110 CJARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



Larks run about on the .uround like Pipits and Wagtails, 

 not hoppinii like most small birds ; but unlike the Pipits, 

 they roll and shuttle in sand instead of washin^i, and are 

 still less addicted to perching than tliose birds, rcmainin.ii; 

 almost constantly on the .i^round. Tliey naturally build 

 on the <!;round also, collectin,^ a little <»;rass in a hollow, 

 and their e<z,ii;s are brown-speckled. 



The cock and hen are usually alike in Larks, but the 

 younjj;- are very different, being spotted with buff like the 

 young of so many Thrushes. Cock Larks are very good 

 songsters in many cases, and are especially noticeable, 

 iVoin their habit of I'ising in the air to sing ; some species, 

 however, are much more addicted to this habit than 

 others, and all at times sing when sitting still. 



Larks are generally niore or less gregarious in winter 

 and some assemble in very large flocks. They feed both 

 on seeds and itisects, and are sometimes destructive to 

 sprouting corn. Most of them are resident, but some 

 migrate long distances, such as the Skylaik of Europe 

 {Ahmdn (irrcnsis) which also inhabits the Himalayas. 

 As articles of food Larks liave long been esteemed, and 

 the '' Ortolan " of India is generally a small kind of Lark 

 (Calandrclld d u kh miens is) \ l)ut tlie "• Woitluins " of the 

 bird-sellers in the Calcutta Provision Bazar may be 

 almost anything, and many Pipits and Wagtails are served 

 up uiuler this name. Th;- line Ortolan of Europe 

 (Emberizd /lortuhuKi) is a rare winter visitor in the North- 

 West. and never bv any chance is (omul in the dealers' 

 baskets ! Somethinu ouglit to be done. i)v the way, to 

 sto]) the cruelty of these men in keeping the poor little 



