PLATE XXI. 
The Common Canary Bird, 
T 
J. HESE birds are natives of the Canary Iflands, but numbers of them are bred in this kingdom, 
Colchefter and Ipfwich are the two principal places, and the birds bred in thefe towns, are much 
flronger, and larger, than thofe brought from Germany, although feveral thoufands are brought over 
every feafon. They are bred in barns and rooms in which are fixed boxes and bafkets for that pur- 
pofe, and are fupplied with deer's hair, of which, together with mofs and dead grafs, they compofe 
their nefls. They will build three or four times in a feafon, and lay from three to five eggs eacli 
time. They fit fourteen days reckoning from the day their firft egg is laid. The female leaves 
them generally at the expiration of fourteen days, when the male bird attends them another week 
m the neft at which time they commonly leave their nell, though not able wholly to provide 
for themfelves, and follow the male bird who is their fole provider until they can take care of 
themfelves. Frequent inftances have been known of the firft brood driving out the female from 
her fecond neft by which means they deftroy the fecond brood. During nefting feafon the birds 
fiiould be fupplied with hard-boiled eggs, bread and milk, bifcuits, or bread-pudding all which 
muft be often changed. In a future plate I lhall give the true fancy bird, and a more full account 
of their caftoms and manners. 
No. VII. 
