THE TITLARK. 
the most courageous way, uttering sharp cries and circling 
round your head. 
As the fledgling titlark is a very delicate little creature, it 
will be as well to provide yourself with a small warmly-lined 
box or basket, as in the case of the nightingale. The males 
can only be known from the females by their much brighter 
appearance. The fledglings should be fed every two hours, and 
their food should be a mixture of white bread, over which 
boiling milk has been poured, ant’s eggs, and crushed poppy 
seed. You cannot do better than follow the directions given 
as regards skylark nestlings. 
The Titlark’s Cage. — The titlark’s cage should be exactly 
like that proper for the skylark, with this difference : he is a 
perching bird, and must therefore be supplied with two perches. 
The titlark takes great pride in his personal appearance, so 
you must not forget to supply him constantly and plentifully 
with water. Unlike the other larks, this one does not dust 
itself in the sand. 
Food oe the Titlark. — With the exception of the night- 
ingale, there is no bird so delicate in his appetite as the titlark. 
In a state of freedom he subsists entirely on flies of all kinds, 
caterpillars, beetles, ants, and ant’s eggs. Indeed, its habits so 
closely resemble those of the nightingale, that as a rule the 
same diet will suit both birds, except that to the titlark may 
occasionally be given rotten cheese and crushed hemp- seed, 
food which the nightingale must not have. 
Diseases of the Titlark, and How to Cure Them. — The 
disease to which the titlark is most subject is a wasting of 
flesh, similar to consumption. The bird appears to dwindle 
daily in size, and its feathers fall - out as though it were going 
to moult. The only remedy for this is to endeavour, at least 
for a time, to supply it solely with such food as it is used to in 
a natural state. 
The pip is another malady that frequently attacks the tit- * 
lark. This may be known by a tiny whitish bladder, which 
forms above the vent of the bird, and may easily be seen by 
blowing the feathers aside. To cure it, prick the bladder with 
a needle first dipped in pure salad oil ; afterwards anoint the 
place with fresh butter. 
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