238 



British Cage Birds. 



rare that a young bird ever recovers from it. The best plan 

 to adopt when feeding, is to place the meat on the end of a 

 penholder, cut flat at the thickest end, and hold it in front 

 of the bird you desire to feed, when it will run at it in the 

 same way as the parent birds run at their young ones during 

 the feeding process. Give them sheep's heart, or other lean 

 meat, shredded very fine, and mixed with the yolk of a hard- 

 boiled egg, and breadcrumbs, moistened with clean spring 

 water. When they are about three weeks old, a little finely 

 crushed hemp seed, freed from the husks, may be added ; 

 feed every two hours, and both early and late. Be careful 

 not to overload their stomachs, or give them stale food. 

 Neither must it be too dry, or they will get diarrhoea, which 

 will speedily terminate their existence. 



They should be kept in a basket or cage, among short-cut hay 

 or straw — which must be frequently renewed — until they can 

 run about freely, and pick for themselves. They ought then 

 to be removed to a moderately large cage, without perches, 

 having the bottom liberally strewn with hay seeds and fine 

 gravel (not sand), or with the husks of barley, or oats, and 

 gravel ; otherwise they will be sure to get their feet clogged 

 with dirt, which in time hardens, and causes injury. Let 

 them have two feeding-tins, one for moist, and the other for 

 dry food — such as cheese, bread, and hemp seed ; also a 

 vessel for drinking-water. When they are fully competent 

 to feed themselves, the feeding-troughs should be placed 

 outside, or the food given in drawers, if such are used ; the 

 viands recommended for adult birds may then be supplied. 



The cage should be cleaned out regularly once a week, 

 as Larks are rather dirty birds, throwing their food about 

 indiscriminately, and messing themselves all over. It is an 

 excellent plan to let these birds have a sand bath fre- 

 quently ; there is nothing they enjoy better, and it is neces- 

 sary to keep them from being tormented with parasites. 

 Put a dishful of fine sand into the cage ; the best kind is 

 that known as Silver sand." If put in immediately after 

 the cage has been cleaned out, it can be gathered up as soon 

 as the birds have had their plunge and revel amongst it, 

 and saved for another time. 



Distinguishing Marks of Cock and Hen. — To distinguish 

 the male from the female in a nest of young birds is rather a 



