112 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 



but the young are easily distinguishable by their buff 

 spots. 



This Lark, although not a very migratory bird, is widely 

 spread all along the Northern Hemisphere of the Old 

 World, and, although it avoids damp regions, has great 

 powers of enduring extremes of climate, and its tastes in 

 the matter of food must be accommodating, as it rather 

 affects barren localities. In India it is mostly confined 

 to the North- West, and a comparatively small proportion 

 of the birds that visit us remain to breed in the country. 

 These nest from March to June, making a small bed of 

 various soft materials under any shelter such as a stone, 

 or even a clod. Not more than three eggs are laid, white 

 with brown and purple spots. 



The Crested Lark bears captivity well, and is a very 

 good songster as a cage-bird. In an aviary, judging 

 from one specimen I was able to observe, a bird obtained 

 young, it is lively and interesting, always industriously 

 digging in the ground, and seldom still for long. 



It is also very courageous ; I saw the above bird once 

 stand up to a Black-throated Thrush (Merula atrigularis), 

 a bird twice its own size, and boldly sing in its face till 

 the Thrush gave way. In 1901 I had several sent to 

 England, and let them out in Kent, and I hope they 

 survived to breed. I should advise some one to repeat 

 the experiment, as the bird has already been found in 

 England on a few occasions, and would, if established, 

 probably thrive there. As it is a harmless bird, sings 

 well, and is much more familiar than most of the Larks, 

 it would be an acquisition in any country. 



