38 
CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
wards the only distinguishing mark is a yellow feather, or 
spot, scattered here and there about the head or neck, fre- 
quently near the beak and eyes. 
The undisturbed possession of a room, into which the sun- 
shine freely enters, and where they can fly about among 
branches of pine, or some other evergreen, with plenty of 
find sand, clean water, and appropriate food, are the great 
essentials to the health and happiness of confined nightingales. 
Under these favourable circumstances, it is said that they 
will sometimes breed, though, as we stated before, this is a 
ve'i^ rare occurrence \ if a separate I'oom cannot be afibrded 
them, it is better to put them singly, or in pairs, into cages, 
which, Bechstein says, may be of any desired form, from 
twelve to eighteen inches long, from six to twelve inches 
broad, and about a foot high ; the roof should be linod with 
green cloth, or baize, and the three perches, two near the 
bottom of the cage, and one higher up, should also be 
covered with this substance, to preserve the feet of the bird, 
which are very tender. The water vessel should be placed in 
a half cylindrical projection, into v/hich the bird can pass for 
the purpose of bathing, so that it need not wet the bottom of 
its habitation, which should be covered with a sheet of blot- 
ting-paper, the frequent changing of which will remove all 
impurities. He likewise recommends that the cage should 
be painted gi'een : care being taken that it is thoroughly diy 
and free from smell, before the bird is put into it. 
It is found that, thus caged, the nightingale will sing 
better, and more continuously, than when loose in the aviary, 
where there is much to disturb and attract its attention. It 
requires to be watched and humoured, sometimes preferring 
a shady, sometimes a sunny place to sing in ; and whatever 
attentions are paid to it, must be done with gentleness and 
great caution. 
To all birds the moulting season is a period of great trial 
and danger, and it is especially so to the nightingale, which 
at that time should be well supplied with the most nourishing 
food, and kept free from draughts of cold air and annoyances 
of every kind. A spider or two, now and then, should oe 
given in this critical emergency, and also when the bird is 
suitering from a disordered stomach, which may be known 
by its moping, with ruffled feathers and head hidden under 
