306 Canaries and C ace-Birds. 



floods of song of a most enchanting description. These remarks are more particularly applicable 

 to the night-time, but it is not only when darkness covers the earth that we are favoured with the 

 Nightingale's sweet and flute-like strains, for they will sing all day long, making themselves 

 distinctly heard above the chorus of the surrounding sharers of the copse. Some naturalists 

 contend that these day songsters are a distinct species, and only sing by daylight, whereas the 

 nocturnal bird invariably chooses darkness ; but we have known many birds that would sing 

 both day and night, and from experience cannot coincide with those opinions. It would, however, 

 be advisable to hold this idea in view when choosing a place to hang the cage, some birds 

 preferring light, while others will sing better in the shade. 



The eggs are generally five in number, and of an olive-brown colour. As soon as the young 

 are hatched, the song almost ceases, generally in June, unless the first nest has been taken or 

 destroyed, in which case they immediately commence another, and the singing is continued until 

 the eggs are hatched. The whole time of the parents is then employed in providing their young 

 with food, which is principally composed of small green caterpillars. The food of the adult bird 

 consists of insects, such as caterpillars, small worms, beetles, moths, and flies, though it is 

 particularly fond of the larvae of ants. 



The cage in which a Nightingale is confined may be of various kinds, but we recommend 

 one made of the following shape and dimensions : — Eighteen inches long, eight inches deep, and 

 thirteen inches high, rising to fifteen inches in the centre ; the top and back of wood, the bottom of 

 osiers, with bars also of osier or wood, the floor being formed by a wooden drawer, which may be 

 strewed with sand or covered by a piece of blotting-paper, the sand being then provided in a pan. 

 The feeding-trough should be placed at the side, and if the cage can be so constructed as to have 

 a semi-circular projection to contain the water-vessel, which must be cleaned and filled daily, 

 it will help to keep the cage and perches dry. Two perches should be placed near the feeding 

 and drinking vessel, and another in the centre of the cage, which perches it is advisable to cover 

 with soft green cloth ; the roof should be also covered inside with the same material, to prevent 

 the bird from injuring itself. The cage also had better be painted, taking care that it be 

 thoroughly dry before placing the bird in it. This cage will be darker than if of wire, and will 

 consequently give the bird more privacy. 



Fanciers have a peculiar recipe for inducing the freshly-caught birds to take food, which is 

 called " meating off." It is managed in the following ingenious manner : — Some fresh raw beef 

 or bullock's heart is scraped, and, being divested of all fibrous substance, is mixed into a soft paste 

 with hard-boiled yolk of q^^ ; and for the first day or two a few mealworms or beetles, cut up, 

 are placed among it. This mixture is placed in a large bird-pan. In the middle of this food is 

 placed a large deep watch-glass, or, if that is not obtainable, a very small inverted liqueur-glass 

 with the stem broken off. Under this glass are introduced three or four lively mealworms, whose 

 oft-repeated endeavours to break out of prison attract the attention of the Nightingale. Not 

 understanding how these worms are placed beyond his reach, he continues to peck at them, until 

 by degrees he tastes the beef and egg, which is artfully rubbed over the sides of the glass. This 

 being palatable, the bird satiates its appetite and soon feels a zest for it, particularly as his attempts 

 to get at the mealworms always prove abortive. He will soon eat regularly; in fact, he is "meated 

 off." It is advisable, however, so as to be assured that the bird gets something, to cram it 

 with the mixture, giving two small pieces three times a day ; this will whet its appetite without 

 satiating it, and will also accustom the bird to the flavour of its new food. The writer has tried 

 this recipe with unvarying success. 



In the aviary, if a Nightingale be allowed to fly about freely with the other birds, it will 



