16 
it can, staring it in the face; if the Nightingale at- 
tempts to peck it, away it is in an instant, flying 
round the aviary, and singing all the time. 
In a wild state, the present species generally visits 
hedges and gardens ; it arrives in this country about 
the middle of April, and is often heard singing in a 
thicket, or in the middle of a hedge ; sometimes it 
mounts up in the air a little way, or flies from one 
hedge to another, singing all the time. It is readily 
taken in a trap, baited with a living Caterpillar or 
Butterfly. One that I caught last Spring, sung the 
third day after being in confinement, and continued 
to sing all through the Summer ; but this was most 
likely in consequence of a tame one being with it, 
which also sung at the same time. 
In their native state, these birds feed chiefly on 
small insects, and a few sorts of fruit, Strawberries 
and Raspberries in particular ; they are very partial 
to the different species of Aphis, with which almost 
every tree is covered some time or other in the Sum- 
mer; they are also very fond of the smaller species 
of Butterflies, and the common house-fly (Musca 
domestica ) ; they soon take to feed on the bruised 
hemp-seed and bread, and also on milk and bread ; 
I have known them to feed on it the day they were 
caught. Fresh meat, both fat and lean, they also 
like very well for a change, and the yolk of a boiled 
egg ; also a roasted Apple in Winter. They peck 
up a great quantity of small gravel, of which there 
should be always a constant supply in their cage or 
aviary ; if they are without this, they soon get un- 
well. Fresh water should also be given them every 
day, in a saucer or pan, large enough for them to 
get into, as oftentimes they wash themselves two or 
three times a day. 
