212 CLASS AYES. 



first given to them ; then they may have grain, or crumbs of 

 bread. There must be kept in their cage some rubbish or 

 plasty, on which they can whet their bill, and fine sand, in 

 which they may powder themselves at their ease. Their 

 wings should be tied, in the first instance, or their cage 

 covered with cloth ; for they are very wild, and may kill 

 themselves in attempting to soar upwards. When these 

 birds are accustomed to captivity, they will continually 

 repeat their own strains, and those which they have learned 

 to imitate, and which they easily retain. 



There is nothing worthy of remark in the great-hilled lark, 

 except, as M. Levaillant assures us, that it never sings, or 

 soars upwards : its eggs are fewer in number, of a greenish 

 gray picked with red. 



The Sirli is remarkable for its long and arched beak, and 

 therefore, as we have seen in the text, constitutes a separate 

 subdivision ; in all other points it is a perfect lark. It is 

 found in the southern parts of Africa, and even in Barbary, 

 usually inhabiting the sandy downs ; from its peculiar song, 

 which it generally puts forth from some little eminence, its 

 name is derived. 



The double-crested Larh (Al. Bilopha) of Temminck, of 

 which we have inserted the figure, is distinguished chiefly by 

 the double crest, from which its name is derived. Of its 

 habits we know nothing. 



The majority of the titmice, particularly those which 

 frequent woods, thickets, and orchards, are courageous, 

 and even ferocious ; they will attack the owl with greater 

 boldness than any other bird, being always foremost in 

 darting on him, and trying to pick out his eyes. They 

 express their little rage and fury by the swelling of their 

 plumes, by violent attitudes, and precipitate motions ; they 

 peck sharply the hand which holds them, strike it repeat- 

 edly with the bill, and seem by their cries to call others 

 to their assistance, which usually attracts them in crowds, 



