472 Correspondence. 



BREEDING SKYLARKS. 



{To the Editors of the Canadian Naturalist.) 



Sir, — A correspondent in your October number remarks that : 

 "It would tend much to increase tbe practical value of your 

 " Journal, if your subscribers were from time to time to communi- 

 " cate facts relating to any department of the Natural History 

 " of the Province." Adopting this suggestion, I beg to note a 

 singular incident which has occurred in Quebec, in respect to the 

 breeding of skylarks An amateur noted for possessing the best 

 singing larks in the city, has succeeded in rearing in captivity 

 six or seven healthy broods of these birds. The plan he adopted 

 is as follows : in pairing season, the birds are removed from the 

 cages to a quiet room, the floor of which is covered with green 

 sod ; a wire blind allows free access to the air ; no one except the 

 owner is allowed access during the period of incubation. The 

 birds although wild when in cages, become so tame in the room 

 that the owner has in some instances even removed them with 

 his hand from the nest without their manifesting any alarm. 

 Their nest was so artfully concealed in the thick grass that it 

 was impossible to notice it, unless the old bird was seen coming 

 from it. The young birds were wholly fed on grass-hoppers, until 

 they were a week old. Should rainy weather set in and grass- 

 hoppers become scarce, the young brood would wither and die. 

 Many thriving birds were lost in this manner. Some of the larks 

 thus bred were remarkable for the sweetness of their song. This 

 is the only instance I know of, in which skylarks have been bred 

 in captivity in Canada. Another instance of captive European 

 birds breeding in Canada, occurred some years ago. A pair of 

 English blackbirds, the property of the late Wm. Patton, Esq., 

 Seigneur of Montmagny, being allowed the free range of a 

 small room, built their nest in an old boot. The young were 

 thriving and gave much promise, when one night old and young 

 fell victims to the voracity of a cat. Should you reserve me a 

 small corner in your Magazine, I may send you a short notice of 

 our Wood Thrush (Tundus Melodus), and Veery, the Tundus 

 Wilsonii, as observed in the pine Groves of Spencer Wood. 

 Truly may it be said that the Canadian Fauna and its agree- 

 able songsters are comparatively unknown. Although the birds 

 of Canada cannot compare for sweeiSiess of song with European 

 warblers, still many of them are highly worthy of note. Who, 

 ever, for example, can listen unmoved to the rollicking, jingling 

 and merry song of the Boblink, when from the bough of some 

 magestic elm, he pours forth his morning hymn? 



J. M. L. 



Spencer Grange, near Quebec. 

 October, 1858. 



