THE NIGHTINGALE. 21o 



healthy pair a whole room, in which a sort of grove should be formed of 

 branches. 



DISEASES. In general moulting amounts to a disease among nightingales : 

 at this critical time they require a more succulent diet, and sometimes a 

 spider by way of purgative. If their stomach is disordered they puff up 

 their feathers, half shut their eyes, and remain for hours with their head 

 under their wing. They are relieved and cured by ants' eggs, some spiders, 

 and by giving them occasionally water impregnated with saffron till it is of 

 an orange colour, to drink. 



As to those diseases which they have in common with other birds, they 

 are treated according to the directions given in the Introduction. It is 

 especially necessary, every three months, carefully to remove the large scales 

 from their legs and toes. A nightingale may be kept in confinement fifteen 

 years ; whilst in a wild state they are never observed to exist so long in 

 the same spot, which seems to prove that they do not attain so great an age 

 when exposed to all sorts of accidents, both from birds of prey and bird- 

 catchers. I have an instance of a nightingale which has lived twenty-five 

 years in confinement. When they have reached six years they begin to 

 sing less frequently and long, with less brilliancy and ornament ; it is then 

 better to set them at liberty in the month of May. The open air often 

 invigorates them so much that they regain their song in all its force and 

 beauty. 



MODE OF TAKING. Nothing is easier than to catch a nightingale in the 

 season of pairing. If a little furrow, smooth at the bottom, is dug in a dark 

 soil, and some meal worms or ants' eggs are thrown into it, he will imme- 

 diately fly to these delicacies. By putting also in the same place limed 

 twigs, or a small net which may be easily dropped, he will soon be caught ; 

 it is even sufficient to fix over the furrow a bit of wood supported by a 

 stick, which will fall as soon as the bird perches upon it. He is so un- 

 suspicious that he observes the snare being laid, and then foolishly falls into 

 it, when the bird-catcher has moved only a few steps from it ; he will even 

 allow himself to be led to it when at a little distance, if in a gentle manner. 

 A birdcatcher may thus, in a few hours, depopulate a whole district of these 

 delightful songsters. If, however, this is feared, there is a means of baffling 

 his intentions, by anticipating him, and catching the nightingale we wish to 

 preserve in our neighbourhood, either by a limed twig or in a net, and 

 letting him go again. This experiment will prevent his falling so readily 

 into the snare in future. In the greater part of Germany, indeed, it is for- 

 bidden, under a very heavy penalty, to catch nightingales. Another mode 

 of taking them is by nooses and springes, and suspending for a bait, instead 

 of berries, live meal-worms ; but there is one disadvantage attending it, whilo 

 struggling the bird almost always injures his feet, especially in springes. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. The first good quality of a nightingale is un- 

 doubtedly its fine voice, and notes which 1 shall endeavour to describe. The 

 nightingale expresses his different emotions by suitable and particular tones. 

 The most unmeaning cry when he is alone appears to be a simple whistle 

 /ill, but if the syllable err is added, it is then the call of the male to the 

 female. The sign of displeasure or fear is fitt repeated rapidly and loudly 

 before adding the terminating err ; whilst that of satisfaction and pleasure 



