158 PET BIRDS OF BENOA.L 



the Larks to breed in captivity. Below 

 is reproduced an account of the Crested 

 Lark breeding in an aviary. It is as 

 interesting as it is instructive. 



''The two birds at once made them- 

 selves quite at home in the large aviary. 

 About the beginning of May, the smaller 

 bird, which was the male, began to carry 

 large beakfuls of grass and did his best to 

 induce the female to build in a secluded 

 corner. The female decided to build in 

 the most open part of the aviary. They 

 used to flirt most outrageously. 



''The birds dug out a circular cavity 

 with their stout beaks and lined the cavity 

 with grass. The nest was completed on 8 th 

 June ; the first eo-o- laid on the 10th. 

 The clutch of four eggs was completed on 

 the 13th but incubation commenced on 

 the 12th. The female incubated and she 

 was the most unsteady sitter that I have 

 ever seen, in fact it seemed to be impossible 

 that the eggs should hatch in view of the 

 length of time that they were left every 



