206 
NATURAL HISTORY 
may be easily procured. It is about five inches and a 
half in length; the bill is of a plae flesh colour; the plu- 
mage is in general yellow, more or less mixed with gray, 
and in some with brown on the upper parts; the tail is 
somewhat forked; the legs are a pale flesh colour. 
There are twenty-nine varieties, and many more might 
be added to the list. In the places fitted up for the rear- 
ing and breeding these charming birds, we are delighted 
to see the workings of nature exemplified in the choice 
of their mates, building their nests, hatching and rearing 
their young, and in the impassionate ardour exhibited by 
the male in assisting his faithful mate in collecting mate- 
rials for her nest, in arranging them for her accommoda- 
tion, in providing food for her offspring, or in chaunting 
his lively and amorous songs during every part of the im- 
portant business. The canary will breed freely with the 
siskin and goldfinch; it likewise proves prolific with the 
linnet; and also admits, but unwillingly, the chaffinch, 
yellow bunting, and even the sparrow, though with still 
more difficulty. In all these instances, excepting the 
first, the pairing succeeds best, when the female canary 
is introduced to the male of the opposite species. 
Linnet. (PI. 33.) This favourite bird, which is uni- 
versally admired for the melody of its voice, is in length, 
from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, five 
inches and a half; the bill bluish gray, the eyes hazel, 
the upper parts of the head, neck, and back, are of a dark 
reddish brown, the edges of the feathers pale; the under 
parts are of a dirty reddish white; the breast is deeper 
than the rest, and in spring becomes a very beautiful 
crimson: the sides are spotted with brown likewise, with 
white edges, except the two middle feathers which have 
no margins, it is somewhat forked; the legs are brown. 
The linnet is so much esteemed for the sweetness of 
his singing, that, by many persons, he is thought to excel 
all small birds. He has certainly a curious fine note of 
his own, little inferior to the most celebrated birds, and 
may be taught likewise to pipe or whistle the song of any 
other bird; but as his own is so good, that trouble is un- 
necessary. He is, however, very apt in learning, and if 
