I also find that their general food, which is bruised 
hemp-seed and bread, is apt to become dry on a Sum- 
mer’s day, particularly if the cages are placed out of 
doors ; it must then be moistened, or the birds will not 
eat it, as they always prefer it very moist ; it had better 
be a little over-moist than too dry. I also find that they 
are fondest of their meat, when mixed up with the 
bruised hemp-seed and bread, which should be cut up 
in small pieces, not scraped with a knife as is generally 
done ; a little very fresh might be given occasionally, 
which they will sometimes prefer as a change ; the 
change of food I consider of the greatest importance, 
both as to keeping them in good health, and raising 
their spirits to make them sing ; nearly the whole of 
mine have been in full song all the Winter ; the greater 
part began to sing in October, and the others in No- 
vember. 
Bird-Fanciers generally keep their Nightingales, or 
other birds that they consider tender, in a close cage, 
with wires only in front, thinking it will keep them 
warm, and preserve their health; on the same princi- 
ple I had my largest cage made, only with green baize 
at the top, to keep them from injuring their heads 
when on their passage ; at the same time 1 had a less 
cage, wired all round except on one side, and I was 
surprized to find that the birds were always more heal- 
thy in that, than in the close one, where some of them 
were frequently ill ; and I generally found that when 
removed into the open cage, they soon recovered: I 
therefore had the close one altered last Spring, with 
wires at both ends and front, and a close back, that 
there might be a free circulation of air, which I sup- 
posed the birds wanted, and since that time they have 
all been in excellent health ; I had observed before 
that, that the Nightingales always sung better in an 
open cage, than in a close one. 
In the beginning of the work I mentioned that a pan 
of water should be kept continually in their cage, that 
they might wash whenever they chose; this is the case 
with the greater part of them when old birds, but it is 
very hurtful to young ones, as it is apt to give them 
