Book II. 2^/7* HO LO q7~ _ %if 



in a Pan of the falhion of that they make Confe&s in. Set the Pan on a Trevet 

 over a fire of Charcoal, taking care that it be not fmoaked, and ftirring it con- 

 ftantly with a wooden flick or Spathule, that it burn not to the bottom till it 

 be fufficiently boiled. Then take a pound of Honey > and three ounces of Butter 

 and melt it in any little VefTel, (till fcumming of it , and when it is well melted and 

 boiled, let your affiftant, with a Ladle having a hole or two in the bottom, take it 

 up, and pour it upon the Pafte, gently moving his Ladle up and down, you in the 

 mean while continuing to ftir your Pafte till it be well incorporated and grained. 

 This Pafte ferves for the Summer : For the Winter, take a pretty quantity of Saffron 

 and mingle with the Pafte^ for it is hot and opening, and will maintain the bird more 

 chearful and lively* Then take it from the fire, and pafs it through a Sieve or Co- 

 lander with round holes of the bignefs of an ordinary Tare. That which will not 

 pafs through of it felf force through with your hand. Then fpread it upon a Table, 

 covered with a white clean cloth, to dry 5 and when it is fufficiently dry,putitup in a 

 Pot. If it be too dry, you may moiften and mollifie it with a little honey. This Pafte 

 will laft three or four, and fometimes fix months, and ferves for all forts of fmall foft- 

 beaked birds. 



Many other forts of Pafte may be made like this of lefs charge 3 as inftead of Al- 

 monds to ufe Walnuts, &c. Thefe Paftes are beft kept in earthen VelTels of white 

 ware, covered clofe with Parchment, and fet in a place rather moift than dry. 



§. V. 

 The Nightingales difeafes, and their cures: 



FIi ft, note that the principal thing which caufes moft difeafes, not only in Nightin- 

 gales, but in other birds kept for finging, is want of keeping them clean and 

 neat, whereby they clog their feet, which caufes the Claws of feveral to rot off, and 

 breeds the Cramp and Gout in others, and makes them never thrive, nor delight in 

 themfelves. No birds can be kept too clean and neat. Therefore be fure to let them 

 have twice a week gravel at the bottom of the Cage,and let it be very dry when you 

 put it in, for then it will not be fubjeel: to clog. 



The Nightingale in Autumn is apt to grow extraordinary fat and foggy 5 [ I have 

 had feveral when fat to be three weeks and not eat one bit of meat ^ to remedy which 

 during that time give him two or three times in a week worm's taken out of a Pigeon- 

 houfe, two or three at a time, or two or three field-Spiders a day, which will purge 

 and cleanfe them extraordinarily. Upon the falling of his fat he muft be kept warm, 

 and have fome Saffron given him in his meat or water. To raiie them when they are 

 very lean and poor, give them new figs chopt fmall among their meat, continuing no 

 longer than till they have recovered their flefh. 



Nightingales that have been kept two or three years in a Cage are very fubject to 

 the Gout : Which when you fhall perceive, take them out of their Cage, and anoint 

 their feet withfrefh Butter or Capons greafe : Do fo three or four days together and 

 it is a certain cure for them. 



Another thing that Nightingales are fubject. to, is breakings out about their Eyes 

 and Neb 5 for which likewife ufe your frefh Butter or Capons greafe. 



There alfo hapneth unto the Nightingale a ftraitnefs or ftrangling ofthebreaftj 

 which comes very often for want of care in making of their meat, by mincing fat 

 therewith , and you r«3ay perceive it by the beating pain not afore accuftomed that he 

 abidethin this place,and alfo by his often gaping: Other whiles this difeafe hapneth by 

 reafbnof fomefinew or thread of the fheeps heart (for want of well fhreddingj hang- 

 ing in his throat, or clafpittg about his Tongue, which caufeth him to forfake his meatj 

 and grow very poor in a fhort time, efpecially if it be in the Spring time, or when he 

 is in fong. When you fhall perceive it by his gaping, &c. take him gently out of his 

 Cage, and open his bill with a quill or pin, and unloofen any firing or piece of flefh 

 that may hang about his tongue or throat : After you have taken it away,give him fbrhe 

 white Sugar-candy in his water, or elfe diffolve it, and moiften his meat, which is a 

 prefent remedy to any thing that is amifs. 



If they grow melancholy, put into their water fbme white Sugar-candy 5 and if 

 that will notdo, about fix or eight Chives of Saffron, continuing withal to give them 

 the Pafte and fheeps heart fhred very fine,and alfo three or four meal-worms aday,and 

 a few Ants and Ants Eggs : Alfo boil a new-laid Egg, and chop it fmall, and ftrew it 

 among the Ants and their Eggs. Gg §VL 



