240 



British Cage Birds. 



a few mealworms and groats, and an occasional sprinkling 

 of maw seed, with a sand bath given regularly, will be 

 found the best incentives to song. 



Skylarks might be bred in confinement, if a special aviary, 

 which should be large and spacious, were erected for them, 

 with the outside part left all grass, and allowed to grow as 

 in a meadow. Only one pair should be kept in it. It is 

 doubtful whether these birds would breed among others ; 

 they might pair, and even lay eggs, but they would pro- 

 bably neither sit, nor rear their young, under such conditions. 



Diseases and their Treatment. — Skylarks are, as a rule, 

 robust, healthy birds, and, if properly cared for after being 

 reared, do not suffer much from disease. It is customary, 

 and an excellent practice, to hang them in the open air 

 during fine weather ; this doubtless conduces to health and 

 longevity. Gas is pernicious and injurious to all birds, and 

 they ought not to be kept in a room where it is in daily 

 use. Cramp is the complaint from which these birds suffer 

 most, and next to this looseness in the bowels, for treat- 

 ment of which see Chapter V., on "Diseases." 



