CANARY, a passerine bird (Serinus canarius), belonging to the family Fringillidae or finches (see FINCH). It is a native of the Canary Islands and Madeira, where it occurs abundantly in the wild state, and is of a greyish-brown colour, slightly varied with brighter hues. It was first domesticated in Italy during the 16th century. Since then, the canary has been the subject of care ful artificial selection, the result being the production of a bird differing widely in the colour of its plumage, and even in size and form, from the wild species. The prevailing colour of most vari eties of the canary is yellow. Size and form have also been mod ified by domestication, the wild canary being not more than 51 in. in length while one well-known Belgian variety usually measures 8 in. There are also hooped or bowed canaries, feather-footed forms; and top-knots, having a distinct crest on the head. Most of the varieties, however, differ merely in the colour and the mark ings of the plumage. Hybrids are common, the canary breeding freely with the siskin, goldfinch, citril, greenfinch and linnet. The hybrids thus produced are almost invariably sterile. In a state of nature canaries pair, but under domestication the male bird is polygamous. The canary is very prolific, producing three or four broods (of up to six eggs each) every year and in a state of nature it is said to breed still oftener. The work of nest-building and incubation falls chiefly on the female, while the duty of feeding the young rests mainly with the cock. The natural song of the canary is loud and clear. They readily imitate other birds. In Germany gramophone records of the nightingale's song have been used to train cocks to sing almost like nightingales. Their young learn the new type of song from their fathers.