510 A DESCRIPTION OF 
with success, matched with the linnet or the goldfinch ; 
and the produce is a beautiful mule bird, partaking of the 
talents and plumage of both. 
Canary-birds live twelve or thirteen years in our climate, 
and sing well to the end of their life. 
The following curious anecdote of one of these birds 
is related by Dr. Darwin : " On observing a Canary-bird 
at the house of a gentleman near Tutbury, in Derbyshire, I 
was told it always fainted away when its cage was cleaned ; 
and I desired to see the experiment. The cage being taken 
from the ceiling, and the bottom drawn out, the bird be- 
gan to tremble, and turned quite white about the root of 
the bill : he then opened his mouth, as if for breath, and 
respired quick ; stood up straighter on his perch, hung 
his wings, spread his tail, closed his eyes, and appeared 
quite stiff for half an hour ; till at length, with much 
trembling and deep respirations, he came gradually to 
himself." 
A few years ago a Frenchman exhibited in London 
twenty-four Canary-birds, many of which, he said, were 
from eighteen to twenty-five years of age. Some of these 
balanced themselves, head downward, on their shoulders, 
having their legs and tail in the air. One of them taking 
a slender stick in its claws, passed its head between its 
legs, and suffered itself to be turned round, as if in the 
act of being roasted. Another balanced itself, and was 
swung backward and forward on a kind of slack rope. A 
third was dressed in military uniform, having a cap on its 
head, wearing a sword and pouch, and carrying a firelock 
in one claw : after some time sitting upright, this bird, at 
the word of command, freed itself from its dress, and flew 
away to the cage. A fourth suffered itself to be shot at, 
and falling down as if dead, was put into a little wheel- 
barrow, and wheeled away by one of its comrades! 
