CANARY (named after the Canary Islands). A small finch Warduclis Canaria), a native of the Canary Islands. Aladeira, and the Cape Verde, but introduced into Europe as a cage-bird in the latter part of the Fifteenth or early in the Six teenth Century, and now found, as a captive, in all parts of the world where Europeans have gone. So popular has the canary become as a aged6rd, on account of its power of song and its gentle manners, that the breeding of canaries for the market is not only a popular avocation in some places. but even an important industry. In the wild state the plumage is dull greenish, streaked with darker shades, like a siskin (q.v.), and the yellow, orange, or red shades of the domesticated birds are entirely the result of man's artificial selection. The size of the ca nary, as well as its color, has been profoundly modified by domestication, and some varieties are half as large again as the wild bird. which is rather more than 5 inches in length. The musical powers of the bird have also been con siderably modified, and there is much variety in the different breeds in this particular. but it is doubtful whether in power and clearness the domestic birds are the equal of those which are wild. In their native haunts canaries frequent the vicinity of houses, build their nests of Moss, hair, grass, feathers, etc., in bushes or trees, and raise two or more broods in the season. The eggs are four or five in a set. and are pale blue, generally unspotted. The birds feed chiefly upon seeds, especially of certain grasses. but they also cat, soft green leaves, buds, and occasionally insects.
The breeding and training of eanaries is a subject of nmeh interest and no little impor tance. It has been carried on most extensively in northern England. Seotland. Belgium. and especially in the Harz Mountains in Germany. The various breeds of canaries take their in part from the locality where bred, and in part from some characteristic of the breed which iS specially notable. There are a large number of varieties. of which the following are the most important. To begin with the British breeds, the Norwich canary is fatuous for the beauty of its but not for its great powers of song. It is an inferior singer cow
pareo to other breeds, especially some of the Barz Nountain birds. The Norwich canary is often crested, a pleasing addition to its appear ance. The Alanehester canaries are also notable, particularly the Alanehester cmpy, %vhi•h is the giant of canaries, sometimes reaching a length of S inches. They are not, however, remarkable songsters. Anumg the more curious breeds are the Yorkshire Don and Scotch Palley, which arc very slender, with long neck, trunk, and tail, gracefully curved, so that in extreme examples the bird is almost a half-circle. Among the hand somest breeds are the gold and silver 'spangled' canaries, which, as their names imply, are not uniformly colored. but have a comparatively null ground eoliir, spangled with very bright or very pale feathers. These breeds are more valu able as ornaments than as musicians. The Bel gian canaries are also bred especially for appear ance, and sonic of them are almost monstrosi ties. The most notable of these is the variety known as 'humped-backs,' which have a small bead. very short neck and broad shoulders, at combination that gives a very odd appearance. They are usually yellow. but the is a sec ondary matter. The Harz _Mountain canaries are the most famous of all, and are especially noted for their powers of song. The color is regarded as of much less importa nee, and conse quently they vary much from bright green to clear yellow. The best of all singers are the Saint Andreasberg canaries. and the choicest of these command a large price. Individual birds, with exceptional ability as singers, are used as instrnetors for young birds, and are known as 'eampaninis."fhere are two other breeds of canaries not confined to any special hicality, but which take their names from their color. The most interesting of these are the natural cinna nums, which are deep brownish-yellow or red dish. and are often very beautiful. '1'h, others are known as eagennes. and are reddish, a color produced by judicious feeding of red pepper to the growing birds. They are sometimes nearly scarlet. and often handsome birds, but breeders of einnamons regard them as an abomination.