Page 376

L ]6               THF LABORATORY,
in the bottom of the cage, or amongst their victuas; and,
instead of gravel, put mould full of ants at the bottom
pf the cage: this is the best live f6od you can give
them.
  If he does nt sg so fre or stout as you wouldlhve
him, put a little stick liquorice and a blade of saffroa in
his water, whi hj wil clear his voice, and make his notes
stronger.
            To know th& Cock from tke Hen.
  SomE say' they know~ h~im by the length of h~is heel,
and also by the largeness of his wing lik wise by his
setting up the crown uipon his head - thers say that if
he double hi cal two or three times, he is cetnly
a cock;ut these ae all c n ctures. Th       set me-
thod is, byh, length of the bird, the longest being
single themD of in caes, andif they are cc-bids they
  Thi is the best bird tha is kept in a cage exept the
that hli wil take from no other bird, unless those brought
ip fromj the nest, which may he taght with a pipe.
  It is liewise a hot mietled bird, an  hreeds very
soonin the year. If you have a mind to bring them up,
you may fecd thprm with nightingale's victuals, mied with
a little hep-se   bruised, or a little sweet almond'. L~et
tliem be very wq1lI feat4her before you takse them~, Or' you
will ind it very dicult to bring them up. Whpn youtake
them, tie down the basket, and give them four or five bits
at a time, once in two hours, according as their stoach
wil bear it. Tey are very subject to the cramp, and very
dp tmout; h sure yoqu give them. plenty of ightn-
gale's fQod, for that is the best to make them moult. It is
not worth wh4$ to lcring them up fo the  st (unl  you
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