THE NIGHTINGALE. 359 



inexperience of young birds, are reasons, each of which may 

 explain why a Nightingale is occasionally seen late in Septem- 

 ber, or even in October, though this is an exception to the 

 general rule. 



In the aviary the Nightingale can either be allowed to fly 

 about at will, as I have sometimes permitted mine to do, or 

 may be confined in a cage, in which case they will sing both 

 better and more frequently. The latter course is also 

 preferable, because this bird, to be preserved in health for any 

 considerable period, requires more nourishing food than that 

 given to the other inmates of the aviary. The cage may be of 

 any desired form, but should be from twelve to eighteen inches 

 in length, six to twelve inches broad, and twelve inches in 

 height. It should also be roofed with linen or other cloth, that 

 in its struggling and fluttering, especially when first caught, the 

 bird may not injure its head. The cage which I myself use 

 for the Nightingale, and which I believe best adapted for it, 

 may be described as follows: it is eighteen inches long, 

 eight inches deep, and thirteen inches high, except in the 

 middle of the arched roof, which rises to the height of fifteen 

 inches. The sides and bottom are made of osiers, about a 

 quarter of an inch in thickness. The floor of the cage is 

 formed by a drawer one inch and a quarter in height, covered 

 with a sheet of blotting paper, which may be changed, for 

 cleanliness' sake, whenever necessary. The feeding trough, 

 which is so constructed that the bird cannot waste its food, is 

 on one side. In front is a projection, half cylindrical in shape, 

 and reaching from top to bottom of the cage, in which a large 

 water vessel is suspended. Two perches are fixed in the 

 lower part of the cage, and a third higher up, opposite the 

 centre of the projection, not attached to it, but terminating in 

 a fork. All. these I cover with green cloth, to preserve the 

 feet of the bird, which are particularly tender. The roof 

 should be made of green cloth, and the whole cage painted 

 green ; though it is essential to the health of the bird that it 

 be not used till the colour is thoroughly dry. The advantages 

 of such a cage are that it takes up a very little room ; that it 

 does not admit the light so freely as a wire cage, and that the 

 bird can bathe without wetting its perches, or the rest of the 

 cage. 



In hanging the cage, regard must be paid to the peculiarities 



