PLATE LXIX. 
The Nightingale 
Is one of our birds of paflage, and vifits us in the Summer, coming early in May: the Male bird 
firll makes his appearance, at which time the bird catcher is generally in fearch for him, being the 
only period he is certain of taking him, as the female is fo like the male that they can fcarcely be 
diftinguifhed the one from the other. The method of catching the Nightingale is with a net trap 
made for that purpofe : — When the bird-catcher finds the place he is in (and he always keeps in 
the fame fpot) he drives him gently from it, and near to it takes up the turf, and places the trap 
on the earth baited with a meal worm ; this being done he goes foftly below the place where the 
bird reded, and again drives him back to his former fituation; when there he foon fees the bait, and 
inftantly ftrikes at it and is taken : the long feathers of his wings are then tied together that he 
may not beat himfelf againll the wires of his cage ; for his food lamb's heart chopt fine is given him, 
with a meal worm or two alive, foon after which he feeds on chopt meat alone. The cage rauft be 
kept dark by placing a green cloth before it. The Nightingale is the moft melodious bird we have, 
and is kept in rooms to teach the young Canary Birds to fing; but more efpecially in Germany, from 
whence this country is fupplied with many hundreds of Canary Birds annually. Their nefts are in 
the moft fecret and hidden places, and compofed of any dead leaves, mofs, &c. they can find, and 
lined with the fame materials. They lay five eggs. 
