22 CLASS AVES. 



by degrees ; it is kept there until the ena of May, and the 

 light is gradually restored, as it was withdrawn ; this pro- 

 duces on the bird the effects of spring, and it will sing in 

 June. The same experiment may then be tried with another 

 bird, and so on to the end of November. Thus with two 

 males, a person may always enjoy the song of one, while the 

 other is silent ; but care must be taken, that one shall never 

 hear the song of the other, and that during the winter the 

 cold be carefully excluded. Some deprive the nightingale of 

 sight, for the purpose of making it sing almost continually ; 

 but we shall spare our readers the details of this barbarous 

 and disgraceful operation. 



Notwithstanding the great obstacle presented by the love 

 of liberty, which is stronger in these birds than almost any 

 others, the means have been found to make them nestle in 

 their prison, and rear their offspring. The best for this pur- 

 pose, are those which have been caught the preceding spring, 

 and made to bring up their young : the male and female 

 should have been kept in separate cages during the winter, 

 and then placed together (in their cages) in an apartment 

 destined to the desired object, that they may grow accus- 

 tomed to each other by degrees. They should be suffered to 

 come out of their cages from time to time. This alliance will 

 be all the better, the more it is owing to nature, for the 

 attempt to pair them by force is rarely successful. At the 

 commencement of April their cages are left continually open. 

 They are then furnished with such materials as they are in 

 the habit of employing for their nests : such as oak-leaves, 

 moss, hair, Sic. Four fagots of dry and small wood are 

 placed in a corner of the chamber, near the window, one 

 against the other, connected together but loosely, and fixed 

 by the gross end. They are furnished with oak leaves on 

 the top, sides, and between the branches, leaving no opening 

 to facilitate an entrance except one, through which the hand 

 can be passed. There is placed there, moreover, a little 



