306 BRITISH SONG BIRDS, 



and poppy, and bruised hemp-seeds, with oatmeal and millet occa- 

 sionally in the summer as delicacies. Green food, such as chickweed, 

 groundsel, radish, lettuce, water-cresses, plantain, &c., should on 

 no account be omitted, neither should a daily supply of fresh water 

 for bathing in be forgotten. The cages for canaries are more showy 

 and elegant in their shapes and materials than those for any other 

 birds, gothic, Chinese, and arched being amongst the most usual 

 patterns ; and within the last three or four years very pretty dome- 

 topped cages, made of brass wire, with surrounding bands and stands 

 of brass, have become very fashionable. The gothic 

 cages of wood are made of mahogany ; the tops and 

 sides wired, as is also the front in a fanciful manner, 

 and they are usually fitted up with two perches, 

 water and seed glasses, and sliding drawers. The 

 brass dome- topped cages are likewise fitted up with 

 perches and sliding drawer, but instead of glasses 

 for seed and water little japanned cups are fastened 

 to the lower perches. Canaries being rather tender, 

 they should never be kept in a cold room during winter, for such 

 attempts at naturalization are highly prejudicial to the poor birds, 

 and will in all probability cause their death. In summer they may 

 be hung at an open window where they can enjoy the bright sun- 

 shine, and while revelling in its brilliancy and warmth, they pour 

 out their gushing melodies with renewed vigour. 



THE NIGHTINGALE. 



" When unadorned adorned the 

 most," may be applied to the 

 sweetest singer upon earth, for the 

 plumage of a nightingale is about 

 as plain as that of a common house- 

 sparrow. It arrives in England 

 about the middle of April, but 

 when it leaves our shores is some- 

 what uncertain, though it has 

 rarely been seen after the closing 

 in of summer never, we believe, 

 in autumn, unless the bird had met with some accident, and was 

 unable to fly. The female commences her nest early in May, and, 

 like the skylark, always builds on the ground ; the eggs, four or five 

 in number, are of an olive-brown colour. The young ones leave their 

 nest before they are well able to fly, and amuse and strengthen them- 

 selves by hopping from branch to branch. The nightingale, in its 

 natural state, is so wrapt up in its singing, that a stone thrown at 

 the bush in which it is stationed, unless it happens to hit the bird, 

 will not stop its song. Scare it away by all the noise you can make, 

 and you will hear it again, a minute or so after, singing in the new 

 spot it has chosen. It is often taken in traps baited with meal 

 worms, which it is necessary to set near the spot where they have 

 ^een heard to sing; yet they are so unsuspecting in their natures. 



