112 Song Birds. 



the cold, he seems very happy, and slugs as only 

 Thrushes do sing. Nothing is more delightful than 

 to hear them in the early morning, and they sing 

 nearly all the year. 



Doves, too, require a large wicker cage open all 

 round, in which they are very happy, and huild no, 

 they certainly do not build much for they deposit 

 their eggs often on the bare nest basket. They lay, 

 however, several times each year, and bring up two 

 young each time, generally a pair. They require to 

 have much air, but to come in doors at night. 



12. If Larks are kept, they are seldom happy, but 

 perhaps in a long high cage they may be least 

 unhappy. A piece of strong net, or of some green 

 material should be strained over the top, to prevent 

 the poor bird from striking against the cage should he 

 attempt to rise up and sing. The white linen advised 

 by some writers, should never be used ; and to be away 

 from the fresh green fields, and from the blue clear 

 air, is quite bad enough, without the further torture of 

 a wall of whitewash to blind him with the glare. 

 Larks soar without perching, so that perches are not 

 wanted. 



The more airy and open their cage can be the 

 better. Two feet by eighteen inches is a good size, 

 and the drawer for sand should be deep. Chaffinches 

 also prefer rather long cages, the shape, for instance, 

 of a double cube. 



