222 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(87) THE BENGAL BUSHLAEK. 

 MIEAFBA ASSAMICA— McClell.) 



Hindi — Aggin; Bhiriri. 



Description. — The prevailing colour of the upper plumage ashy- 

 brown, in some specimens and according to the locality, with a tinge of 

 olive ; throat whitish ; breast and abdomen brownish- white and spotted ; 

 total length about 5 \ inches. 



JTab. — Throughout Lower and Eastern Bengal, in the better- 

 watered and wooded tracts of the Central Provinces and Chota Nagpore, 

 in Assam and Cachar, and in the Dhoons and Terais which lie at the 

 feet of the Himalayas, and the immediately adjacent districts of Behar, 

 Oudh, and the North- Western Provinces. (Hume.) 



(88) THE SINGING BUSHLAEK. 



(MIEAFEA CANTILLANS— Jerdon.) 

 Hindi — Agghin. 

 Description.— It closely resembles the preceding species, but has 

 more white about the throat and below the ear-coverts ; underparts pale 

 ruf escent with indistinct small breast spots ; total length about 5 J inches. 

 Hub. — The singing bush! ark is found throughout India, common 

 in some parts, rarer in others, not so common in Lower Bengal as in 

 most parts of Behar. 



Length or life in captivity. 



Specimens of both the bushlarks have often been included in the 

 collection of the garden, but no record has been kept of the length of 

 their life in captivity. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — In this garden they are allowed to remain in the large 

 aviary, where they have more opportunity of hiding themselves under 

 straw or amongst plants than in other places ; as cage-birds they do well 

 and are generally treated as such by the bird-fanciers in Bengal. 



Food. — In captivity both these larks thrive well on satoo, insects 

 and maggots ; they also eat fruits. 



Observations on the habits of the Singing and Bengal 



BuSHLAEKS. 



Both of them are uninteresting birds as specimens for exhibition in 

 an aviary, as they can be seldom seen ; they move swiftly on the ground 

 and are always hiding ; both of them sing well, especially the singing 

 lark. 



