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CHAPTER XXXVI. 



LARKS, PIPITS, AND WAGTAILS. 



The Skylark is entitled to a prominent position in the foremost ranks of our songsters, whether 

 we contemplate its merits whilst soaring high amid the clouds of song, mellowed by distance into 

 delicious cadences, or as the pet of some family cramped in between the walls of narrow streets 

 in the midst of our densely-populated towns. Even under these adverse circumstances a Lark 

 will enliven the whole neighbourhood by the clear and lively tones of its inspiring song, which is 

 to be especially esteemed for power and brilliancy. Perhaps there is no other British bird so 

 much kept by townsfolk ; certainly none other puts forward his claims with such sturdy eloquence. 

 Even when in its narrow cage the Lark seems constrained to use some muscular exercise during 

 singing, for it flutters its wings and tramples the turf as if it were once more free. Excepting 

 perhaps the Nightingale, no bird would seem to have exercised the quaint conceits of poets with 

 more felicity than the Skylark, yet, as with most of our sweetest songsters, its plumage is most 

 unpretending. The beak is dark brown above, pale yellow-brown at the base ; the feathers on the 

 top of the head dark brown, edged with paler brown, and rather long so as to form a crest, which 

 the bird can elevate at pleasure ; the cheeks are pale brown, the whole of the upper part is varied 

 with three shades of brown, the centre of every feather being darkest giving the bird a streaked 

 or spotted appearance ; the tail is brown except the outside feathers, which are white ; the throat 

 and upper part of the breast pale brown, streaked with darker brown; the belly pale ypUowish- 

 white ; the legs strong, and the feet especially formed for walking, the hind toe being long and 

 straighter than with perching birds. Though it is very difficult to distinguish the difference 

 between the sexes, the female is slightly smaller than the male, and its plumage is given by most 

 authorities as being rather darker. 



In the fallow lands, or out in the meadows amid a wealth of buttercups and cuckoo-flowers, 

 in a slight indentation of the ground, the Skylark builds its nest, in direct antithesis, as it were, to 

 the boldness of its flight. The nest is very simply constructed of dry bents of grass, and the eggs 

 are from three to six in number. The young are easily reared if properly attended to, though 

 they are inexorable in their demands to be fed early. This should be about four or five o'clock, 

 and by no means later than six o'clock, when a few mouthfuls must be given, and so on at short 

 intervals during the day. A little given often is far better than over-cramming. They should be 

 given soaked bread mixed with crushed hemp-seed, and a little scraped beef and egg. The adult 

 birds may be fed on bread-crumbs and crushed hemp-seed, varied with morsels of cheese or potato 

 or any table scraps. A better but more expensive food is bread-crumbs and crushed hemp-seed, 

 German paste, scraped beef and egg, varied with gentles and mealworms. 



The Skylark is a strong, hardy bird, and will stand a deal of cold weather, great numbers 

 staying through the winter in this country. The fowlers sadly decimate them during the winter 

 months, as they are considered a dainty in the market. 



Though the bird is never seen near a pond, as it drinks when wild the dew from the grass, it 

 is very fond of dusting, and should always be provided with plenty of road gravel, such as may be 



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