CHAP. xiv.J SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT. 443 



and dies of starvation. This at least may be relied on ; 

 a captured bird has been known to become quite tame 

 in four or five days, if taken before the arrival of the 

 females. But they seem, like their kidnappers, to vary 

 very much in temperament. Two birds caught on the 

 same day have shown very different dispositions, one 

 becoming quite tame almost at once, the other continuing 

 shy and intractable for many months. A new-caught 

 bird is generally placed in a large cage and covered over 

 with green baize, which is gradually removed as he 

 acquires confidence. To induce him to eat, hard-boiled 

 egg and lean beef are minced together quite fine, and in 

 the midst of the mess a wire worm is fastened to attract 

 his attention. A little bruised hemp-seed may now 

 and then be mixed with his meat and egg. 



C. You seem to think I am going to take a Nightin- 

 gale home with me by the minute instructions you are 

 giving. Why do you not keep one yourself ? 



E.-A. They are too troublesome for me. I have 

 known several people attempt to keep them, but from 

 the great attention requisite, they have seldom been 

 maintained in life longer than a single season. They 

 require the utmost nicety in feeding and cleaning; living 

 as they do on animal food, they soon become very offen- 

 sive if not regularly attended to. Their food must be 

 chopped fresh every day, and every other day at least 

 the sliding bottom of the cage must be scraped and 

 strewed with fresh sand. I do not want one here, be- 

 cause any time during the season I can go and listen 

 to one : but you may, perhaps, like to gratify your 

 countrymen with the sight and sound of the foreign 

 vocalist. 



C. Not a bad idea. I almost wish one of your ex- 



