322 Canaries and Cage-Birds. 



found in the road-side gutters after a lieavy sliower of rain. No perches are required, but a piece 

 of turf should be placed in the circular front of the cage, which should be of the ordinary Lark 

 pattern, obtainable of any wire-worker. 



As the Lark always lives upon the ground when not soaring, and seldom settles upon a tree 

 or bush, when wild, in the aviary a piece of turf should be set aside out of the reach of the perches. 



The Woodlark's song is greatly prized, and by some has been assigned a rank next in 

 order of merit to that of the Nightingale itself Though not so loud and piercing as the 

 Skylark's, it possesses some brilliancy, modulated by deep pathos, being noted more for mellow- 

 ness and plaintiveness than for sprightliness and execution. In confinement it sings from the 

 perch, but when wild will sing from the bough of a tree, or, in summer, when poised in mid-air, 

 ascending in spiral gyrations even higher than the Skylark. It is not so common a bird as the 

 Skylark, preferring rough grass land, interspersed with trees or woods and copses. It generally 

 commences breeding very early in the season. 



The following is a plain description of a Woodlark that procured the first prize at the Crystal 

 Palace Bird Show for two years in succession, and once also at the Alexandra Palace : — The 

 beak is dark brown above, pale yellow-brown beneath ; over the eye and ear-coverts runs a pale 

 yellowish-brown streak ; the feathers on the top of the head are of a light brown colour, streaked 

 with dark brown, and are long, forming a crest, which can be elevated at pleasure ; the whole of the 

 upper part wood-brown, streaked on the neck and patched on the back with dark brownish-black ; 

 the tail has a very light brown feather on either side, and two pale brown in the middle, the rest being 

 brownish-black, triangularly tipped with white ; the whole of the under part pale yellowish-brown, 

 speckled with elongated flecks of dark brown, smaller and more thinly scattered on the throat, and 

 gathering in size and number on the breast, and not at all on the belly. It is smaller in size than 

 the Skylark, and its tail and hind claw are shorter. 



Equally to be desired in the cage or aviary, the Woodlark is a bird that we can safely 

 recommend. Its food, whilst resembling the Nightingale's, is not quite so elaborate. The best is 

 composed of cooked beef chopped up very fine, some hard-boiled egg (both yolk and white), also 

 finely chopped or run through a sieve, some German paste, a little finely-pounded hemp-seed mixed 

 with a good proportion of fine crumbs of bread. 



We have found that upon this food the birds thrive better and keep their song longer ; their 

 plumage is also neater, and they invariably moult very much better than if fed without the beef 

 and egg. An occasional mealworm should be given as a variation, and ants' eggs and gentles 

 whenever procurable. 



The Shorelark is a very handsome bird, but unfortunately very uncommon, or its finely 

 tinted breast and prettily marked head and throat would recommend it to many. Its song is 

 somewhat eccentric, but sweet, though comparatively short, and uttered generally when on the 

 wing at a slight elevation. We knew one that was caught near Brighton, and which lived in an 

 aviary for over five years. We should advise that this bird be fed and kept the same as a 

 Woodlark. 



The Tree Pipit, as may be seen upon reference to the Plate, is a very graceful bird, and, 

 though not striking in plumage, has a pretty appearance. Its song is very pleasing, and when wild 

 the manner in which it is delivered adds greatly to its charm. The bird generally perches upon 

 the leafless branch of a tree in a meadow or copse, from thence ascending on quivering wings, which. 



