28 



CLASS AVES. 



find much difficulty in perching, if his claws are too long, 

 but it will be sufficient to pare them from time to time. 

 If the nightingale is attacked with an abscess on the 

 crupper, it should be cut with the point of a scissars, pressed 

 a little with the end of the finger, and the bird should 

 receive some of the insects above mentioned, some wood- 

 lice, and spiders. This malady may be avoided by purging 

 the bird at times, especially in the month of March, with 

 half a dozen of the latter. 



When, by dint of singing, the nightingale gets dried up 

 and thin, poppy seed in the paste is excellent for tranquil- 

 lizing, refreshing, and procuring sleep. Sheep's heart, with 

 the skin, fibres, and veins removed, hashed very fine, and 

 mixed with the paste, fattens it very quickly, as also do figs 

 and elder berries. The poppy seed should be omitted after 

 the moulting, for then the bird grows exceedingly fat, and 

 is exposed to perish of the disease called molten grease. 



Constipation may be removed by four or five of the 

 larvae of the tenebrio, or a large black spider, which is most 

 efficacious. 



For diarrhaea, which may be observed by the dung 

 being more liquid than usual, by the continued shaking of 

 the tail, and bristling of the feathers, sheep's heart, prepared 

 as above mentioned, is an excellent remedy. 



These birds are subject to the gout, particularly the young 

 ones brought up by hand. Those which have it before they 

 can eat alone, infallibly perish. As soon as they begin to 

 limp, it is loss of time to attempt to rear them. When the 

 old ones taken in the net, are attacked, which rarely happens, 

 it proceeds from the cage being exposed to some wind, through 

 crevices which the bird cannot avoid. It is then suffi- 

 cient for the purposes of cure, to put it in some warm place. 

 To prevent this malady, the bottom of the cage should be 

 furnished with moss and sand. Of all these complaints, of 



