THE NIGHTINGALE. 49 



feed him on the right food. He is the king of song- 

 sters, and he has the king of digestive organs. My 

 bird sings from sunrise to sunset, and never a note 

 at any other hour. When silent, a meal-worm will 

 make him sing during the above-named hours. He 

 will sing very loud till he silences my mocking- 

 bird, and so loud that his song is disagreeable ; but 

 when he has silenced my other birds, thirteen in 

 number, he will delight you for hours. 



" I have always been very particular to keep his 

 cage, perches, and feeding-dish very clean ; have 

 used gravel (sand) in the cage freely, and given him 

 his bath daily ; and I see no reason why, if the same 

 rule is followed, that any bird cannot be kept in 

 health and song for many years." 



4 



