Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

CHAP. LXVII.

Of the diseases that happen particularly to euerie particular sort of birds.

AS concerning old Nightingales of the cage, they are subiect vnto gowts and conuulsions in the breast: vnto which diseases the solitarie Spar∣row is also subiect, besides the falling sicknesse, or giddinesse of the head.

The Linnet is troubled with the subtile, or close and secret disease, more than any other bird, as also with hot apostemes, conuulsions, and gowts.

The Finch is wont to haue impostumes, and the subtile disease.

The Siskin, on the contrarie, is not to subiect vnto diseases, both because she is of a better complexion, as also of more strength. And this is the cause likewise why she seldome times falleth blind.

The Spinke is more subiect to blindnesse than all the rest: and when she is once ouer-runne of this disease, she is no more worth any thing, for she will euer and anon fall into it againe of set purpose.

Two only diseases doe voluntarily molest the Goldfinch, that is, the subtile disease, caused through old age, and impostumes, proceeding of the eating of Hemp-seed.

The same two diseases we find to befall the Canarie bird of Spaine: howbeit, the subtile disease is seldome times found to trouble her: she is also subiect to the conuul∣sion and oppression of the breast, because of her excessiue naturall heat. The Miskin is more subiect vnto the gowt than any bird that is. The solitarie Sparrow is haunted with impostumes and melancholie, which causeth her often to die. The Corydale fal∣leth blind sometimes, and sometimes she is troubled with the subtile disease. A•• it also happeneth vnto the other kind of Lark, which hath no crest vpon her head. The Ca∣lander likewise is subiect vnto the subtile disease, apostemes, gowts: and that which is worse, namely, to become quickly blind. The bird, called in Latine Thraupis, is like∣wise very subiect vnto impostumes, and oftentimes dieth of fat. The strongest and stoutest bird that can be, is the Blacke-bird, wherein I cannot find any disease to kill her, except old age, which is the common maladie deuouring all mortall things. Fat

and impostumes doe sometimes hurt the Throstle, as also the disease of the rumpe, which is likewise common to all birds that are kept in the cage.

Notes

• The dise••s•••• proper to the Nightingale, and to these birds following.
• Linne••.
• Finch.
• Siskin.
• Spinke.
• Goldfinch.
• Canari•• bird.
• Corydale.
• L••rke.
• Calander.
• Black-bird.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉