BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 87 



but short ; but, by proper care, it may be made 

 an excellent song-bird; and, after being taught, it 

 may be put, with gi'eat advantage, beside young 

 canaries, goldfinches, chafiinches, &c. who will 

 readily learn its notes. The nest of this bird is 

 made of coarse gi-ass ; sometimes a little moss is 

 added, and lined with fine grass and horse-hair ; 

 it is placed in tufts of grass, at the roots of furze, 

 or close to a bush or stone near the gi'ound. The 

 eggs, four to six in number, " vary considerably in 

 colour, some being of a dark reddish-brown, others 

 whitish," thickly speckled with reddish-brown, or 

 pale orange-coloured brown spots. The hen builds 

 her nest in April, and the young may be taken in 

 May. Tlie young are reared, and the young and 

 old fed and treated in the same manner as the sky- 

 lark, only now and then they may get a few ant- 

 eggs, and two or three meal-worms, particularly 

 when moulting ; and also a little saffron may be 

 put into the water when they appear husky : all 

 birds are liable to this, which proceeds from cold. 

 Often, though the sun is bright, the external air is 

 cliill; and, if the window is open, a stream of cold air 

 rushes in, which is apt to produce this malady : it is 

 analogous to sore throat in the human species. To 

 cure it, they must be kept warm and dry, and saffron 

 or a little liquorice-root put into their drink. 



