262 



British Cage Birds. 



spirit. After a cock has partaken of a meal, he will mount 

 his perch, and record his song in an almost inaudible voice, 

 and mostly standing upon one leg only. You will observe 

 that he heaves and works his throat and breast in quite a 

 different manner from a hen. The hens generally keep 

 moving about from peich to perch, or in some other way, 

 whilst they are singing — which cocks rarely do. The song 

 of the hen is short and disjointed. 



Song. — The Nightingale invariably sings best in the spring- 

 time of the year, when in search of a mate. The voice is 

 shrill and long-sustained, with wonderful variation and modu- 

 lation, and trills of exquisite sweetness and variety. When 

 all Nature is hushed in the still quietude of eventide, the 

 Nightingale is wont to pour forth his melody in its greatest 

 perfection ; or if challenged by a Woodlark — which sometimes 

 happens — he will vociferate with all his energy and skill, 

 for these birds will not yield the palm of victory to any 

 foreign compeer, and will strive for mastery even unto death. 

 Sometimes the song is solemn, and full of deep pathos, 

 pensive and plaintive; at other time^, sprightly and vociferous ; 

 again, his warblings are of sudden transition, from the sedate 

 to the sportive, and from the sportive to the plaintive, and 

 with such marvellous freedom, power, and compass as to 

 fairly enthrall and entrance his listeners. Sometimes the 

 Nightingale sings with such vehemence that the woods and 

 dells around resound with his incomparable melody. 



To tempt these birds to sing in winter time, procure a few 

 pine kernels, which make into a paste with the usual food, and 

 place a few shreds of saffron in the drinking-water ; and, as 

 these birds are greatly excited by the effect of an exquisite 

 perfume, place a grain or two of musk in a piece of cotton or 

 wool, and insert it into the end of a reed, which should be 

 used as a perch. 



Points to be Observed in Judging. — Choose a large, 

 sprightly, well-proportioned, house-moulted bird— one about 

 three years old, as then the colours are softer and brighter. 

 The upper covering of the body should be a nice reddish 

 ashen grey, the throat, vent, and belly, decidedly white — 

 not dingy white — and the breast and sides whitish grey. The 

 specimen should be close and fine in feather, with well- 

 formed wings and tail, in good condition, and free from 



