Ch. XIX.] THE SHANTUNG LAEK. 319 



had the best opportunity of observing in the streets of the 

 great southern capital. 



The Chinese are very fond of keeping tame birds ; and it 

 is a common sight to see a Chinaman leisurely vralking the 

 streets with his bird-cage, usually round and arched, upon 

 the open palm of his hand, the wrist being bent back and 

 the palm upward. He loves thus to give his bird an airing, 

 as well as to exhibit his treasure, which is not unfrequently 

 of considerable value. The bird thus favoured is, in nine 

 cases out of ten, the Shantung lark (Acridotherescristatellus), 

 which is not however a true lark, but a starhng — a pretty 

 bird, nearly as large as a thrush, of a mottled-brown colour, 

 with a light streak over the eyes, and an irregular black 

 ring round the neck. The eyes are small, black, and have 

 a remarkably pleasant look, and the cheeks swell out below 

 the eyes in a pecuhar manner. The natural habits of this 

 bird are characterised bj' familiarity ; and they have received 

 the name of Pako, or the eight brothers, from the Chinese, 

 because they are usually seen in small parties together. 

 The bird is hvely, good-natured, and easily tamed ; but it is 

 none of these qualities which specially endear it to the 

 Chinese, though they all add to its attractions. It is its 

 powers of mimicry which render the Shantung lark so popu- 

 lar. They have, it is said, a good natural song, not unlike 

 that of a skylark, which I should doubt ; but they easily 

 learn to imitate all manner of out-of-the-way sounds. They 

 will bark like a dog, mew like a cat, crow like a cock, or 

 cough and sneeze like a human being. Nor are powers of 

 speech denied to them, for" they learn to talk with as much 

 facility as a parrot. It is no wonder, therefore, that well- 

 educated birds command a good price. I have known one 

 in a bumboat for which 25 dollars {61.) have been offered 



