OUR SWEETEST SONGSTERS. 61 



dealer, George H. Holden, 240 Sixtli Avenue, 

 New York. 



This lark is happy in all kinds of weather, 

 and sings in his cage all the year round except 

 during the molting season. He will pace 

 from one end of the cage to the other, his 

 head erect, his wings fluttering, and pour forth 

 his song as if a perfect ecstasy had seized him. 

 But his cage must have a cover of some kind 

 over the top, for he naturally wants to rise 

 when he sings, as he does from his native 

 heath, and if the top is unshaded he is apt to 

 dash against the wires and injure himself. He 

 may be taken from the nest w^hen young and 

 reared by hand, and it is said that birds so 

 brought up make the best pets, becoming 

 very tame. 



This wonderful bird, if put in a room 

 where there are other birds, will really learn 

 their songs. That of the nightingale, for in- 

 stance, he mimics to perfection. He and his 

 mate will also rear a brood in a cage if given 

 a quantity of grass and hair with which to con- 

 struct a nest. At such times they require 

 special care. 



But I suppose if you want to hear the song 

 of this " scorner of the ground " at its best, 

 you should be out in the fields on some bright 



