve it in 
lail its purity ; at least, it appears very little to value ours ; and it is with the greatest difiiculty 
