THE SKY LARK* 65 



full grown birds, the brightest and deepest 

 coloured is the male, which is also of a 

 brighter and clearer white upon the belly. 



Young sky larks which have left the nest 

 but a few days, and are unable to fly, called 

 by bird-fanciers *' pushers," may easily be 

 taken, by watching when the old birds are 

 feeding them, which can be done by keep- 

 ing under cover of a hedge, or by lying 

 down in the grass, that you may not be seen 

 by them. You will observe the cock and 

 hen bringing food in their bills, with which 

 they hover over a certain spot, and then 

 drop down suddenly ; take notice of the ex- 

 act place where they alight, and run in upon 

 them as fast as possible, when you cannot 

 fail of taking some of the young birds: if 

 you do not find any at the place you 

 expected, you must look narrowly about, as 

 they are apt to run into some hole or tuft 

 of grass, where they will lie quiet till you 

 are gone. Should you not succeed the 

 first time, conceal yourself somewhere near 

 the same place, and wait till you see the old 

 ones bringing food again, when you must 

 remark whether they bring it all to one 



