ORDER PASSERES. 33 



generally preferred. Their song is said to have more melody, 

 and a greater analogy with that of males in a state of freedom* 

 To accustom them to the cage, the extremities of their wings 

 are tied, and they receive the same aliment as the nightingale, 

 with tender fruits, and even with apples and pears. When it 

 is desired to bring up the young ones from the nest, they must 

 be taken when half fledged, that is, about eight or nine days 

 after their birth, and fed like the young nightingales. They 

 must be kept extremely clean, on dry moss, regularly renewed 

 twice a day. They may, moreover, receive a liquid paste, 

 composed of yolk of egg, bruised hemp-seed, and crumbs of 

 bread. When they can eat alone, parsley, hashed very fine, 

 is added to this, and the whole receives a greater consistence. 

 This diet, however, is sometimes apt to fatten them too rapid- 

 ly, and thus occasion death. The hemp-seed has peculiarly 

 this quality. This may be corrected, by giving them pears 

 or apples, cut in two, figs, grapes, and other little fruits to 

 which they are partial. During winter they must be kept in 

 a warm place ; it is sufficiently so if their meat and drink be 

 not frozen. It is said that their song may be improved, by 

 placing them within hearing of the nightingale. At the 

 epoch of migration, in autumn, these captured warblers are 

 very much agitated during the night, especially at the full of 

 the moon, which causes a great number of them to perish. 

 This torment continues until November, after which they are 

 tranquil until the same season the following year. This de- 

 sire of voyaging does not quit them till after some years of 

 captivity. 



They have been preserved in cage for ten years ; but the 

 ordinary duration of their lives is from five to six. With 

 care they may be brought to nestle in captivity. For this 

 purpose they should be kept in a garden, and the aviary 

 should be provided with evergreens. During winter they 

 must be kept in an apartment. 



VOL. VII. D 



