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determined to possess, if possible, a perfect songster, — I should

be a fairly good judge.


With regard to the treatment which is the secret of success.

First we will take the cage, which is a very important factor in.

the comfort of the bird. This should be of the box pattern,

wired onl}^ in the front; and great care should be taken to see

that there are no sharp projections such as nails, or any cracks

in the bottom, or an}^ loose rough wires in the front, as the

Nightingale is a very restless bird when in health, and con-

tinually jumping about; and the chances are that, in the course

of his daily exercise, he would come across some of these

imperfections, and ver}^ likely break his leg. I mention this as

I have lost birds in this way myself; and if there is any faulty

place in the cage they will find it. The top of the cage should

be covered with baize to prevent any damage to the bird's head

if he should fly upwards, as caged Nightingales often do,

particularly during the breeding season. The perches, I find,

are much better of plain wood, say about fin. diameter, and

not covered with any material, such as baize or wash-leather.

The cage bottom should be well covered with sharp grit, say

about l^in. thick, and cleaned out at least twice a week.

Since I have adopted the plain perches and plenty of grit at

the bottom of the cage I have not been troubled in the least

with the birds' feet, and their claws have kept their natural

length, being of course worn down by the grit.


The cage dimensions should be at least 2ft. by i8in. by

i5in., and the food should be placed in porcelain hoppers. The

bird should be kept in a cool room having no artificial heat

whatever, as I find the Nightingale can stand a great amount of

cold, and should have a bath every day ; of course during the

winter you must add a little warm water just to take the chill

off — your finger will be a sufficient thermometer, but I should

say the temperature should be about fifty degrees in the winter.

After the bird has bathed draw out the bottom, scrape away the

wet sand, and cover with fresh grit.


The staple food should be yolk of hard-boiled new laid

egg mixed with ants' eggs of the best quality, and only mix

enough to last the bird one day (this you will soon find out by

experience), and do not on any account give it stale food —

particular attention should be paid to this in summer time as it

is then more liable to turn sour. I make the yolk of one egg last

two days tor two birds — that is, each bird gets one quarter of the

egg each day; the remaining portion of the egg should be placed



