84 



THE NIGHTIXGALE. 



In order to make him take to the nio-ht- 

 ingale's food freely, he ought, from the day 

 he is first caged, to have a quantity of meal 

 worms, or ants, mingled with a small quan- 

 tity of the chopped meat and egg, and put 

 in a small pot in the bottom of his cage, so 

 that in picking out the worms, he may also 

 take up some of the meat which will stick 

 to them, and thereby get reconciled to the 

 taste: according as you find him take to 

 it readily, the proportion of meat ought 

 •to be increased, and the number of the 

 worms diminished, till at length the food 

 consists of nothing but the chopped meat 

 and egg. Should he at any time seem to 

 loathe his food, a spider, a meal worm 

 or two, or a few ants, are the best things 

 you can give him, as it is certain to 

 restore his appetite: those birds generally 

 prove the best which take to their food 

 readily and begin to sing in a few days 

 after they are taken. 



Branchers ought to have their vents 

 cleared from feathers, either by pulling 

 them out, or by cutting them off, as they are 



