(Fringilla Spinus, Linn.-Le Tarin, Buff.)

LENGTH nearly five inches. Bill white; eyes black; top of the head and throat black; over each eye there is a pale yellow streak; back of the neck and the back yellowish olive, marked with narrow dusky streaks down the middle of each feather; rump yellow; under parts greenish yellow, palest on the breast; thighs grey, marked with dusky streaks; greater wing coverts pale yellowish green, tipped with black; quills dusky, faintly edged with yellow, the outer web of each at the base fine pale yellow, forming, when the wing is closed, an irregular bar across it; the tail is forked, the middle feathers black, with faint edges, the outer ones yellow, with black tips: legs pale brown; claws white.

The foregoing figure and description were taken from one which was caught on the banks of the Tyne,

and kept some years afterwards in a cage; its song, though not so loud as that of the Canary, was pleasing and sweetly various; it imitated the notes of other birds, even to the chirping of the Sparrow: it was familiar, docile, and chearful, and began its song early in the morning. Like the Goldfinch, the Siskin may easily be taught to draw up its little bucket with water and food. The latter consists chiefly of seeds; it drinks frequently, and seems fond of throwing water over its feathers. It breeds freely with the Canary. When the Siskin is paired with the hen Canary, he is assiduous in his attention to his mate, carrying materials for the nest, and arranging them; and, during the time of incubation, regularly supplying the female with food.

These birds are common in various parts, chiefly of the north of Europe; in most places they are migratory, but do not seem to observe regular periods, as they are sometimes seen in large, and at other times in very small numbers. Buffon observes that those immense flights happen only once in the course of three or four years. They conceal their nest with much art. Kramer says, that in the forests bordering on the Danube, thousands of young Siskins are frequently found, which have not dropt their first feathers, and yet it is rare to meet with a nest. They are not known to breed in this island, nor is it said from whence they come over to us. In some parts of the South it is called the Barley-bird, being seen about that seed time; and in the neighbourhood of London it is known by the name of the Aberdevine.

THE CANARY FINCH

(Fringilla Canaria, Linn.-Le Serin des Canaries, Buff.)

Is about five inches and a half in length. Bill pale flesh red; general colour of the plumage yellow, more or less mixed with grey, and in some with brown on the upper parts; tail long and somewhat forked; legs pale flesh colour.

In this country they are never seen but in a state of captivity. In a wild state they are found chiefly in the Canary islands, whence they have been brought to almost every part of Europe. Buffon enumerates twentynine varieties, and many more might probably be added to the list, were all the changes incident to a state of domestication carefully noted and brought into the account. The breeding and rearing of these charming birds form an amusement of the most pleasing kind, and afford a variety of scenes highly interesting and gratifying. In the places fitted up and accommodated to the use of the little captives, we are delighted to see the workings of nature exemplified in the choice of their mates, building their nests, hatching and rearing their young, and in the impassioned ardour exhibited by the male, whether he is engaged in assisting his faithful mate in collecting materials for her nest, in arranging them for her accommodation, in providing food for her offspring, or in chaunting his lively and amorous songs during every part of the important business. The Canary will breed freely with

the Siskin and Goldfinch, particularly the former, as has been already observed; it likewise proves prolific with the Linnet, but not so readily; and admits also the Chaffinch, Yellow Bunting, and even the Sparrow, though with still more difficulty. In all these instances, excepting the first, the pairing succeeds best when the female Canary is introduced to the male of the opposite species. According to Buffon, the Siskin is the only bird of which the male and female propagate equally with those of the male or female Canaries.

The last-mentioned author, in his History of Birds, has given a curious account of the various methods used in rearing these birds, to which the reader is referred. We have thought it necessary to say so much of a bird, which, though neither of British origin, nor a voluntary visitor, must yet be considered as ours by adoption.*

The importation of Canaries forms a small article of commerce; great numbers are every year imported from Tyrol: four Tyrolese usually bring over to England about sixteen hundred of these birds; and though they carry them on their backs one thousand miles, and pay twenty pounds duty for such a number, they are enabled to sell them at five shillings a-piece.-Phil. Trans. vol. 62.

(Fringilla cannabina, Linn.-La grande Linotte des Vignes, Buff.)

A

THE length is five and a half inches; breadth nine and three quarters. The bill is thick at the base; the upper mandible dusky, the under one whitish. pale brownish streak passes from the bill over and below each eye; the irides are dark; on the crown of the head is a bright crimson or lake-red spot; the rest of the head is ash grey, striped with brown on the back part, and mottled with the same colours on the brow, and on each side of the crown; the chin is yellowish; the hinder part and sides of the neck are dingy ash; the fore part dull white, spotted with dark brown. The breast is of the same brilliant red as the crown

It loses the red breast in the autumn, and assumes it again in the spring; in this it differs from the Grey Linnet, whose plumage continues the same in all seasons.