308 THE SKYLARK. 



In confinement, it is either allowed to range the room, 

 betaking itself' at night to some corner railed off for a sleeping- 

 place, or is kept in a cage. If a good song be desired, the 

 latter is the preferable method. The cage, the shape of which 

 is of no consequence, should not be less than eighteen inches 

 long, nine inches broad, and fifteen inches high. On the 

 floor should be a drawer filled with river sand, with which 

 this bird delights to dust itself; the top should be made of 

 cloth, that it may not injure itself when flying upwards, as is 

 often the case when it sings, or before it is accustomed to con- 

 finement. A second drawer may be appropriated for food and 

 water ; or the vessels may be affixed as usual to the side of the 

 cage. If the Larks be allowed to range the room, particular 

 attention to cleanliness is requisite, as they are very apt to 

 entangle their feet in such substances as hair, wool, and flax. 

 If care be not taken to clean their feet once or twice a day, 

 lameness, or even the loss of one or more claws, is often the 

 result. 



Food. In a wild state, the Skylark feeds on insects and 

 their larvae, ants' eggs, various kinds of small seeds, and, in 

 autumn and spring, on oats, which it shells by beating them 

 upon the ground. It is also fond of green food, and may be 

 noticed picking up grains of sand, to aid in the process of 

 digestion. 



In confinement, those which are allowed to range the room, 

 thrive on the universal pastes. Those kept in cages seem to 

 prefer the second of these, or they may be fed on poppy seed, 

 crushed hemp seed and oats, barley groats, malt, bread crumbs, 

 varied with a little water-cress, lettuce, and cabbage. They 

 are also fond of ants' eggs, and lean meat. This diet may be 

 occasionally given to all Larks, whether caged or not, and will 

 make them livelier, and improve their song. For those which 

 are just caught, poppy seed and oats are the best food. 



Breeding. The Skylark builds its nest on the ground, and 

 chiefly in fallow fields, or among the young corn. It is roughly 

 put together, of dry grass and hair, and is usually placed in 

 some slight hollow. The female lays twice a year, four or five 

 whitish grey eggs, spotted with greyish brown. The period 

 of incubation is fourteen days, and the young birds are often 

 to be seen as early as the end of April. They are at first fed 

 with insects, and begin to run about near the nest before they 



