CANARY, a small domesticated finch (Car duelis canaria), closely allied to the goldfinch (q.v.), and found throughout the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Madeira. Domestica tion, besides having modified the size and colors of this bird, has developed its power of song. It was introduced into Europe as a cage-bird early in the 16th century, and is now familiar in all parts of the world. Canaries in their wild state are about five inches long, and, like other finches, live mainly upon seeds, seldom eating insects. They build nests of moss and feathers in bushes and trees, often near dwellings; and their pale-blue eggs number four or five. Cana ries are bought, bred and sold in large numbers in England, Scotland, Belgium and in the Hartz Mountains, where their breeding forms an im portant household industry. The varieties are named, to a great extent, from the localities in which they are bred. Among birds valued for their beauty rather than for their power of song are: the British crested Norwich canary, the Manchester canary, which is noted for its abnormal size, it sometimes reaching a length of eight inches. The Scotch Fancy is a slender bird with long neck, its body, trunk and tail, when in certain positions, curving into almost a half circle. The gold- and silver-spangled canaries are considered the handsomest. Their ground color is dull, spotted with gold or silver markings. The Belgian or humpback canaries are also bred for their beauty of plumage, and are remarkable by reason of the peculiar appear ance they present by their broad shoulders, short neck and small head. Canaries bred for their power of song, and selling for from $1 to $75, are those of the Hartz Mountains, which vary in color from a clear yellow to a bright green. The most valuable of all varieties is the South Andreasberg bird, • bred solely for their power of song. Single birds are fre
quently utilized for the instruction of young birds, and are known as Other varieties are the cinnamon canaries and the the brilliant red and scarlet of the latter being due to judicious feeding with red pepper. Canaries are also crossed by fanciers, with other finches; the resulting hybrids are called "mules," and are usually from the mating of hen canaries with other cock birds, great difficulty being experienced in keeping female goldfinches, linnets, etc., on the eggs in cap tivity.
Canaries are easily cared for, the only essen tials being cleanliness, food and water. The principal danger to the bird is a cold draught. The best food consists of canary-grass seed, hemp-seed and a certain amount of greens. Acids are to be avoided, but sugar is beneficial in small quantities. Lime is essential to its wel fare and is most easily obtained in cuttlefish bone. If their nails grow so long as to be trou blesome to the bird, they should be occasionally cut with a very sharp scissors, thus running no chance of injuring the foot. Attention must also be given to the perches. These should be no thicker than a thin lead pencil, so that the birds' toes may meet around them. Consult Wallace, 'The Canary Book' (London 1893) ; Belts, 'The Pleasurable Art of Breeding Pet Canaries' (London 1897) ; Blakston, Swaysland and Miener, 'The Book of Canaries and Cage Birds' (London) ; Holden, 'Canaries and Cage Birds' (New York 1883) ; Robson, 'Canaries, Hybrids and British Birds in Cage and Aviary' (London 1912). Consult also the weekly, Cage-Birds (London).
or CANARY BIRD FLOWER, an annual climbing plant (Tropeolum peregrinum), of the nasturtium family, a native of Colombia, cultivated for its showy yellow flowers.