CANARY BIRDS. 
15 
be much valued, and commands a high price. And 
yet, nearly connected as they are, the Canary is 
entirely of foreign origin, being a native of the 
Canaries (from whence they took their name), a 
cluster of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, near the 
coast of Africa. They are very indifferent flyers, 
which may account for their never having migrated 
like other birds, and been thus occasionally found in 
their wild state in other countries. They accordingly, 
for a long time, remained unknown in Europe ; in- 
deed, it was not till the enterprising reign of queen 
Elizabeth, about three hundred years ago, when so 
many of our now common fruits and vegetables, 
such as nectarines, potatoes, &c. ; and even poultry, 
such as turkeys, &c., first found their way into 
England, that Canaries were introduced; and they 
were then, for a time, so prized and scarce, that none 
but the most wealthy could purchase them. But 
the desire of having them seems rapidly to have 
spread, for not long after, the Spaniards found them 
so profitable a tracie, that an order was issued for 
either destroying all the hens that were taken, or 
setting them at liberty, that the breed might be 
confined to the islands. The trade in Canary birds 
is now much greater than it was then, though en- 
tirely removed from the original spot. They are 
reared in Germany and other parts of Europe, by 
people who bring them over to this country in great 
numbers, every Spring. 
About thirty years ago, a very industrious people, 
the Tyrolese, were the chief providers. They brought 
over every year nearly two thousand, which they 
carried all the way in cages on their backs, and 
