THE NIGHTINGALE. 
fresh ants’ eggs are no longer to be obtained, dry, or, what is 
better, boiled bullock’s heart, is given to them, together with 
Swedish turnip, both being grated together, and mixed up 
with dried ants’ eggs. The yellow turnip, which may be kept 
in fresh sand, keeps the stomach and intestines in order. Some- 
times, indeed, they may have lean beef or mutton, chopped fine, 
given to them. With this, after experimenting on various 
kinds of food, I feed my nightingales, and they thrive well 
upon it. The cheapest food, however, is very ripe elder-berries, 
dried like fruit, and mixed with ants’ eggs, just as it is suc- 
tomary to mix Swedish turnip and roll together. 
“ Other persons make for winter use a baked cake of pea-meal, 
mixed with eggs, and when it is used, they grate it, moisten it 
with water, and mix it with dried ants’ eggs. Others again, 
who wish to feed their nightingales as cheaply as possible, take 
poppy-seed, and bruise it in a mortar, to free it from the oil, 
and mix it up with some roll crumbs. They will freely eat this 
mixture, when they have been gradually accustomed to it, but 
it eventually generates consumption. 
“ There are other artificial kinds of food used, but which I 
shall pass over, as the majority of them are injurious. Who- 
ever adopts the plan above recommended for feeding his birds, 
will find that they continue not only healthy, but from their 
cheerfulness, they will delight him with the frequency and ani- 
mation of their song.” 
However, with all deference to the above-quoted trust- 
worthy authority, I cannot endorse his opinion that “no person 
should keep a nightingale, who cannot procure ants’ eggs.” 
Let your bird have them, if possible. If not, feed him on 
roast bullock’s heart and grated carrot. A small piece of 
boiled parsnip will not come amiss to him, and in place of 
the ants, and ants’ eggs, take care that he has always a 
spider, an earwig or two, a few maggots or mealworms, at least 
once a day. I know of several nightingales who have been thus 
fed for years, and who still retain their voice and health. 
Diseases oe the Nightingale, and how to Cure them. — 
At moulting time, the health of the nightingale is sure to be 
extremely delicate. The action of the bird’s bowels seems quite 
deranged, and altogether he requires your constant attention. 
If you find he needs a purgative, let him have a large house- 
spider, or two small ones, or two or three of those little green 
caterpillars that infest oak and other trees. Their food at this 
period should be rich and comforting. Above all, be quite 
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