ORDER PASSERES. 23 



bucket of wood, about two inches deep and three feet in 

 diameter, and filled with earth, and a vase about an inch in 

 depth and filled with water, so that the birds can bathe ; this 

 must be renewed every day ; but the vase should be with- 

 drawn when the female hatches. This nest should be exposed 

 to a southern aspect, but very close and guarded against the 

 north wind ; some curiosi procure themselves a more agree- 

 able enjoyment, by placing the couple in a large aviary, 

 planted with yews, lilacs, &c., or rather in the corner of a 

 garden furnished with these trees, and converted into an 

 aviary by being surrounded with nets. This is the most 

 favourable and certain method. It has been many times ob- 

 served, that the father and mother may be let go with perfect 

 security as long as the young ones are not able to fly ; there 

 is no danger of losing them then. It is only necessary, for 

 the first few days, not to let them both go out at once, but to 

 free the male first, alone, then the female alone, and then 

 both together. But the aperture through which they go out 

 and return, must be near the nest. They will take advantage 

 of this liberty to catch many insects which cannot be pro- 

 cured for them, and which are very necessary to the rearing 

 of their young. It is necessary to avoid entering frequently 

 into the aviary, while the parents have this liberty, and to 

 take especial care that no dog or cat approach, which would 

 be sufficient to make the birds abandon it directly. 



There is no man who would not desire to possess, in a 

 garden ornamented with groves, a bird of such extensive, 

 various, and melodious powers of voice, as the nightingale. 

 The means of fixing this charming musician near one"'s dwel- 

 ling are these : when the little ones have been for about eight 

 days out of the shell, the father and mother must be taken 

 with nets, as we mentioned before, when the object was to 

 make them rear the young. They must be taken very early 

 in the morning, which may be done in about one hour ; as 

 soon as they are caught, they are shut up separately, each in 



