BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 105 



Nightingale^ s Food, 



Their common food is a thick paste or mixture 

 made of sheep's heart or fine-grained hutcher-meat, 

 (freed from all stringy suhstances, skin, and parti- 

 cularly fat,) mixed mth the yolks of hard-boiled 

 eggs, the whole minced very fine and moistened 

 with a little water ; sometimes sweet biscuit is added, 

 but of this we do not approve. Nightingales also 

 occasionally get figs chopped small, spiders, ants' 

 eggs, loaf sugar, flies, soft smooth grubs (they will 

 not touch a hairy one,) and the caterpillars of but- 

 terflies, moths, and hawk-moths; but these are only 

 given when the birds are not in good health. Some 

 even give cheese; but this we consider detrimental 

 to all birds. Many feed their nightingales with 

 Oerman paste, an article will known to amateurs 

 or bii'd-fanciers, and to bird-catchers. Others give 

 their birds a paste made of particular herbs and 

 the minced heart; but this has proved fatal to many 

 a fine bird. We would therefore recommend, as the 

 best food for these birds, the common " nightin- 

 gale's food," already mentioned. Give of this paste 

 to each bird, every day, about the size of a nutmeg, 



which must be fresh made and of sweet materials. 

 £ 2 



