66
Of Swging-Birds.
Ta order the Nightingal which eatetb aloneand fingeth.
W Hen you shall find that the Nitingal that eatswell by himself, and that lings often, with-out seeming to be disturbed at every little noise, youshall by little and little put back the Green-Bayeswherewith the fore-side of the Cage is covered (torthose Cages are most convenient forNightingals,thathave the Wire only afore, and all the other partsmade up ; though I have many times kept them in jWood-Lark Cages, but I do not find them so con-1venient, by reason of the warmth ; and then the:Nightingal being a buckish Bird, is apt to strike hisHead against the top*Wires,which very often proveshis death, for no Nitingal is fit to be put in one of jthose open Cages, but those that are very tame andfamiliar ; and most People are deficient in lining the 'other Nightingal-Cages at top,which is very necessa-ry,for many Birds have beat out their brains (againstthe top-Board for want of lining) every day a lit-tle in such sort that the Bird may not perceive it;and as you uncover him, set him by little and littlemore in the light of People, that so he may growbolder,and not be frightned with the light and mo-tions of People, nor with any sudden noise ; thebest way is to hang him towards the top of theCieling upon a Nail, for they do not delight to ■hang low ; for if he be full in Song, and you hanghim upon a sudden amongst much Company, andopen, or put back the Green-Bays, and give him,too much light all at once, he will immediately.break off singing, and ten to one if he sings till
next,