ORDER PASSERES. 27 



get fat very speedily. The pots should be of the ware above- 

 mentioned, because these insects would soon escape, if they 

 were put into a box or vessel against which they could climb. 

 For this reason, also, there should be two or three inches diifer- 

 ence between the bran and the edges of the opening. This pre- 

 caution is indispensable, because they could otherwise escape, 

 and also because being exceedingly voracious, they would 

 destroy both books and furniture. The vessel should be 

 kept in a dry place ; the bran must be renewed from time 

 to time ; it is easy to observe when it is consumed, as it is 

 then reduced to a sort of grey dust ; it should be sifted 

 twice a year, and then renewed altogether, for otherwise it 

 contracts a bad odour, and a humidity occasioned by the 

 mixture of the excrements of these insects, which causes 

 them to become emaciated and perish. 



To understand the symptoms of illness in the nightingale, 

 it is necessary to be acquainted with the signs of its good 

 health : when in this latter state, it will sing frequently 

 during the season, which is from December to the end of 

 June. We must except, however, the first year of its cap- 

 tivity, in which it is seldom heard before February. It will 

 also frequently pick and cleanse its plumes, especially on 

 the back. It will evince much gaiety and alertness, stir- 

 ring about in its cage, shaking its wings, &c. Finally, it 

 will sleep on one foot, eat well, and be particularly eager 

 after the insects above mentioned. 



Such are the signs of health, but when the nightingale 

 remains during the night at the bottom of its cage, it is a 

 sign of illness, unless its toes should be embarrassed by the 

 attachment of dung, which will happen, if proper attention 

 be not paid to cleanliness. The dung will harden to such a 

 degree, as to prevent the bird from remaining on the perch. 

 In this case, he should be taken out by the hand, and his 

 feet steeped in warm water, to cleanse them. He will also 



