THE WOODLARK. 
yellowest complexion are the males. They should be put in 
a small box or basket with hay at the bottom, and covered 
over with wadding or flannel. For a few days they should be 
regularly and moderately fed on ants’ eggs mixed with white 
bread that has been scalded with milk. After that, the directions 
already given respecting the skylark should be exactly followed. 
At the beginning of September old birds as well as branchers 
may be taken by the “ hair-noose,” and with other traps such 
as are used to snare the skylark. I have heard of the woodlark 
being taken through a female decoy, her wings being tied, and a 
limed twig fastened to her back. Thus equipped, she is set to 
run about a place where woodlarks abound, and the gallant male 
woodlark in paying his court to the strange female, gets caught 
for his pains. Whether or no this snare is efficacious I cannot 
say, never having had the heart to test it. 
When the newly-caught old birds are caged, they should be 
fed for a few days on poppy-seed and ants’ eggs. At first he 
will be very shy, — so shy, indeed, that if his food is not imme- 
diately beneath his nose, he will mope in a corner till he starves 
to death, therefore, do not at first put his victuals in the seed- 
box, but strew it over the bottom of the cage. Some birds will 
recover their courage in a few days, and then the food can be 
put in the glass in the usual way. Others, on the contrary, 
are so obstinate and sulky that they will not eat in your pre- 
sence for months. Watch them through the keyhole of the 
door, and you see them pecking away in the most homely way ; 
but as soon as you enter, back they shuffle to a distant corner, 
and regard you defiantly. However, it is a maxim among bird- 
fanciers that the more self-willed a bird is at first, the better 
songster he will turn out. 
The woodlark’s cage should be exactly similar to that already 
described as proper for the skylark. 
How to Feed the Woodlark. — He is the most dainty feeder 
of the lark tribe. When his appetite is good, rape and poppy- 
seed, or even oats, will satisfy him, provided you do not stint 
him of green food and insects ; but when his stomach is out of 
order, he must have some dainty, — a few nice mealworms, a 
little roasted bullock’s heart, some new-laid ants’ eggs, or 
some bruised hemp-seed. The following paste will always 
please the woodlark in his daintiest moods : — Soak part of the 
crust of a French roll in cold water for half an hour, squeeze 
it dry, put it in a basin, and add to it half a teaspoonful of 
brown sugar, an ounce of carrot finely grated, and three 
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