64 THE SMALLER BRITISH XIRDS. 



The Wood Lark, and Crested Lark, are both attractive cage birds, 

 the former especially, on account of its vocal powers, but it is a more 

 delicate bird than either of the others, and requires a more frequent 

 change of diet; to the list given above may be added for this bird, 

 sweet curds, and bullock's heart boiled and grated fine ; the universal 

 paste may be given, as to all Larks, to this species, which seldom lives 

 more than four years in confinement, and very commonly dies of a 

 broken leg; it is peculiarly subject to a disease which causes the 

 claws to drop off; the best preventive measures are strict attention 

 to cleanliness, in the feet especially, and the careful removal of any 

 hairs which may cut into the flesh and cause it to fester. Parasitic- 

 insects are very troublesome to Larks, some of which literally swarm 

 with them; a lotion made with white precipitate powder, about three 

 grains to the ounce of water, applied under the feathers, may be used, 

 syringe the infected parts with a weak infusion of tobacco. All Larks 

 are great dusters, and should have plenty of nice clean sand provided 

 for this purpose. 



A female Lark in confinement has been known to lay as many as 

 twenty eggs in the year, when no male bird was present, but she could 

 not be got to sit on them, although these birds will often breed and 

 rear their young when deprived of liberty ; an instance of this occurred 

 at Chatham a few years since, in a pair of the birds, in the possession 

 of an artilleryman at the Spur battery; the female of course took the 

 principal duty, and the male attended on her most assiduously, cheering 

 and entertaining her with the melody of his song. 



