DISEASES OE THE NIGHTINGALE. 
sure you do not hang him where there is any chance of a 
cold draught from the door or window reaching him, for if 
during the moult he takes cold, all the bird doctors in Europe 
cannot cure him. If the action of the bird's bowels is very 
irregular, put sufficient saffron in his water, to turn it the colour 
of malt vinegar. 
The husk is a malady which sometimes attacks the night- 
ingale in the autumn. It is a sort of cough, and the only way 
to treat it is to keep the bird warm, and let him have a good 
sized spider every day. This also is a good remedy for exces- 
sive fat, which lie is also liable to acquire at the end of the 
summer. Swede turnip grated will also check unnatural cor- 
pulence. 
If he is attacked with cramp (which you may know by his 
trembling, and grasping the perch with spasmodic tenacity), 
hold his feet and legs in a glass of sherry three or four minutes, 
and cover him warm. 
While talking of the bird's feet, it may be as well to mention 
that the nightingale is very liable to disease in those members. 
WTien the scales on the legs look loose and horny, soak them 
in warm water until the scales can be easily removed with the 
point of a penknife. Of course, you will observe the utmost 
tenderness while doing this. Then, carefully dry the bird’s 
feet and legs, and anoint them with fresh butter. 
If he should lose flesh, and grow lean and ragged, put a 
pinch of iron rust in his drinking water, and chopping up a fig 
into atoms, mix it with his ordinary food. 
