Correspondence.



261



having enlarged the opening, found that there were three nests

some distance above the aperture. The birds had made a run from

the aperture to the nests by placing seaweed upon the decayed wood.

The nests were shallow' depressions scraped in the wood-dust, with

a few gum leaves and bits of seaweed for lining. Another nest w’as

in the small hollow spout of a large gum, about 40 ft. from the

ground, and had to be reached with the aid of a rope. In the spout

about 9 in., a few pieces of grass and leaves and seaweed had been

placed, and on this were three young Martins. All the nests were

within 200 yards of the beach. Some of the weed used was green,

hut most of it was dry.



CORRESPONDENCE.



Dear Sir, —It was with much interest that I read Mr. Teschemaker’s article

in the May number of the ‘ Avicultural Magazine.’ I have kept hand-reared

nightingales for some years, and they make the most charming and intelligent

of all bird pets, and under proper conditions, the happiest. I find that nightin¬

gales do best in a large cage in a sunny room, where they can get at least an hour s

liberty every day.


My present beauty always picks out the hottest corner and suns himself,

spread out like a butterfly. He is a fine specimen, well coloured, and a wonderful

songster; he has always been much petted and his tameness amounts to positive

cheek. The first nightingale I had was a much smaller and greyer bird, and only

on rare occasions made the slighcest approach to a song.


Bechstein mentions two varieties, and some fanciers recognise two distinct

British species—the small, greyish bird, and the large brown one, both of which

types were well marked in my two birds, both undoubted cocks.


Only those who are willing to spend a certain amount of time and trouble

on their pets should attempt to keep’nightingales, or any of the soft bills. If one

must keep a bird in captivity the least one can do is to look after its health and

comfort.


Absolute cleanliness is essential, and, of course, suitable food. Cecto,

powdered biscuit, an occasional meal of bread and milk, finely minced cooked meat

used with caution in cold weather and when insect food is scarce, cooked potatoes

and cabbage, chopped lettuce and chick-weed, grated carrot, cheese, chopped

currants, grapes, apple, meal-worms, and every spider, ear-wig, or blue-bottle one

can lay hands on—all find a place on my bird’s menu. Nightingales certainly

require a certain amount of grit, and when insect food is not available, something

is wanted to take the place of beetles’ wings, etc., which help the formation of the

little pellets of undigested matter which the bird ejects.



