43 



He has some lark-like trills but, for the most part, his 

 song consists of loud and clear warbling. I think 

 this species should be pinioned, as I lost both my 

 males from injuries to the head, sustained in flying up 

 against the netting. Three Black Larks have been 

 shot in this country this winter, so I suppose this 

 will now rank as an English species. If a few were 

 turned down in the spring, I firmly believe they would 

 establish themselves here. 



Nothing has a better effect in an aviary than the 

 music of the Woodlark, and the bird seems to thrive 

 perfectly until the moult when, as far as my experience 

 goes, the majority die. For this reason I now always 

 pick up one or two in the autumn and release themi 

 the following June. 



On the last day of March a pair of Hedger 

 Sparrows laid their first egg. I had eggs laid on the 

 ground in 1904, and a nest built (but no eggs laid) in 

 1905. However, last year they had a better chance, 

 for two Chingolo Song-Sparrows, having selected the 

 adjoining bush for a nest-site, I enclosed the two pairs 

 of birds with some herring-netting. The Accentors 

 were much pleased with the arrangement and reared 

 one youngster, but the Chingolos at once deserted 

 their nest. 



Some time since a correspondent of " Canary and 

 Cage Bird Life " gave a circumstantial account of the 

 hatching of some Hedge - Sparrow's eggs and the 

 rearing of the young by a hen Canary. Dr. Butler 

 has stated that he sees nothing impossible in this 

 achievement and, needless to say, I defer to his very 

 excellent opinion in the matter. At the same time I 

 must say that, after seeing my old hen Accentor feed- 



