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various sorts, but it prefers the eggs of Auts to any 
other ; it is also very fond of the young larvae of 
Wasps or Hornets, as I believe are all the species 
of this genus; but these they can only get when 
procured for them. In confinement, they will soon 
take to feed on bruised hemp-seed and bread mixed 
together, if a few insects be stuck on it ; they are 
also fond of fresh raw meat, but prefer the lean 
part ; the yolk of an egg, boiled hard, and cut up 
in small pieces, may also be given them in Winter, 
for a change, if insects cannot be procured ; also a 
little boiled milk and bread ; but the more insects 
they have given them, the better will be their health, 
and the more they will sing. The larvae of the 
Cockchaffer or May-bug, which is sometimes very 
plentiful in grass fields, may be procured in great 
abundance, and kept in pots of turfy earth through 
the Winter, giving each bird one or two of a day, 
according as the stock holds out. This will keep 
them in excellent health. Common Maggots also, 
in the larva or pupa state, they are very fond of, 
also Spiders, Ear-wigs, Crickets, and various other 
insects. 
The Nightingale is easily taken in a trap. As it 
generally seeks its food in fresh ground, it is only 
to clear away a place, and stir up the ground a 
little, near where it sings or frequents, then set the 
trap near it, baited with a living insect, and it is 
almost certain to be caught. Birds caught early in 
Spring, if put in an aviary with other tame ones, 
will sing in a few days ; those caught the latter part 
of Summer will begin singing in November, if young 
ones; but the old ones will seldom begin till Fe- 
bruary. One that I caught in August, began singing 
in November, and left off again about the middle of 
December ; at the end of the same month it began 
again, and sung continually all day long against a 
White-throat, that strived with all its might to 
outdo it. 
