The Canary-Bird. 255 
instruments. It accompanies us, and repays the pleasure 
it receives with interest, while the nightingale, more 
proud of his 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 that it 
can be taught any of our airs. It despises them, 
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 we can 
mould at pleasure ; and therefore it contributes in a 
much greater degree to the pleasures 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." It breeds generally twice a year when 
domesticated ; and it sometimes happens that the female 
lays her eggs for the second time before the first brood is 
fledged. The male then good-naturedly takes her place 
on the eggs while she feeds the young ones, and feeds 
them in his turn, when she sits in the nest. They are 
very easily tamed, when brought up with attention and 
kindness, and take their food out of the hand, often 
perching on the shoulder of their mistress, and feeding 
out of her mouth. The Canary-bird is sometimes, and 
with success, matched with the linnet or the goldfinch ; 
and the produce is a beautiful 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 Derby- 
shire, 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 began 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, 
