THE WOOD LARK. 17S 



time they are so much grown that ihey may serve for flying about the 

 roouj. 



Food — When wild this bird lives, like the sky-lark, on insects, different 

 sorts of seeds, and oats. In the house it is fed with the same things, but 

 it becomes more robust and healthy than the sky-lark. 



Breeding. — This species forms its nest on the ground, under little dry 

 bushes, under garden vegetables, on clay walls, and even on thatched roofs. 

 The eggs, in number from four to five, are of a rusty gray, shaded and 

 spotted at the upper end with dark brown. The first plumage of the young 

 before moulting is variegated white. They are taken from the nest when 

 the feathers are half grown to be tamed and taught airs, or to have them 

 instructed by other birds whose song is admired ; they learn every thing 

 with the greatest ease. 



Diseases — They are the same as those of other larks. A lousy disease 

 may be added. I possess two male crested larks, one of which has hardly 

 any of the lice which so commonly torment birds, whilst the other, which 

 is nevertheless as gay and musical, is so covered with them that he cannot 

 be touched without having the hand filled with these nasty insects. He 

 has been with me four years, and though he has maintained for a long time 

 millions of these parasites, he continues in good health, which I attribute 

 to his abundant supjdy of good food. 



Is this produced by a diffeience in the cleanly dispositions of these two 

 birds, or is it a constitutional difference .' 



Mode of Taking. — When, in winter, any spot has been remarked 

 ■which the larks prefer, a place must be cleared fiom snow, some oats and 

 poppy-seed be thrown upon it for a bait, and limed twigs, nets, or even a 

 simple gauze, be conveniently arranged, and soon plenty will be caught. 



Attractive Qualities. — The song of the crested lark is, in my opinion, 

 very inferior to that of the sky-lark ; it seems composed of the warbling of 

 that and of the linnet ; this bird sings also in the night. Its time of singing 

 lasts from February to August, but longer in those birds which have been 

 tamed from the nest. It has not the tottering gait of the sky-lark, but 

 runs nimbly, and moves its crest in the most expressive way. It is rnther 

 quarrelsome, and has the peculiarity that when it fights it continues to sing. 



THE WOOD-LARK. 



Alauda arborea, Linn^us ; Le Cujelier, ou L'Alouette desBois, ou La Loulon, 

 BiJFFON ; Die VValdlerche, Beohstein. 



This charming species is one-third smaller than the field- 

 lark, and resembles it much in form and gait. The beak is 

 black above, brown below, tending to carnation at the tip. 

 The shanks, three quarters of an inch high, are of a brownish 

 flesh-colour. The top of the head is reddish brown, with four 

 n2 



