106^ TREATISE ON 



In winter, parboil the heart or buteher-meat before 

 adding the eggs ; only, instead of water, use a little 

 of the liquid in which the heart is boiled. To keep 

 the liquor pure, all the fat must be carefully picked 

 from the heart before it is boiled. 



Diseases. 



In a state of confinement the diseases of small 

 birds are very similar and the treatment much the 

 same. Some, however, are more liable to maladies 

 than others ; and we rather think the soft-billed 

 birds are not so hardy as the finches. For this 

 reason, and because of the gi'eat delicacy of the 

 nightingale's constitution, disease in that bird must 

 be taken in time, lest it prove fatal. Wlien kept 

 long in a cage, they are liable to gout, that is, the 

 legs and feet swell, and the claws drop off; for this, 

 rub the parts affected with fi-esh butter or lard. 



These birds always void loose ; but if more so 

 than usual, take some hemp-seed bruised or ground, 

 in quantity as much as will lie on a sixpence, and 

 mix it in their common food, to which may be 

 added a little loaf sugar; or give them a small 

 portion of prepared chalk {cretappt of the shops.) 



