Of Singing-Birds. 71

teen or eighteen days together, but it is far betterwhen they eat. Nightingals that have been kepttwo or three years in a Cage, are very subject tothe Gout i now when you lira!I perceive it, takethem out of their Cage and anoint their Feet withfresh Butter or Capons-Grease i do so three or fourdays together, and it is a certain Cure for them. Ihad almost forgot the principal thing that causes themost of Diseases in your Nightingal; which isthis, That for want of keeping them dean andneat they clog their feet, which causes several tohave their Claws to rot off, and it brings the Crampand Gout, and makes them never thrive nor delightin themselvesitherfore be sure to let them have twicea week Gravel at the bottom of the Cage, and letit be very dry when you put it in, for then it willnot be subject to clog, for I look upon a Bird asgood as dead, when they are continually clogged >for if they be in heart, they will pick and cleantheir Feet, and prune their Feathers Bird canbe kept too clean nor too neat, for that causes themtotake delight in themselves. The next thing theNightingal is subject to, Is Aposlems, and breakingout about their Eyes and Neb, for which you shalllikewise use your fresh Butter or Capons-Grease. Ishall now shew you a great secret to raise Nigh-tingals that are very bare, When you fee an abso-lute neceslity for it, give them new Figs choppedvery small amongst their Sheeps-Heart and Paste,or hard Eggs, and when they are recovered, bringthem again to their ordinary Diet, that may conti-nue to maintain them in their former plight, for assoon as ever you perceive they are growing fat, givethem no more Figs. There also happeneth unto theE 4 Nigh-