254 Birds. 
edges of the feathers grayish ; the rump and breast more 
yellow. The plumage of the female is much less vivid, 
inclining to brown. Its song is trifling, but in confine- 
ment it becomes tame and docile, and will catch the notes 
of other birds. 
THE CANARY-BIED. (Fringilla, or Carduelis canaria.) 
As his name imports, this bird is a native of the Canary 
Islands ; where, in his wild state, he has a dusky gray 
plumage, and a much stronger voice than when in a cage. 
In our northern countries his feathers undergo a great 
alteration ; and the bird often becomes entirely white or 
yellow. Of this bird, Buffon says, " that if the nightin- 
gale is the chantress of the woods, the Canary is the 
musician of the chamber; the first owes all to nature, 
the second something to art. With less strength of organ, 
less compass of voice, and less variety of note, the Canary 
has a better ear, greater facility of imitation, and a more 
retentive memory ; and as the difference of genius, espe- 
cially among the lower animals, depends in a great mea- 
sure on the perfection of their senses, the Canary, whose 
organ of hearing is more susceptible of receiving and 
retaining foreign impressions, becomes more social, tame, 
and familiar; is capable of gratitude and even attach- 
ment; its caresses 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 
