T H E CAPE CANARY,
Sêf-inus canicstlis, S'ïï'AlNS.
f
TTNDER. the above trivial name several gfeqies of Seria Pinches are sold by
U various dealers: Mr- AbraliairvS, ïo-wètér, infonns'me that S. canùollis is the
species properly so designated. Other species which have been so called are S.
haivracea (now c41ed 5. fla-jmrnirisJ atid mlpkuratus. Ommg to the fact. that
VTtrr Wiener, in Cassell's Cage ^iwéjifionfoimded S. fluvwmt^ with. S. ickrws, I
foi iuer!\- supposed 'the 'larger bird to be the Cape Canary, md described it nnder
tliLtl nai^ie ÎÎ1 my Popular Foreign Cage Birds (Feathered World, 1892, p. r8).
Tlie c vk Cape Canary above is greenisl^ tinged •with grey, the feathers of the
shoiuldexb and hack with ill-defined darker cé^tres; thè lower back and upper taii-
I • erts more d^sîiîictly yellow and tinniarked; the tail feather-s blackish, with yellow'
.ii.icr luariïiiis; tlic wing-coverts greenigh with yeUowet edges to tlip median a-au
!.;icatt r coxci-Li; flight feathers black wâh yellow edges, wider on the ends of the
secondaries, which are narrowly tipped with greyish; head above golden yeUow,
greenish in the centre; back and sides of aegk..pale grèy, spreading as a collar
over the slioulders; ear-coverts grey; lores dusky; i^elid, cheeks, throat, aïid xmder
surface of body golden yellow, brighter on thé chèal. aad front of abdomen ; sides
of body slightly greenish; vent white; under tail-coverts j'ellow.;, under wing-coverts
and axillaries greyish, edged with yellow; flight feathers below dusky, with greyish
inner edges. I.-ength 5;; inches, Beak pale hom-coiour, darker on., the upper
iii.iiidible; legs grejdsli brown; iris dark browu. . '
The hen is much dialer than the cock, all the yellow qolouring psder, and the
upper parts bi-owner.
This is a native of South Africa, and is a fine song-bird; it pairs readily with
the ordinary Canai-y fScriuus canaria), winch is now regarded as it race of thé
Sprin-Fiiicb fS,:rinu>, sa'n'usj, a friend of mine ha\nT!,g succeeded in obtaining two
mules at the first pairing of these distinct species.
Messrs. Sliarpe aTid Layard sa\- that:—"The C-ps Canary is a common 'bird