8 



BIRD NEWS 



THE PEKIN NIGHTINGALE. 



(By Dr. S. R. Jacobs). 



This popular bird, also known as 

 the Japanese Robin, East India Sun 

 Bird and Chinese Nightingale, and 

 being such an attractive bird, it is 

 surprising that he has not more 

 names, and claimed as indigenous 

 to more countries, as he is certain- 

 ly a bird to be proud of. In treat- 

 ing with the Pekin Nightingale, you 

 are at once dealing with one of the 

 most graceful and beautiful song- 

 sters known to bird-lovers. 



There is much in keeping in cap- 

 tivity, birds for their beautiful plum- 

 age and likewise those for their en- 

 trancing song, but it is a rare treat 

 to get a combination of both, and 

 in the Pekin Nightingale, we cer- 

 tainly have both qualities, well de- 

 fined. You may be the possessor of 

 ever so splendid a collection of birds, 

 yet when your visitors are admiring 

 them, it is safe to say, if you have 

 nightingales, that about the first 

 question asked is, "what bird is 

 that?" designating the bird that is 

 here, there, everywhere, while you 

 are looking at it. He attracts at- 

 tention at once, if noi by its song, 

 then by his beautiful plumage, if 

 not by that, by his general activity 

 and graceful movements. He seems 

 to take particular notice of you, ap- 

 pears to be "showing off" for your 

 especial benefit and there is not a 

 dull moment while you are in his 

 company. 



My close acquaintanceship with 

 him for over six years, makes me his 

 admirer and friend, and if those of 

 my readers will at the first oppor' 

 tunity acquire a pair of these beau- 

 tiful birds, you may feei assured 

 of many days of delightful, inter- 

 esting companionship and have an 

 acquisition to your collection of 

 birds, never to be dispensed with. 



He is very grateful for any little 

 delicacies you favor him with, and 

 a meal worm, a fly or a fat juicy 



spider, will cause him to make 

 manifest his pleasure by a few of 

 his excellent notes, rendered in his- 

 best manner. He will soon learn, 

 to take any delicacy from your fin- 

 gers, and after he has become as- 

 sured that you mean him no harm, 

 he will eat from your hand and is 

 easily tamed. When butterflies are 

 plentiful, catch a few and turn them 

 loose in the aviary, and you will then. 

 have an opportunity of witnessing 

 some exceptionally lively movements 

 on the part of your nightingale. The 

 butterflies likewise do their share. 

 This pastime affords you and your 

 visitors a few exciting moments, and 

 is a pleasant diversion for all, save 

 the butterfly. The Pekin Nightin- 

 gale is about five incJies in length, 

 smooth and sleek, of an olive green 

 color, the throat of a light orange, 

 gradually merging into an in- 

 tense orange on the breast. The 

 wings tipped with orange and the 

 tail feathers black-barred with white 

 feathers. The eyes are large, dark, 

 restless and exceedingly bright and 

 surrounded by a white ring. The 

 bill is long, slender and of a red- 

 dish tinge. 



The female is a little smaller than 

 the male, the markings, however, 

 are quite as beautiful, but not so 

 deep in color. The male has a most 

 beautiful warble and sings almost 

 constantly, by night light as well as 

 day. He has not a shrill note and 

 his flute like song is never tiring. 

 The females call is quite plaintive 

 and frequently gives the cue for the 

 male to sing. I have frequently 

 taken visitors to my aviary at night 

 and by directing the strong rays 

 of light from an acetylene gas lamp 

 on the nightingales, cause them to 

 sing. The song at night, however, 

 is more subdued, but quite as beau- 

 tiful. The nest is built of strings, 

 firmly fastened in the fork of a tree, 

 and lined with dead leaves, grass, 

 moss, feathers, etc. The eggs are 



