THE BLACK SEDSTAET. 387 



by no means common among singing birds that it sings dur- 

 ing the whole period it is with us, even in the coldest and 

 stormiest weather. It may sometimes be heard piping its 

 song, perched on a weathercock. 



In a room it may either be allowed to run about, or may be 

 confined in a Nightingale's cage. 



Food. When wild, this bird eats the flies on houses and 

 stones, which the warmth of spring has enticed out. It also 

 eats cabbage-caterpillars, and other insects, and in autumn 

 elderberries. 



If intended to be kept in confinement longer than a year, it 

 must be fed like the Nightingale, and sometimes also on ants' 

 eggs and meal worms. Old birds may sometimes be tamed in 

 autumn, by putting elderberries among their food ; in spring 

 ants' eggs and meal worms are a good substitute. They have 

 been known to live six years in a cage. 



Breeding. They build in rocks and holes of walls, but espe- 

 cially in lofty old buildings, on timbers of roofs, where the 

 nest can stand alone on a beam or support. It is made of hair 

 and hay woven together. The female lays six eggs, of a pure 

 white colour, twice a year. The young are of a reddish grey, 

 and must be taken out of the nest when the tail is half grown. 

 They are to be fed on ants' eggs and wheaten-bread, softened 

 in milk. They are subject to the same diseases as the Fau- 

 vette. 



Mode of Taking. Limed twigs, to which meal worms have 

 been attached, are to be placed in any spot which they are ob- 

 served to frequent. In autumn they may be taken in springes 

 before which elderberries have been hung. 



Attractive Qualities. From the red tail, and the call, fitza, 

 both of which it has in common with the Nightingale, this 

 bird has probably derived its name, " wall Nightingale." It 

 cannot have been so called from its song which, although 

 peculiar, has no similarity to the various melody of the Night- 

 ingale. It consists of three parts, of which the middle is 

 little better than a croak, though the upper and lower possess 

 some high and clear notes. It sings from morning till night ; 

 its movements are light and nimble ; whenever it sits down, it 

 vibrates its tail from side to side, cries Fitza ! and, which is the 

 case with very few birds, is active till it is quite night, whe- 

 ther wild or in confinemeut. 



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