THE NIGHTINGALE. 83 



ON THE TREATMENT OF 

 BRANCHERS. 



When you have taken a brancher, tie 

 the tips of his wings with a piece of thread, 

 but not too tight, in order to prevent his 

 hurting himself by beating against the sides 

 of the cage, and put him into a nightingale's 

 back cage, and if an open one, darken one 

 side of it with cloth or paper, and hang it 

 for some time at first, in a retired quiet 

 situation, where he may rest undisturbed, 

 by which means he will sooner become 

 tame. In about two hours after he is taken 

 you may offer him food, and as it is likely 

 that he will be sullen and refuse to eat, you 

 must open his bill gently with a thin stick, 

 and give him two or three pieces of night- 

 ingale's food, about the size of a pea, 

 mingling with it at first a few ants, or meal 

 worms, to render the taste more agreeable; 

 this ought to be repeated every two hours 

 during the day time, till he is tame enough to 

 feed himself, when the wings may be untied. 



