Canary-bird

(kah-nā're.) (Zool.) The Car duel is canaria, a beautiful yellow singing-bird, fam. Fringillidæ, originally brought from the Canary Islands, where it is of green color. It was introduced into Europe in the 16th cent., and is now much bred in the U. States. Canary Islands, or THE CANARIES, [supposed to be the Fortunate Islands of the ancients,] a group in the N. Atlantic Ocean, belonging to Spain, 135 m. N.W. of Cape Bojador on the W. coast of Africa, and 650 S.W. of Cadiz; between 27° 40′ and 29° 40′ N. Lat., and 13° 32' and 18° 20' W. Lon. They consist of 7 principal islands embracing an area of 3,256 sq. m., besides several small detached ones. The pp. islands, proceeding from E. to W., are Lanzarota, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Teneriffe, Gomera, Palma, and Hierro or Ferro. Teneriffe is the most important of the group, and contains the chief town, Santa Cruz de Teneriffe, which has a pop. of 9,500, and where the Spanish governor resides. These islands are of volcanic origin, and on Teneriffe is the celebrated Peak of Teyde or Teneriffe, 11,400 ft. above the level of the sea. Clim. Hot, but healthy. Soil. Fertile, producing both tropical and temperate grains and fruits in abundance. The C. wine, which is largely exported, is made of half-ripe grapes, and resembles that of Madeira. The C., first discovered in 1330, were taken po e ion of by the French in 1400, who were dispo e ed by the Spaniards towards the end of the 15th cent. Pop. 239,859. [s. 135]