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Tloe Sky Lark. Aland a Vulgaris. ktlljUS/r^^^ 



Numb. XLI. - \7 ^ 



Numb. XLI. 



ITS Welglit Is one Ounce eleven Drams, Length from the End of the Bill to the End 

 of the Tail, feven Inches and one half ; Breadth, one Foot two Inches ; the Bill from 

 the Tip to the Angles of its Mouth, was three Quarters of an Inch long, the upper Man- 

 dible blackifh, inclining to a Horn Colour, the lower commonly whitifli, the Tongue clo- 

 ven, broad and hard, the Noflrils round. It fometimes ruffles up the Feathers of its 

 Head, almoft in Fafhion of a Creft. A cinereous Ring or Crown encompaffes the hind Part 

 of the Head from Eye to Eye, but more fordid, and lefs confpicuous than in the Wood- 

 Lark. The Head is of a teftaceous redifli Afh Colour, the middle Parts of the Feathers- 

 being black. The Back is of the fame Colour with the Head, the Chin whitifti, the- 

 Throat yellow, with brown Spots; the Sides of a redifli yellow Colour. Each Wing hatb 

 eighteen quill Feathers ; of thefe all betwixt the fixth and feventeenth have blunt, indent- 

 ed, white Tips. The Edges of the four or five outermoft are white, thofe next the Bor- 

 dy cinereous, the reft redifli. 



The Tail is three Inches long, confifling of twelve Feathers, of which the outermoft on 

 each Side hath both its upper half, and alio the exterior Web of the lower white. The 

 next to this hath only its outer Web white, the inner being black: the three following 

 on each Side are black, the two middlemoft are fharp pointed ; of which that which lies un- 

 dermoft when the Tail is fliut, hath Afti coloured Edges : that which covers it, lying up- 

 permoft, towards the Tip, is cinereous, towards the Bottom blackifli. The Feet and 

 Legs are dufky, the Claws black, with white Tips ; the outer Toe grows to the middle 

 below, as in other fmall Birds. The Liver is divided into two Lobes, the Left much lefs 

 than the Right, that there may be Room for the Gizzard, which is more flefliy and large 

 in this Bird than is ufually in Birds of this Bignefs. 



The Flefh is very fweet and delicate ; in mild Winters It feeds itfelf very fit. It builds 

 on the Ground, and lays four or five Eggs, and makes its Neft of dry Herbs and Strings 

 or Bents of Grafs, and breeds thrice a Year, in May, y^'(v, and Anguji, rearing the young 

 very foon. The young Neftlings are brought up with Sheep's Heart and Egg chopt to- 

 gether, till they are about three Weeks old ; and when they begin to feed themfelves, 

 give them Oatmeal Grits, Hempfced, and Bread mixt with a little boil'd Egg, or Whear, 

 Oatmeal and Millet, and you muftobferve to give them Sand, mixed with a little Hay- 

 Seed in the Bottom of the Cage, being what they delight in moft ; as alfo, a frefli Turf 

 once or twice a Week, placing it in a Difh of Water to preferve it frefti. Their Cage 

 muft be large, and without Pearches, 



The Cock is diftinguifhed from the Hen, by his long Heel, which reaches beyond his 

 Knee ; and having two black Spots on his Neck, one on each Side, like unto a Ring or 

 Collar ; his Breaft darker and more fpeckled with black, and a groffer Body. 



Thofe Birds you intend to keep for Singing, arebeft when taken in OBober ^v\d November^ 

 and then they fing a little after Chrijlmas ; you muft chufe the ftreighteft, largeft, and 

 loftieft Bird, and he that bath the moft white in his Tail, which are the ufual Marks of a 

 Cock. If he is wild and buckifh, tie his Wings for two or three Weeks, till he become tame, 

 and more acquainted with you, then untie his Wings, letting him hang in the fame Place 

 he did before, feeding him with white Oats, Bread, and Hempfeed > and when he begins 

 to fing, give him a hard Egg, Sheep's Heart:, or a little boil'd M/,;/^/^o« ovVeal fhread fmall, 

 forbearing to give him any Salt Meat, or Bread that is any thing fait, which is pernicious 

 to all Birds. " 7h 



loX 



