: ( a7b 4 
nests, which are most artfully hidden away. At this season in 
Sparticular, the male Siskin has a pretty canary-like warble, quite as 
musical, when this bird takes it into its head to favor us witha 
song. Its warbles and trills make the canary in the cage prick up 
_ its ears, and wonder who could have sung so fine a tune and compass 
_ which it believes to be its own special domain in which it is, perhaps, 
_ primadonna. I trust you will pardon me for giving this special honor 
to a male bird. One invariably chuckles, under such circumstances, 
at success of the Siskin, when it has so closely rivaled a more famous 
voice in Nature’s great Orchestra. The Siskin is 5} inches in length. 
Colour of the male is yellow on the head and neck, whilst rest of the 
body, above, is oliveaceous brown ; wings blackish with yellow spots 
and a bright yellow band ; beneath it is yellow slightly tinted olive 
‘on the sides. The female is more dusky olive and less brightly 
coloured. 
Sup-Famity ALAUDIN A (Larks). 
e 
These familiar birds need no introduction, as they must already 
be well known to you. — Bill, as compared with the former group, is 
long and slender ; wings broad, tertiaries longish and pointed ; claws 
curved ; hind toe and claw long ; plumage usually striped and brown 
is colour. They appears to be more at home on the ground, than 
the perch. They seem to be better known for the typical manner 
in which they rise straight up in the air, in a hovering sort of flight 
singing as they ascend. 
They are divided into— 
T.— Bush-Larks. 
IIJ.—True-Larks. 
III.—Desert-Larks. 
I.—BUSH-LARKS 
Have short bills ; wings more rounded ; tail short. They have 
a somewhat crouching appearance and when approached run quickly 
to cover, composed chiefly of short bushy jungle. None of this 
species are found in the district. 
IJ.—TRUE-LARKS 
Are found in more open country, rocky, scrub jungle. Plumage 
of larks, is dull in colour. At times they are made out with difticul- 
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