Book H. 0<%3\£1T HO LO QT. 205 



number of feathers, *>iz>. twelve, not forked 5 yet the middle feathers were fome- 

 thing (hotter than the reft, and ended in fharp points, being between green and a 

 fordid red or fulvous colour. The four next on each fide had blunt points, were 

 whitilh at tips, theoutmoft moft, the reft in order lefs, elfe blackiili. 



It hath no Craw : In the Stomach we found Beetles, Caterpillars, Gromil-feed,dv. 

 Theftomach was provided with ftrong and thick mufcles. The blind Guts in this 

 kind, as in all other (mall birds, that we haveobferved, are very (hort: The Gut be- 

 low thefe appendants is larger. 



Thefe birds fly many together in company, finging as they fly with a note not much 

 unlike a Blackbirds. 



It is diftingu'uhed from the common Lark,, by the following marks efpecially : 

 1. Whittling like a Blackbird. 2. A Circle of white feathers encompaffing the Head 

 from Eye to Eye like a Crown or Wreath. 3. The firft or outmoft feather of the * 

 Wing being much fho/cer than the fecond, whereas in the common Lark, it is near 

 equal. 4. The ofcioft feathers of the Tail having white tips. 5. That it fits upon 

 trees. 6. It is teller than the common Lark., but hath a {hotter, and thicker, or roun- 

 der body for its bignefs. 



Aldrovandm makes no mention of this bird that I knowiof. Olina figures and de- 

 fcribes it in his Vccel/eria under the title of Tottovilla. 



The Woodlark^ is comparable to the Nightingale for finging, and by (ome preferred 

 before it. He will alfo emulate the Nightingale, and hath great variety of notes. 



It is a very tender bird, and yet breeds the looneft of any in England. My Author 

 faith, that he hath had a Neft of young birds ready to fly fry the fixteenth of March : 

 That it builds moft commonly in lays, where thegrafs hath been pretty rank, and is 

 grown ruflet, under fome large Turf, to {helter its Neft from the wind and weather.. 

 He could never bring up a neft of young ones, becaufe they either had the cramp, or 

 fell into a fcouring in Ids than a weeks time after he had taken them : Nor could he 

 ever hear of any who had kept them fo long as till they lung. So that they are never 

 bred from the Neft. 



The Seafons of taking Woodlarks, and -which beji to keep. 



There are three feafbns of taking Woodlarks 5 1. The firft is in June July and Auguji^ 

 when the Branchers are taken, having not yet moulted. Thefe birds fing prefently, 

 but continue their finging but little, for they loon fall a moulting. They are com- 

 monly very familiar birds as being taken young. 



2. The next fealbn for taking them is in the latter end of September, which my Au- 

 thor calls the general flight-time, when they rove from one Country to another. By 

 this time they have all moulted their feathers, and you can hardly diftinguifh a young 

 bird from anold. The birds taken at this leafon are brave, ftrong, and fprightful 3 

 and prove well at Spring if they be well kept all Winter 5 otherwife they will be lou- 

 fie, ' and quite fpoiled. They ufually begin not to fing till after Spring, and continue 

 till July. 



3. The third feafon is from the beginning of January to the latter end of February^ 

 when they are paired, and have parted with their laft years Brood. Thefe fing with- 

 in three or four days, or a week at furtheft, ( if they be well conditioned birds ) and 

 will foon become tame. For your fearful, wild, buckifh birds feldom prove good : 

 For upon every turn they bolt againft the fides of the Cage, and bruife themfelves, 

 and fo are apt to leave off finging. Therefore if you have a bird that is a good bird 

 and wild, have a Net knit French Meafh, and put it in the infide of the Cage, lowing 

 it clofe to the fides and ftrait, that when he bolts or flirts he may take no harm. Birds 

 taken at this feafon for the moft part prove the beft, they being in full ftomach, and 

 finging in a very (hort time after, and being alfo more perfeft in their fong than thofe 

 taken at other feafons. 



How to order a Woodlark^vohen taken. 



In the firft place you rnuft have a Cage with two pans 5 one for mixyjieat, and 

 another for Oatmeal and whole Hemp-feed. Firft, boil an Egg hard : Then take the 

 crumof a half-peny white-loaf, and as much Hemp-feed as the bread : Chop your 

 Egg very fmall, and crumble your bread and it together : Then bruife your Hemp- 

 feed very fmall with a rolling pin, or pound it in a Mortar, mingle all together and 



give 



