Warblers. 67 



worms moving about under the glass, and, finding the 

 meat palatable, will eat that ; but he must be supplied 

 with mealworms and ants' eggs also. If taken cap- 

 tive before he has found a mate, he is more likely to 

 become reconciled to his fate ; but if he has already 

 paired when caught, he will possibly pine and sulk, 

 and refuse to eat his food or sing, or will burst forth 

 into a passionate song, and die. Young Nightingales 

 brought up by hand seldom sing well ; they require 

 the tuition of the old birds. If taken from the nest, 

 those which have the lightest-coloured plumage and 

 the most white about the throat should be selected, as 

 they are generally the males. The best food for them 

 is ants' eggs mixed with crumbled and moistened 

 white bread, hard-boiled egg, and occasionally a little 

 bread soaked in milk ; but the old birds will some- 

 times feed them, if the nest and young ones are placed 

 in a cage in the place from which they have been 

 taken. If they are captured also, they must be put 

 in a cage lined with cloth or calico, or they will hurt 

 themselves in their frantic endeavours to escape. Meal- 

 worms, ants' eggs, bread crumbs, and sand should be 

 put on the floor of the cage, and plenty of fresh water 

 supplied to them : they must be left undisturbed for 

 a time, and then the nest of young birds must be put 

 within their reach ; and, if they feed them, they may 

 all be placed in a breeding-cage together, and are 

 likely to go on well ; but if they neglect the young 



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