**Canary-Bird.** See Fringilla. These birds are much admired for their singing, and take their name from the place from whence they originally came, viz., the Canary-islands; but of late years there is a sort of birds brought from Germany, and especially from Tirol, and therefore called German birds, which are much better than the others; though both are supposed to have originally come from the same place. The cocks never grow fat, and by some country people cannot be distinguished from common green-birds; though the Canary-birds are much lusher, have a longer tail, and differ much in the heaving of the puffages of the throat when they sing. These birds being so much esteemed for their song, are sometimes sold at a high price, according to the goodness and excellency of their notes; so that it will always be advisable to hear one sing before he is bought. In order to know whether he is in good health, take him out of the store-cage, and put him in a clean cage by himself; if he stand up boldly, without crouching or shrinking in his feathers, look with a brisk eye, and is not subject to clap his head under his wing, it is a sign that he is in good health; but the greatest matter is to observe his dunging: if he bolts his tail like a nightingale after he has dunged, it is a sign he is not in good health, or at least that he will soon be sick; but if his dung be very thin like water, or of a flimsy white without any blackness in it, it is a sign of approaching death. When in perfect health, his dung lies round and hard, with a fine white on the outside, dark within, and dries quickly; though a seed-bird seldom dungs so hard, unless he is very young.

Canary-birds are subject to many diseases, particularly impoofhumes, which affect the head, cause them to fall suddenly from the perch, and die in a short time, if not speedily cured. The most approved medicine is an ointment made of fresh butter and capon's grease melted together. With this the top of the bird's head is to be anointed for two or three days, and it will dissolve the impoofhume: but if the medicine has been too long delayed, then, after three or four times anointing, see whether the place of his head be soft; and if so, open it gently, and let out the matter, which will be like the yolk of an egg; when this is done, anoint the place, and the bird will be cured. At the same time he must have figs with his other food, and in his water a slice or two of liquorice, with white sugar-candy.

Canary-birds are distinguished by different names at different times and ages: such as are about three years old are called runts; those above two are named eriffs; those of the first year under the care of the old ones, are termed branchers; those that are new-flown, and cannot feed themselves, pushers; and those brought up by hand, nestlings.

The Canary-birds may be bred with us; and, if treated with proper care, they will become as vigorous and healthful as in the country from whence they have their name. The cages in which these birds are kept are to be made either of walnut-tree or oak, with bars of wire; because these, being woods of strength, do not require to be used in large pieces. The common shape of cages, which is cylindric, is very improper for these birds; for this allows little room to walk, and without that the birds usually become melancholy. The most proper of all shapes is the high and long, but narrow.

If these birds eat too much, they grow over-fat, lose their shape, and their singing is spoiled; or at least they become so idle, that they will scarce ever sing. In this case their victuals is to be given them in a much smaller quantity, and they will by this means be recovered by degrees to all their beauty, and will sing as at first.

At the time that they are about to build their nests, there must be put into their cages some hay, dried thoroughly in the sun; with this must be mixed some mosses dried in the same manner, and some stag's hair; and great care is to be taken of breeding the young, in the article of food.—As soon as the young birds are eight days old, or somewhat more, and are able to eat and pick up food of themselves, they are to be taken out of the cage in which they were hatched, and each put separately into another cage, and hung up in a room where it may never have an opportunity of hearing the voice of any other bird. After they have been kept thus about eight days, they are to be excited to sing by a bird-pipe; but this is not to be blown too much, or in too shrill a manner, lest they sing themselves to death.

For the first fifteen days the cages are to be covered with a black cloth, and for the fifteen days following with a green one. Five lessons in a day from the pipe are sufficient for these young creatures; and they must not be disturbed with several sounds at the same time, lest they confound and puzzle them: two lessons should be given them early in the morning, one about the middle of the day, and two more at night.

The genius and temper of the several birds of this kind are very different. The males are almost always melancholy, and will not sing unless they are excited to it by hearing others continually singing about them. The male bird of this kind will often kill the female put to him for breeding; and when there are several females together with the males, they will often do the same to one another from jealousy. It is therefore not easy to manage the article of their breeding well in this particular, unless in this manner: let two female birds be put into one cage, and when they have lived together some time, they will have contracted a sort of love for one another, which will not easily be dissolved. Put a male bird into the cage with these two, and every thing will go well; their friendship will keep them from quarrelling about his favours, and from danger of his mischievous disposition; for if he attacks one of them, in order to kill her, the other will immediately take her part; and after a few of these battles, the male will find that they are together an over-match for him at fighting, and will then distribute his favours to them, and there will not fail of being a young breed or two, which are to be taken away from their parents, and educated as before directed. Some males watch the time of the female's laying, and devour the eggs as fast as she deposits them; and others take the young ones in their beak as soon as hatched, and crush them to death against the sides of the cage, or some other way destroy them. When a male has been known once to have been guilty of this, he is to be shut up in a small cage, in the middle of the large one in which the female is breeding her young, and thus he will often comfort her with singing all day long, while she sits upon the eggs or takes care of the young ones; and when the time of taking away, to put them into separate cages, is come, the male is to be let out, and he will always after this live in friendship with the female.

If the male become sick during the time of the female's sitting or bringing up her young, he must be removed immediately, and only brought to the side of her cage at certain times, that she may see him, till he is perfectly cured; and then he is to be shut up again in his cage in the middle.

Canary-birds are various in their notes; some having a sweet song, others a lowish note, others a long song, which is best, as having the greatest variety of notes: but they sing chiefly either the titlark or nightingale notes. See Song of Birds.