The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

Of the THROSTLE.

OF Throstles there be five kinds; the Mistle-throstle, the Northern-throstle or Felfare, the Wind-throstle, the Wood-song-throstle, and the Heath-throstle.

The first is the largest of all the five, and the most beautiful; it feeds for the most part on the Berries of Mistletoe: and since that they are so good against the Falling-sickness and Convulsions, these Throstles, when dried and pulverized and drank in the water of Mistle∣toe, or Black-cherry-water, are much more effectual against those two Distempers. He sings but little, and therefore though the young ones are easie to be brought up, being hardy, yet he is not worth the keeping; for his Notes are rambling and confused, yet not lavish neither.

The second is the Felfare, who comes into England before Michaelmas, and goes away about the beginning of March. In hard weather they feed on Hips and Haws; but when it is indifferently warm, there being neither Frost nor Snow on the ground, they feed on young Grass and Worms.

They breed upon certain Rocks near the Scotish Shore three or four times a year, and are there in very great numbers: They are not so fit for the Cage as the Spit, having a most lamentable untun'd chattering tone: in Frost and Snow they are very fat, and then are most delicate food; but being killed in open wea∣ther, they are so bitter, that they are not worth the eating.

Thirdly, the Wind-throstle, (or Whindle) which travels with the Felfare out of the North, is a smaller Bird, with a dark red under his Wing. He breeds in Woods and Shaws as Song-throstles use to do, and hath an indifferent Song, exceeding the two former; but yet they are fitter for the Pot or Spit than for a Cage of Avery.

The fourth is the Wood-song-thrustle, and sings most incomparably, both lavishly, and with variety of Notes: To adde to his estimation, he sings at least nine of the twelve months in the year.

They build about the same time, place, and manner as the Black-bird does: her policy in the building of her Nest is much to be admired, since the composure cannot be mended by the art of Man: Besides the cu∣rious building, she leaves a little hole in the bottom of her Nest, as I conceive to let out the Water, if a vio∣lent shower should come, that so her Eggs or young ones may not be drowned.

They go very soon to Nest if the Weather fa∣vour them, and breed three times a year, that is, in March or April, May and June; but the first Birds u∣sually prove the best.

Take them in the Nest when they are fourteen days old, and keep them warm and clean, not suffering them to sit on their Dung, but so con∣trive it, that they dung over the Nest. Feed them with raw Meat and some Bread chopped together

with bruised Hemp-seed, wetting your Bread before you mingle it with the meat.

Being throughly fledg'd, put them into a Cage where they may have room enough, with two or three Pear∣ches, and some Moss at the bottom of the Cage, to keep them clean; for otherwise they will be troubled with the Cramp, and for want of delighting in themselves the singing will be spoil'd.

Bread and Hemp-seed is as good food for them as can be given: and be mindful of furnishing them at least twice a week with fresh water, that they may bathe and prune themselves therein, otherwise they will not thrive.

The fifth and last is the Heath-throstle, which is the least we have in England, having a dark breast. Some are of opinion that this bird exceeds the Song-throstle, having better Notes, and neater Plume.

The Hen builds by the Heath-side in a Furz-bush, or stump of an old Haw-thorn, and makes not Shaws and Woods her haunt as other Throstles do. She begins not to breed till the middle of April, and breeds but twice in a year; and if kept clean and well fed, will sing three parts in four of the whole year. Their man∣ner of breeding is in like-sort as the former.

To know the Cock from the Hen, according to old Country-judgment, is to chuse the top-bird of the Nest, which commonly is most fledg'd. Others think that to be the Cock which hath the largest Eye, and most spec∣kles on his breast. Others chuse the Cock by the pinion of his Wing, if it hath a very dark black that goes a∣cross it; but above all, chuse him thus: If his Gullet be white with black streaks on each side, his spots on his Breast large and black, having his head of a light shining brown, with black streaks under each Eye and upon the pinion of the Wing; these are the best marks that ever I observed.