WAnnLi:ns. no 



Bcchstein, Swoet, and other experienced keepers of fcntliored pets. 

 First as to purchase; — mind a Redstart is not palmed off on you as a 

 Ni"-htincrale, as this is a trick often practised by dishonest dealers. 

 The chief differences between the two birds are these: — The Redstart 

 is smaller, and the general colour darker than the Nightingale; its 

 tail is of a lighter colour, and longer. The Nightingale has a ]iroudcr 

 and more dignified can-iago tlian the Redstart, he Imhls his head 

 more erect, and has a peculiar, deliberate manner of hopping, as if 

 he were conscious of his importance. "If anything attracts his atten- 

 tion, he generally looks at it with only one eye; if he catches sight 

 of an insect, he does indeed hop quickly to the spot, yet does not 

 seize it greedily like other birds, but stands over it a moment, as if 

 ill consideration." It is a difficult matter to distinguish the male 

 Nightingale from the female, indeed none but an experienced bird- 

 fancier is able to do so. The chief differences are, the legs of the 

 latter are shorter, her eyes smaller and less bright, her head rounder, 

 and neck shorter. Prom five shillings to seven and sixpence is the 

 ])rico commonly asked for an adult Nightingale at the bird marts of 

 Whitecha]U'l or Seven Dials; it is, however, by no means safe to 

 purchase a bird unless it has been heard to sing several times; even 

 this is no great security, for these birds when first taken will sing 

 fiercely and almost unceasingly till they drop down dead with exhaustion. 

 Should any of our readers come into possession of a freshly-caught 

 Nightingale, that has not passed through the hands of the dealers, 

 they cannot probably do better than follow the practice pursued by 

 the Whitechapel bird-catchers, as detailed by William Kidd, of 

 Hammersmith, a well-known and enthusiastic lover of song birds, iu 

 the "Gardeners' Chronicle." He says, — "Some fresh raw beef is 

 scraped, and being divested of all fibrous substance, it is mixed into 

 a soft paste, with cold water and hard-boiled yolk of egg. This is 

 put into a large bird-pan. In the middle of this food is placed a 

 very small inverted litpujr glass, v^ith the stem broken off. Under 

 this glass are introduced three or four lively mealworms, whose ofi- 

 repeated endeavours to break out of prison attract the attention of 

 the Nightingale. Not understanding how these worms are placed 

 beyond his reach, he continues to peck at them, until by degrees he 

 tastes the beef and egg, which is artfully rubbed over the sides of 

 the glass. This being palatable, he satiates his appetite with it, and 

 soon feels a zest for it — particularly as his attempts to get at the 

 mealworms always prove abortive. He now cats regularly; he is wluit, 

 is called 'meated olf.' " If Nightingales are taken young there is little 

 chance of rearing them, and even aliujld ihcy survive, tliey are not 



