Book II. O^^lT HO LO ^T. i i9 



colour and white* Perchance the Feet of the younger birds are paler, of the old 

 darker coloured : Or thofe of the Cock blacker, the Hen-birds whiter. Mr. Jeffbp 

 fent us a Linnet of the common fort with Feet perfectly black, but that was extra- 

 ordinary. 



An Addition to the Hiftory of the Linnet out of our Sngli/h 

 Writer of Singing (Birds. 



YOu may take the young ones out at four days old, if you intend they (hall learn 

 to whittle or hear any other birds fong : For then being fo young they have 

 not the old birds fong, and are more apt to take any thing than if you fuffer 

 them to be in the Neft till they are almoft quite fledg'd. You muft be fure when you 

 take them out fb young, to keep them very warm, and to feed them but a little at a 

 time. Your meat muft be Rape-feed fbaked^ and then bruifed, mingled with full 

 as much foaked white-bread. You muft make frefh every day $ for if it be four, it 

 immediately makes them fcour, and not long after die. You muft not give them their 

 meat too dry, for if you do it will make them Vent-burned 3 and that isas bad as if 

 they fcoured. If you intend to whiftle to them, do it when you feed them. F<)r 

 they will learn very much before they can crack hard feeds. So hang them under 

 any bird you intend they fhall learn his Song. I have known feveral that have been 

 taught to fpeak. 



You may know the Cock-Linnet by thefe two marks: 1. The Cock is much 

 browner on the Back and pinion of the Wing than the Hen. 2. By the white of the 

 Wing. Take your young Linnet when the Wing-feathers are grown, and ftretch out 

 his Wing, holding his body faft with the other hand ( otherwise I have known them 

 by afiidden jerk to break their Wings ) and then obferve the white upon the fourth^ 

 fifth, and lixth feather, if it be glofueandgliftering, and the white goesclofo to the 

 quill, this is a certain fign of a CocL 



The Linnets dijeajes and their cure*. 



i. This Bird is fometimes troubled with melancholy, and then you will find the' 

 end of his tvump to be very much fwelled 5 which you muft prick with a Needle, 

 and let out all the corruption, fqueezing it out very well with the point of the 

 Needle 3 then anoint him with the ointment madeoffreih butter and Capons greafe 5 

 and feed him for two or three days with Lettice, or Beet feeds, and the leaves alfo : 

 And you may give him the feeds of Melons chopt in pieces, which he will eat very 

 greedily 3 and when you find him to mend take the Melon feeds away, and give him 

 his old diet again: Put into his water. two or three blades of Saffron and white 

 Sugar-candy for a Week or more, till you perceive the bird to be wholly recovered. 



2. The difeafethis Bird ismoft troubled withal is a fcouring, of which there are 

 three forts: The firft very thin, and with a black fubftance in the middle, which is 

 not very dangerous 5 for I have known many ling very ftrong and lavifh when they 

 have had this fcouring in a very violent manner. The fecond is between a black and 

 a white, but not fo thin as the other, but very clammy and fticking. This is worfe 

 than the former. It is recovered by giving your bird fome Melon-feed fhred, and 

 Lettuce feeds and Beet feeds bruifed, and in his water fome Liquorice and white Su- 

 gar-candy, with a little flour of Oatmeal. You muft be diligent at the firft to ob- 

 ferve him when he is fick, that fo he may have a ftomach to eat : For in two or three 

 days his ftomach' will be quite gone, and then it will be hard recovering him again. 

 The third and worft fort of fcouring is the white clammy fcouring, which is dange- 

 rous and mortal, if not well looked after at the firft. This is occafioned by bad feeds, 

 and many times for want of water. If it be not taken at the firft appearance it imme- 

 diately caufethhim todroop, and fall from his meat, and then all medicines are ufe- 

 lefs. Firft,give him Flax-feeds, taking away all other feeds 3 then give him Plantain- 

 feeds, if green, otherwifethey will do him no good : For want of Plantain-feeds give, 

 him fome of the Leaves fhred fmall, and fome Oatmeal bruifed, with a few crumsof 

 bread : And in his water give him fome white Sugar-candy and Liquorice,with --a blade 

 or two of Saffron, 



LI 2 To> 



