54 



KIDD'S OWN JOUKNAL, 



might prove tedious. Each successive day, 

 however, brings with it such pleasing, such 

 abundant proof to the contrary, that we 

 have thrown all our best energies into the 

 subject. It is indeed, as most of our cor- 

 respondents remark, no less singular than 

 true, that there is really no valuable practi- 

 cal work on British Song Birds existing ; 

 and we can well understand why, under 

 such circumstances, we are urged to be 

 " explicit." Let us hope that our intimate 

 acquaintance (some thirty years) with the fea- 

 thered tribe, will at last furnish the required 

 desideratum. Thus much parenthetical.* 



If ever your nightingales droop, or show 

 an unusual want of liveliness, which in the 

 autumn they very often do, change their 

 food a little. They are particularly fond of 

 ants' eggs, and liver gentles. Give them 

 occasionally a few of each ; and never pass 

 them without taking some notice of them. 

 They cannot bear a slight. On every occa- 

 tion of kindness shown, you will be the 

 gainer. 



We need hardly remark that nightingales 

 seldom " breed," when in confinement.*}- So 

 contrary is such a thing to their nature, 

 that we apprehend few authenticated in- 

 stances of their having done so are on 

 record. When this is the case, we think we 

 cannot err in saying, that keeping birds 

 which were born " free," under such circum- 

 stances must be cruel. They rather exist 

 than live with us. Their hearts are far, far 

 away. 



We have before casually noted (whilst 

 treating on Seed birds) that soft-billed 

 birds when performing any call of Nature, 

 always bolt their tails, and this action proves 

 them to be in health ; whereas the very con- 

 verse is the case with seed birds. This 

 makes it needful to attend to proper diet. 

 If the nightingale were not to bolt his tail 

 on certain occasions, it would be an unerr- 

 ing symptom of illness ; and a meal-worm 

 or two should be given him immediately. 

 If he refuses these, he must be bad indeed ! 



Sometimes, in the heat of summer— -indeed 

 oftentimes, if not regularly looked to — the 

 cages of these birds emit a very offensive 

 smell. This, as we before remarked, arises 

 from the nature of the food they eat. Let 

 us, therefore, again urgently recommend 

 extreme cleanliness. The bird can then 

 respire freely, and enjoy himself; and he 

 stands a fair chance of keeping in good 

 health. One-half of our birds and domestic 



* A number of " anxious inquirers " will be 

 gratified to learn, that their favorite bird " The 

 Blackcap " will be introduced in about three 

 weeks, in Cage Birds No. 22, to appear Aug. 7. 



f An exception to this remark will be found 

 at page 283, Vol. I ; but we believe it to be 

 almost a solitary exception. — Ed. K. J. 



animals have their lives shortened, and their 

 health injured, by neglect. 



As a rule, we should say never keep a 

 nightingale, unless a brancher, or a nestling, 

 more than three years. About this time, 

 sometimes sooner, you will observe their 

 legs to swell, and to become gouty. Large 

 scales will form, from the upper joint down- 

 wards ; causing your birds so much pain, 

 that they will frequently perch upon one 

 leg only — the other being drawn up for 

 relief. We have succeeded in reducing these 

 scales ; but as it is difficult, and attended by 

 danger, we shall give no "instructions." 

 Let us therefore charitably consider that the 

 time is now come to reward our little 

 friend for the pleasure he has afforded us. 

 We have unmistakeable signs that confine- 

 ment has brought on premature old age. 

 The only remedy for this — the only way to 

 regenerate his system — is, to let him fly. 

 This should be done in the month of July 

 or August, just before he moults. He will 

 then have time to recruit himself before 

 taking his final leave in September, and 

 acquire renewed strength to waft him across 

 the Mediterranean. 



How long these birds live in a state of 

 freedom, we are not quite prepared to say, 

 — it is supposed about 12 years. This much, 

 however, is certain — the very same bird 

 you liberated will speedily be restored to 

 health, and to youth. The chances, too, 

 are, that he will return to your garden the 

 very next season, and there abide ; until 

 having reared a family, he again revisits his 

 former haunts. These are notorious " facts." 

 Far be it from the nightingale easily to forget 

 the rights of hospitality. You have fos- 

 tered him, and given him liberty ; and he 

 will annually reward you with songs of gra- 

 titude as long as he lives, and you live to 

 hear him. 



Nightingales, if affectionately tended, 

 moult freely in a cage, and get through 

 their troubles in a very few weeks. They 

 should be kept warm, and quiet, but not 

 covered up too close. It is desirable to keep 

 their food varied, and to treat them now and 

 then to a few ants' eggs, raw scraped carrot, 

 or a meal-wotm, Do anything but neglect 

 them. This would cause their sensitive 

 hearts to break. They are not fashioned 

 like ours ! 



Do not feel surprised if, at the {; fall of 

 the year," your birds show unusual excite- 

 ment, and dash about their cages. They 

 will do so. The same will occur at the 

 spring of the year. It is called " agitation," 

 and is peculiar to all " birds of passage." 

 This is so interesting a subject, that it will ( 

 form matter for discussion in a separate 

 chapter hereafter. Nature's laws are truly 

 wonderful ! Let us, however, remark that 



