64 • 0 / Singing-Birds.

can be more prejudicial to a Bird than to bruisehimself, which is a sign he takes no pleasure in hisHabitation -, therefore either turn him loose with amark to be known, or wring off his head that no.Body may further be troubled with his ill qualities,than which none can be worse.

Hove to know the Cock-Nigbtingal from the Hen.

T He Opinions and several Judgments of Menconcerning Nightingals, (that is) namely, tohave any perfect rule to know one Sex from ano-ther, are very sundry and divers, you must under-stand those are for old Birds taken in the Spring Ishall give you several Mens Opinions, and then myown at last, (for it is a very great vexation to keepyour Hens four or five months instead of Cocks, andnot only the trouble and charge, but to be frustratedin our expectation, at last expecting a great deal ofpleasure, it proves a vexation). First, Some doundertake to distinguish the Cock from the Hen,by their grossness, saying, That the Cock is muchthe larger and fuller Bird, both in length and big-ness : Others are of Opinion, That the Cock hatha greater Eye, a longer Beak, and areddisher Tail 2Others again distinguish by the Pinuion of theWing, and the Feathers upon the Head : All whichOpinions and Judgments I have found very deceit-ful, and far wide of the true and perfect knowledgof the Truth, for I have had perfect brave Cocks,Song-Nightingals,and that a great number of them,that have been very small and little, having all themarks ascribed to them to be Hens, and Hens withseveral Marks that have been assigned to the Cocks;

Where-