C 261 ] 
nary-birds do not know that they fing chiefly either 
the titlark, or nightingale notes-*. 
Nothing, however, can be more marked than the 
note of a nightingale called its jug, which moft of the 
Canary-birds brought from the Tyrol commonly 
have, as well as feveral nightingale Jlrokes , or par- 
ticular paflages in the fong of that bird. 
I mention this fuperior knowledge in the inha- 
bitants of the capital, becaufe I am convinced, that, 
if others are confulted in relation to the finging of 
birds, they will only miflead, inftead of giving any 
material or ofeful information 
Birds in a wild ftate do not commonly fing above 
ten weeks in the year ; which is then alfo confined to 
the cocks of a few fpecies j I conceive, that this laft 
* I once faw two of thefe birds which came from the Canary 
iflands ; neither of which had any fong at all ; and I have been 
informed, that a fhip brought a great many of th.em not long 
fince, which fung as little. 
Moft of thofe Canary-birds, which are imported from the 
Tyrol, have been educated by parents, the progenitor of 
which was inftrudted by a nightingale ; our Englifh Cana- 
ry-birds have commonly more of the titlark note. 
The traffickin thefe birds makes a fmall article of commerce, 
as four Tyrolese generally bring over to England fixteen hun- 
dred every year; and though they carry them on their backs one 
thoufand miles, as well as pay 20I'. duty for fuch a number, yet 
upon the whole it anfwers to fell thefe birds at 5s. a piece. 
The chief place for breeding Canary-birds is Infpruck and its 
environs, from whence they are fent to Conftantinople, as well 
as every part of Europe. 
f As it will not anfwer to catch birds with clap-nets any 
where but in the neighbourhood of London, moft of the birds 
which may be heard in a country town are neftlings, and confe- 
quently cannot fing.. the fuppofed natural fong in any perfeftion. 
M m ■'% circumftancq 
