The Nightingale, 259 



door should be made of sufficient size either to admit of a 

 suitable vessel being placed inside, or to permit of one of the 

 usual tin baths being hung on outside, so that the bird may get 

 an occasional bath, which will greatly conduce to its health 

 and comfort. The cage should either be made with a draw- 

 board bottom, or should have a piece of wood, say lin. deep, 

 cut off the lowermost part of the front board, and re-fastened, 

 by means of a piece of wire driven up about Sin. from one 

 end, to act as a hinge, or pivot, so as to allow of the cage 

 being cleaned out ; the other end can be secured with a 

 small brass button, or a piece of wire bent for the purpose. 

 The bottom of the cage should be liberally strewed with 

 small gravel and sand. Sea or river sand is to be preferred. 

 If the common sand be used, a little salt ought to be mixed 

 with it, as chloride of sodium is most beneficial in keeping 

 all birds in health. A perch should be placed at each end, 

 or along the front of the cage, as the case may be, for the 

 bird to get at its food and water ; and it, or they, should be 

 about 2iin. from the bottom of the cage. Other perches 

 should be arranged so that the bird may keep itself in motion 

 by hopping to and fro. These perches should all be made of 

 hard wood, about jin. in thickness. Bound ones are best, or 

 those that are rounded on the top side and square below. 

 They should be frequently cleaned. 



The cage should be hung in a quiet corner of the room, 

 most birds (but not all) preferring to be in a secluded spot. 

 When a bird has become quite domesticated, it would be 

 well to change the position of the cage occasionally ; and, 

 by quiet observation, it will soon be discovered which place 

 is most preferred. As a rule, Nightingales sing best in a 

 shaded spot, and when alone ; but there are exceptions to 

 this, as there are to all, rules. If newly-caught birds be 

 placed in a wired cage, the latter should be pretty closely 

 covered for a time, and put in a warm and quiet corner of 

 the room, so that it may not be unduly disturbed. 



Newly-caught birds will very seldom eat the prepared food 

 usually given to them ; hence, a few mealworms and ants' 

 eggs, flies or caterpillars, must be mixed with it, to entice 

 them to eat, when, in picking out the ants' eggs, &c., they 

 will be sure to partake of the prepared food. When you 

 observe them eat this freely, gradually lessen the insect food ; 



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