For the Birds

[dellacor]

For a story about a neurotic spinster who raised canaries -- hundreds of them, filling her house --- during the Great Depression, would like Biblical or mythical references of canaries -- (if any).

[mousemouse]

I haven't been able to find anything specifically about canaries. But if you broaden the search to birds in general, there are a lot more answers.
Birds can signifie the human soul, as it does in some hinduistic. Acording to the information I found, there should be a passage in the Gospel of John about birds ( foul birds signifying corrupted spririts of men ) but sadly I have not been able to find the passage.
If you then combine the colour of canaries which is yellow or orange, you might come up with something. yellow could mean cowardly, and orange is supposed to be a symbol og hopelesnes ( at least acording to the old alcymists)
Hope this helps just a bit.

[mousemouse]

Oh yeah!
There is an old comedy by Aristophanes called "the birds", haven't read it though.