24 FEATHERED FRIENDS, 



black tender eyes have closely scrutinized everything 

 that falls within their range. 



Not much use, is there, in trying to catch such a 

 cunning creature as thatl the inexperienced spectator 

 is involuntarily tempted to exclaim. But on the con- 

 trary, there is not a less suspicious bird anywhere 

 than the Nightingale, or one that falls more readily 

 into a snare, even when it has been spread before its eyes. 

 The usual bait is a mealworm placed in some con- 

 spicuous position and surrounded by limed twigs. The 

 insect is tied to a little peg by means of a fine black 

 thread, but in such a manner as not to impede its 

 movements, and its struggles to escape soon attract the 

 attention of the watchful Nightingale, which at once 

 hops down to reconnoitre, goes through the whole wise- 

 looking performance of seeing that all is safe, rushes 

 in, seizes the prey, and is caught! 



So far no great harm would be done if so many of 

 these grand songsters did not resent their capture so 

 bitterly as to prefer death to the loss of their freedom ; 

 but, as I have said, scarce one in twenty that are thus 

 limed in the spring will survive their disgrace, chiefly 

 because the captors do not know how to treat the poor 

 creatures. 



The Nightingale may be described as a purely insect- 

 ivorous bird, and the trappers are bent upon making 

 him live on artificial food, which he loathes, and which, 

 even when he does make up his mind to swallow it, 



