2007-11-27 21:41:47 · 10 answers · asked by Grinning Football plinny younger 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Old know all is correct. It was sometimes dark in there. They could not put in a match as is could catch some gases on fire. Thus they could not use a light. Instead they lowered in the canary which twittered all the time. If it stopped twittering then the gas was present and the air bad. They are also inexpensive birds.
It did not always kill the canary. In fact when they heard the bird stop singing they pulled it out. But their attitude as is mine was better a bird than a person.
Over the centuries canaries have saved thousands and thousands of lives.
2007-11-27 23:15:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jeff Sadler 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Birds have a complex respiratory system. Air that is breathed in passes through the lungs into a system of air sacks for storage. On the next inspiration this air is pumped through the lungs for a second time making the respiratory system much more efficient that that of mammals.
This feature provides extra oxygen to power flight.
The downside is that any toxins in the air are also absorbed more efficiently and the bird succumbs to the effects faster than mammals.
Why specifically canaries I don't know. They were probably available and easy to keep. Perhaps that is a history question?
2007-11-28 06:27:51 · answer #2 · answered by insomnia c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Canaries were inexpensive and easy to breed. Interestingly, main "breeds" of canaries developed in the coal mining areas of England. There are Yorkshires, Glousters and several other unusual forms. The miners obviously enjoyed the birds beyond the utilitarian use.
2007-11-28 07:52:22 · answer #3 · answered by in a handbasket 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Canaries usually twitter all the time. If there's methane in the air, they stop twittering. No-one's sure why or how, but it's a useful phenomenon. It's only fairly recently that they've developed gas detectors that are more sensitive than canaries.
2007-11-28 05:48:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They are very susceptible to poisons/toxins. The levels of gas in the mine could be very low and the canaries would die and warn the miners to get
out.
2007-11-28 05:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by hivmemphis 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are mean and cruel to canaries
2007-11-28 06:59:23 · answer #6 · answered by Jade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Coz they drop dead when they smell gas! That way they know gas is present!
2007-11-28 05:45:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1867354
2007-11-28 05:50:12 · answer #8 · answered by Barbara Doll to you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they were cheaper than parrots.
And they were going cheep.
2007-11-28 05:45:23 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they are little and die quick
2007-11-28 05:48:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋