390 
after plucking some feathers from one wing to disable them from 
flying hack to the wood from whence they were taken. In the 
space of a fortnight or three weeks I have caught them again, and 
found little difficulty in taming them. The nest of the Nightingale, 
when it contains young, is very easily found hy one who is a little 
acquainted with their nature, altho’ it is generally well secured 
from the eye of a common observer. When you approach near the 
nest, the old birds, from their anxiety, often repeat the notes icaic, 
wcde, cur, and hy a little patience and perseverance in watching, 
you may discover to what place they carry the victuals to feed their 
young. The young, in this neighbourhood, commonly leave their 
nests from the eighth to the fourteenth of June, according as the 
old ones come early or late in the spring. If the hedge, where 
they build, runs East and West, they make their nest on the South 
side; if it runs South and North, they are to be found on the West 
side — they invariably build on the warm side of the fence, mostly 
near the ground, on the field side of the ditch (if there be one) ; 
they like the shelter of a few small bushes, brambles, nettles, or 
other weeds, to protect them from the sight of man and also from 
other enemies. In woods, they generally build near the sides, or 
where it is not too much shaded by tall trees. They mostly take 
their departure in the month of August, or if vegetation continues 
late, and the leaves upon the bean plant continue green, in 
September — the Nightingale is also found [Mr. H. must hero 
mean the old birds] here in that month. Both in their arrival and 
departure, their migration is very much guided by the state of the 
moon, the mildness of the air, and a favourable wind. Those kept 
in a cage or aviary, altho’ reared from the nest, evince a great 
restlessness at the time of their usual migration, both in spring and 
autumn, particularly at the full moon. I have found them in the 
night-time beat and flutter so much against the cage or window 
where they Avere confined, as to oblige mo to tie the tip of their 
Avings together, to prevent their injuring their bodies; and at those 
times they take but little food. In preparing victuals for this 
bird, it is proper to clear off all the fat and tough skin from the 
meat, Avhether sheep’s heart, bullock’s heart, beef or mutton; then 
cut it in small long pieces, as much as is Avanted, like Avorms, then 
clip it very fine, chop a very small piece of the yolk of a hard- 
boiled egg, and put it over the meat, or mix them together : this 
