naturalists’ calendar. 
287 
Catching, Iaming, and Keeping Nightingales. —The net for catching 
nightingales is made of a semicircular hoop of iron wire, about as thick as a 
swan’s quill, raised upon a cross stick like the common brick trap. Meal worms 
are fixed upon the cross stick with a pin, which when the bird pulls, the stick is 
deranged and the net falls. When newly caught, put Philomel in a cage, co¬ 
vering him with a white handkerchief. Throw in ten or twelve meal-worms, and 
a handful of the cocoons of the wood ant, (Formica rufa) having previously 
pinched their heads to prevent them from crawling away. About half a dozen 
meal-worms may be given every three or four hours, for a day or two, till the 
bird takes to the eggs. After six or eight weeks, this will not be necessary, except 
for a treat, or as an occasional change of food. As soon as the bird takes to 
feeding well, it will begin to sing, which will occur at the longest in about eight 
days. Allow the cage then to remain in one place, for by changing the place 
yon will generally make the nightingale leave oft’ singing. A handful of ants’ 
cocoons ought to be the principal daily food, so long as he is in song, but when he 
has done singing, the composition called german paste may be given. It may 
be made in the following manner, of a much better quality than what is sold in 
shops.—Take four fresh eggs, boiled very hard, a quarter of a pound of white 
peas meal, and about a table-spoonful of good salad oil; if it be rancid it will 
not do. The eggs must be grated very fine, and mixed with the meal and oil. 
The oil must then be pressed through a tin cullender, to form it into grains like 
small shot, and being placed in a frying-pan, set over a gentle fire, it must be 
gradually stirred with a broad knife, till it be partially roasted and dried, the test 
of which will be its fine yellowish brown colour. All insect eating birds will 
learn to live upon this throughout the year. When they appear drooping, or are 
moulting, give them a few meal-worms, twice or thrice a day. And whilst they 
are in song they ought to have a dozen or more meal-worms ever}' day, with 
ants’ cocoons either fresh or dried. 
Insects. —The word “ insect ” means “cut into,” and hence all real insects 
exhibit three divisions of the bod}', besides several rings. Any animal, then, in 
which these three divisions are not found is not an insect, as for example, a spi¬ 
der, a woodlouse, a shrimp, or a crab, each of which has only two divisions; 
whilst an earthworm, a leech, a snail, or a slug is not an insect, because it has 
none oi these divisions distinct. 
Sagacity of the Dragon Fly. —(Eshna varia.) One day last July, a pair 
of these insects were sporting on the surface of a pond, when their mutual hap¬ 
piness was interrupted by the appearance of another male, which immediately 
began to chase the female. The real mate pursued his rival, and in the hostile 
engagement which took place, they flew at each other making repeated darts, the 
shining armour of the combatants, and their wings rustling like tinsel, added not 
a little to the interest of the scene. The contest lasted about ten minutes, when 
one fell into the water, apparently from exhaustion, and the conquerer having 
pounced upon his back, deprived him of his wings, and left him struggling with¬ 
out the power to rise. He again joined his mate, who was flying about without 
appearing to take the least interest in the affray.*— Jas. Fennell. 
Sunshine. —The quantity of Sunshine during March and April is as follows: 
18:13. 
Murninij. 
Afternoon. 
Total. 
Aver aye Daily. ;5 
March. 
46 hours. 
40 hours. 
86 hours. 
2 hours, 46 min. 27 )1 seconds 
April. 
56 hoars. 
671 hours. 
123i§ hours. 
4 hours, 7 min. 
* Mag, Nat. Hist. 
