88 Nightingales 



not presumptuous enough to dictate to the Almighty 

 Father, or to express by any thought or word of mine 

 that I knew better than He. 



As to caging birds, provided always that they are 

 well fed, kept clean, and thoroughly cared for, one 

 must remember that they cannot reason like human 

 beings, nor, I should imagine, can they look backward 

 or forward in actual thought. 



But no one should keep a bird in a cage unless 

 they understand its needs, and are prepared to see that 

 it is really looked after. 



In their wild life they have for the most part the 

 freshest of food and the purest of water. 



Great care, therefore, must be taken that in their 

 tame caged life — wild and untameable birds should 

 not be caged — the water vessels are carefully rinsed 

 and purified, and the food of the freshest and the best 

 quality. 



I remember my indignation when I was brought 

 by the housekeeper — an old and faithful servant who 

 meant so well — three large, and quite rotten pears, 

 which she said could not be sent in for dessert, but 

 which she thought would do for the Pekin robins 

 and other birds in the aviary ! 



And this from one who is devoted to birds, and to 

 whom I am deeply grateful for her constant and exem- 

 plary carefulness with two or three special favourites. 

 Why should dainty birds like Pekin robins, &c., be sup-r 

 posed to appreciate rotten pears, any more than we do ? 



Birds often die in cages owing to a lack of reason- 

 ing forethought with regard to their food. 



