Some WARBLERS were eager their carols to sing, of the Linnean Society; it is about twenty-two inches long; the general plumage is black; the feathers of the head long, and forming a fine crest; tail long, the two middle feathers of which are black, the others the same at the base and ends, but the middle, for more than one third of their length, a fine crimson. This bird has been called, by some authors, BANKSIANCOCKATOO, but very improperly as another, the Psittacus Banksii, is distinguished by that name. The Banksian Cockatoo mentioned in page 382 is the Cookii described above, and not the Banksii; this last is by no means so striking or splendid a bird as the former, and, therefore, it has not been deemed necessary to describe it. It is to be regretted that those to whom the opportunity is given of bestowing names do not bestow them with more scientific discrimination. How much soever we may respect the names of Cook and BANKS, surely this bird might have a much more appropriate and discriminating specific terms applied to it: for example, Psittacus niger; or, if this name be already engaged, some other, equally discriminating and appropriate, should be given. In science, the practice of distinguishing persons rather than facts ought to be discarded. It was this mode of giving names that contributed to retard and obscure, for ages, the science of chemistry, THE CANARY-BIRD'S SONG. Fringilla Canaria.—(LINN.) LET city birds in cages sing, Be city birds, like monks immur'd, It cannot, will not be endur'd, By love or liberty. Let city birds luxurious live Do nothing-yet to me No charm hath idleness to give;No charm hath luxury. The pleasure of pursuit is muchI love to seek my food; I love to hear my neighbours touch Besides, I love to meet my fair At noontide eve or morning rare, Of city birds then tell me not- I much prefer my country cot, To pick seeds out of glass or gold, Is what some birds, I have been told, Give me, I have no other wish, * BEATTIE has touch'd similar chords: But sing what heaven inspires and wander where they will.” MINSTREL, Book I. (63) ORDER, PASSERES, (Linn.) CANARY-BIRD. The Fringilla Canaria, (Linn.) CANARY, CANARY-BIRD, or Canary-Finch, consists of two varieties; one having the bill and body straw-colour; quill and tail feathers greenish; the other with body above brown; eye-brows yellow. The prevailing colour of this bird is, however, yellow, mixed with grey ; but, in a state of nature, it is said that it is chiefly grey. Other varieties, or rather, perhaps, sub-varieties, have been described to the number of nearly thirty, arising doubtless from domestication and admixture with other birds of the Finch and Bunting tribe. It is about the size of a goldfinch. The first variety inhabits the Canary islands, whence its name; the second variety, Africa, and it is said also St. Helena, where it sings much better than the common canary found in cages in this country. It is also found at Palma, Fayal, Cape Verd, and Madeira, as well as at the Canaries. This bird is supposed to have been first brought into Europe in the thirteenth or fourteenth century ; Gesner, who flourished in the sixteenth, is the first naturalist who mentions it; and when Aldrovandus published his work on birds in 1599, it was esteemed a great rarity. It is easily tamed, and is domesticated almost every where for its delicate plumage and beautiful song. It feeds on various seeds, chiefly on those of hemp and canary grass; it is prolific with most of the other species of the finch, and even with some which are usually considered as belonging to a different genus, such as the yellow-hammer, Emberiza Citrinella. The canary male is, however, more shy than the female, and will associate with no female but his own species. The age of this bird extends to fourteen or fifteen years. Of the eggs and incubation of this bird in its natural state I have not been able to obtain any account. In its domestic state it doubtless partakes of the nature of those birds with which it might happen to be associated. The eggs of the finch tribe are generally about five in number, and whitish, with rufous spots. For others of the finch tribe, see pages 252, 262, and 280. They breed without difficulty in confinement in this and many other countries; the male and female both assist in forming the nest. It is said, too, that the song of the Canary-birds bred in this country is usually composed of the notes of the Titlark and the Nightingale; but, although this may be occasionally true, it is not, I suspect, a general truth. There is, surely, probability that the Canary has a song of its own. 1 am, however, indebted to Mr. YARREL for the following particulars of the domesticated CANARY-BIRD, of which he has several eggs, produced by the genuine species, without any admixture. "Whatever the materials are of which the Canary forms its nest, or what the colour of its eggs in its native islands, I do not know; but, in this country (having bred them myself), they make a compact nest of moss and wool closely interwoven, very similar to the nest of the Linnet and the Redpole; the egg is also very like that of the Linnet, but somewhat smaller, the ground colour white, slightly tinged with green, spotted and streaked with dark red at the larger end; in number four or five. "However domestication may change the feather, I have no reason to believe that it produces any alteration in the colour of the egg; and, in this instance, both the nest and eggs agree closely with the other species of the genus to which the Canary belongs. "Domestication, though continued for years, produces no change in the eggs of pheasants, &c. &c." The Canary has been known to breed in confinement in this country six or eight times a year! While the MANAKIN murmur'd a tremulous song, |