Xx OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
captivity—Larks for the table—Nest and eggs of the 
Skylark—WoopPrecKERS— Unappreciated benefactors 
——Work of the Woodpeckers—Their wonderful struc- 
ture—The Great Spotted Woodpecker—Its habits and 
doings—Distrust of man—Nest of the Woodpecker— 
Defective sanitary arrangements—The Cuckoo—Its 
valuable services—Life-history—Maternity by deputy 
—An interesting exhibit—Why is not the Cuckoo a 
nest-builder ? wee fe it ; page 183 
CHAPTER Sit. 
GAME BIRDS, GULLS, ETC. 
THE PARTRIDGE—Its great value to the farmer-—Par- 
tridges in turnip-fields—The Partridge and the cab- 
bage butterfly—Domestic arrangements of the Par- 
tridge—A mutual agreement—The Pheasant and the 
grub of the daddy-long-legs—The Great Plover—Its 
melancholy cry—Food of the bird—Its “nest” and 
eggs—The Lapwing and its services—Maternal solici- 
tude—Eggs of the Lapwing—The Corn - crake—Its 
talent for concealment—Food of the Corn-crake—Its 
want of architectural skill—GuLLs—Scavengers of the 
sea—Gulls as the friends of the farmer—The Black- 
headed Gull—Summer and winter plumage—Nesting- 
grounds—The Common Gull—lIts value to the agri- 
culturist—Nest and eggs... es cif we» Paee TOO 
CONCLUSION . =.qntbaeghbee oe. San geeeeere 
