CANARY BIRD. 
71 
are endearing-, its little humours innocent, and its anger neither hurts 
nor offends. Its education is easy ; we rear it with pleasure, because 
we are able to instruct it. It leaves the melody of its own natural note, 
to listen to the melody of our voices and instruments. It ajjplauds, it 
accompanies us, and repays the pleasure it receives with interest, while 
the nightingale, more proud of its talent, seems desirous of preserving it 
in all its purity, at least it appears to attach very little value to ours, 
and it is with great difficulty it can be taught any of our airs. The 
Canary can speak and whistle ; the nightingale despises our words, as well 
as our airs, and never fails to return to its own wild wood notes. Its 
pipe is a masterpiece of nature, which human art can neither alter nor 
improve ; while that of the Canary is a model of more pliant materials, 
which w-e can mould at pleasure ; and therefore it contributes in a much 
greater degree to the comforts of society. It sings at all seasons, 
cheers us in the dullest weather, and adds to our happiness, by amusing 
the young and delighting the recluse, charming the tediousness of the 
cloister and gladdening the soul of the innocent and captive.” 
There are said to be upwards of thirty varieties of the breeds of 
Canaries, which can be easily distinguished ; and the number is increas- 
ing every year. In London, we have societies for promoting the breeds, 
and a premium is awarded to the competitor who comes nearest to the 
model of perfection given out by the society the season prior to the 
competition. 
There are two distinct species of Canaries, the plain and variegated, 
or, as they are technically called, the gay spangles, or meally ; and jonks, 
or jonquils, both of which are represented in our cut. These two 
varieties are more esteemed by amateurs than any of the numerous 
varieties which have sprung from them ; and although birds of different 
feathers have their admirers, some preferring beauty of plumage, others 
excellence of song, certainly that bird is most desirable where both are 
combined. The first property of these birds consists in the cap, which 
ought to be of fine orange colour, pervading every part of the body ex- 
cept the tail and wings, and possessing the utmost regularity, without 
any black feathers, as, by the smallest sj)eck, it loses the property of a 
show-bird, and is considered a broken-capped bird. The second pro- 
perty consists in the feathers of the wing and tail being of a deep black 
up to the quill, as a single white feather in the wing or tail causes it 
to be termed a foul bird ; the requisite number of these feathers in 
each wing is eighteen, and in the tail twelve. It is, however, fre- 
quently observed that the best coloured birds are foul in one or two 
feathers, which reduces their value, although they may still be matched 
to breed with. 
