THE NATURAL HISTORY 
domeflicated, and bred-in confinement. Some 
are grey* upon a ground of yellovvifh white, in 
others the plumage is of a brilliant yellow, in others 
again of a mealy colour. Some are diftinguifhed 
by a creft, in others the eyes are red; amongft 
thcfe a number of other combinations take place, 
f 0 that near thirty varieties have been deferibed. 
Great numbers of thefe birds are im¬ 
ported every year from Germany, particularly 
from Tirol, and though the Germans who deal 
in them carry them a thoufand miles upon their 
backs, yet they are fold as low as five fhillings 
each. At Infpruck they are a little article of 
commerce, from that town they are fent to fe- 
vcral parts of Europe, and in confiderable num¬ 
bers to Conftantinople. They are bred very ge¬ 
nerally in England, for this purpofe they fhould 
be provided with a cheerful chamber, furnifhed 
with boxes, or little bufhes formed of twigs of 
birch, or heath, to build their r.efts in ; and little 
nets filled with fine hay, mofs, feathers, down, 
flax, and goat’s hair, fhould be hung in different 
parts of the room ; it is very proper to have fewer 
males than females, that the male birds may not 
difturb the females, which fometimes they are 
apt to do, and occafionally to break their eggs. 
They 
