80 TREATISE ON 



this the hen drops fom* or five eggs, of a dingy 

 reddish-white colour, sometimes brownish, tinged 

 with very pale yellowish-brown, speckled with 

 pale and deep orange-coloured brown spots ; but 

 the eggs vary in colour. The hen sits about fifteen 

 days, and the young may be taken about ten days 

 old ; but, as this is a delicate bird when young, and 

 the nest not easily found, caught birds are rather 

 preferred for the cage. 



The young are reared much in the same manner 

 as skylarks, but no milk is mixed with their food- 

 They should be fed mth loaf-bread, egg, and flesh- 

 meat, about equal parts of each, all finely minced 

 and mixed together, and moistened with a little 

 water. In every other particular the young are 

 lodged and treated in the same manner as skylarks. 

 The young, when ready for the cage, and old birds, 

 are fed with the same paste already mentioned, 

 but, occasionally, there ought to be mixed with it 

 one-fourth part of hemp or rape-seed. In hot 

 weather they must have a flat dish to wash them- 

 selves in, always after which the cage must be 

 dried, and the bottom of it strewed with fine gra- 

 vel. If unweU, give the birds ants' mould, with 

 the insects and their eggs in it. Should they void 

 loose, give them a little grated chalk. In every 



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