British Cage Birds. 



and grey on the under side. The smaller wing coverts 

 are greenish brown, and the larger ones dusky brown, the 

 former being margined with greyish white, and the latter 

 with reddish white, forming white bars across the wings. 

 The tail is dusky or blackish brown, the outer feather being 

 white on the external plume, as also on the inner plume, 

 halfway from the end ; the outermost feather but one, on 

 each side, has a wedge-shaped white spot near the tip. The 

 legs are yellowish or willow colour, and the claws brown ; the 

 spur is rather long, and bent. There are white specimens of 

 the Titlark to be met with occasionally, but they are ex- 

 tremely rare. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Titlark is a migratory bird, 

 and arrives in this country in the early part of April. It 

 inhabits the greater part of Europe. The males precede the 

 females, generally by about a fortnight. Each male bird 

 selects for himself a particular locality, which is usually in 

 the neighbourhood of a small plantation, or damp meadow, 

 common, or pasture, and in the vicinity of large gardens. 

 Sometimes these birds will venture into a village or town, 

 and alight on the tops of houses. Like Woodlarks, they 

 will sing perched on a tree, although they more frequently 

 perch on the ground. When in search of a partner, the male 

 Titlark utters a peculiar cry — " Geike, Geike " — which he 

 repeats loudly and rapidly, hopping from branch to branch 

 in a lively and excited manner. At other times the call is 

 ^'Zip, Zip." He sings best when he has entered into the 

 bonds of matrimony, and makes short ascents, flying head 

 foremost for 20yds. or 30yds., and descending in a similar 

 manner, singing to the utmost of his ability until he alights. 



In winter. Titlarks visit low lying grounds, or the sea- 

 shore, and frequent marshes and pools that are not frozen 

 over, as also rickyards, to pick up the scattered grain, and 

 the neighbourhood of farmsteads. They are partial to the 

 insects, known as ''Ticks," which infest sheep, and may be 

 frequently seen on the backs of these animals, both in the 

 fields and in folds, in search of them. They sometimes perch 

 on trees, bushes, walls, or rocks, but mostly on the ground, 

 where they roost among the tall grass, or beneath furze or 

 juniper bushes. 



The Titlark commences to breed about the latter end of 



