CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
8& 
the wings ; in this case, too, a little saffron in the water is 
beneficial. For those maladies under which the bird suffers 
in common with other birds, resort may be had to the reme- 
dies prescribed in the introductory portion of this work. It 
is especially necessary to attend to the scales which form 
tipon the legs and claws, and remove them, at least, every 
three months; this should be done with great care and 
tenderness. 
Nightingales sometimes live in confinement many years, 
but after the fifth or sixth year their song loses much of its 
power and sweetness, and is less frequently uttered. The 
most prudent and humane course is then to set them at 
liberty. After their migration they are likely to return to 
the same neighbourhood, with renewed powers of song, and 
repay this act of kindness with such sweet melody, as made 
old Izaak Walton exclaim — " Lord, what music hast thou 
provided for the saints in heaven, when thou givest bad men 
such music on earth ? " 
THE BLACKCAP. 
This bird is sometimes called the mock nightingale, and 
possesses, in the opinion of some, powers of song equal to 
those of the more universally acknowledged leader of the 
sylvan choir, than which it is much less difficult to rear and 
keep in confinement. This may be called the English mock- 
ing bird, as it readily catches the notes of any other songster 
which it chances to hear. Sweet says, that he has heard it 
imitate the nightingale so exactly that even his practised ear 
was deceived, and also the blackbird, thrush, and greater 
pettichap, all of which birds differ greatly in the tones and 
arrangement of their notes. 
The blackcaps generally arrive in this country about the 
beginning of April ; they have been heard and seen as early 
as the 23rd of March and as late as the 15th of October j 
the old birds are shy and very difficult to catch, but the 
young ones are easily taken soon after they begin to fly, by 
means of nets and limed twigs, baited with meal-worms, or 
maggots : a cherry, a live butterfly, or a green caterpillar, 
are tempting baits for the adult birds, which must be sought 
for in much the same localities as the nightingale. 
