36 NATIONALIST'S CABINET. 



Diseases Cures Habits Age. 



and nightingale. It is very subject to the cramp, 

 and a giddiness of the head> which makes him 

 often fall off from his perch upon his back, and 

 it is present death, unless he has some help speed- 

 ily given him. The best method to prevent it 

 is, to keep him warm and clean in his cage; and 

 as a cure, two or three meal-worms now and then 

 for the former, and six or seven earwigs in a 

 week for the latter. If he has a little appetite 

 to eat, he should have now and then six or seven 

 hog-lice. To prevent these diseases, he should 

 be kept very clean and warm, always having dry 

 soft gravel in the bottom of his cage, and never 

 wanting fresh water and wholesome food; he 

 should sometimes have in his water a blade or 

 two of saffron, and a slice of liquorice. 



When taken old he is apt to be sullen at first, 

 and refuse to eat his meat, but by giving him a 

 few worms cut small amongst a little fresh earth, 

 crumbs of bread, &c. in the bottom of his cage, 

 in two or three days he will take his meat freely 

 enough ; a young cock-bird, when taken by a 

 trap, will sing in a short time. 



As to the extent of this bird's life, he seldom 

 lives above seven years, by reason he is so sub- 

 ject to the falling sickness, cramp, and oppres- 

 sion of the stomach. It is reckoned among the 

 birds of passage ; but, as Button says, " the depar- 

 ture in the autumn not being proclaimed among 

 the red- breasts, as among other birds at that 

 season, collected into flocks, many stay behind; 



