The Sky Lark. Alanda Vulgari*.
Numb. XLI.
ITS Weight is one Ounce eleven Drams, Length from the End o f the Bill to the End
of the Tail, léven Inches and one half; Breadth, one Foot two Inches; the Bill front
the Tip to the Angles of its Mouth, was three Quarters of an Inch long, the upper Mandible
blackilh, inclining to a Horn Colour, the lower commonly whitilh, the Tongue cloven,
broad and hard, the Noftrils round. It fometimes ruffles up the Feathers of it»
Head, almoft in Falhion of a Creft. A cinereous Ring or Crown encompaflés the hind Part
of the Head from Eye to Eye, but more fordid, and lefs confpicuous than in the Wood1-
Lark. The Head is o f a teftaceous redilh Alh Colour, the middle Parts of the Feathers
being black. The Back is of the fame Colour with the Head, the Chin whitilh, the
Throat yellow, with brown Spots; the Sides of a redilh yellow Colour. Each Wing hath
eighteen quill Feathers ; of thefe all betwixt the fixth and feventeenth have blunt, indented,
white Tips. The Edges of the four or five outermolt are white, thofe next the Body
cinereous, the reft redilh.
The Tail is three Inches long, confifting of twelve Feathers, of which the outermoft ore
each Side hath both its upper half, and alfo the exterior Web of the lower white. The:
next to this hath only its outer Web white, the inner being black: the three following
on each Side are black, the two middlemoft are iharp pointed; of which that which lies un-
dermoft when the Tail is ihut, hath Alh coloured Edges: that which covers it, lying, up-
permoft, towards the Tip, is cinereous, towards the Bottom blackilh. The Feet and
Legs are dulky, the Claws black, with white Tips ; the outer Toe grows to the middle
below, as in other fmall Birds. The Liver is divided into two Lobes, the Left much lefs
than the Right, that thefe may be Room for the Gizzard, which is more fleffly and large
in this Bird than is ufually in Birds of this Bigncfs.
The Flelh is very fweet and delicate ; in mild Winters it feeds itfelf very fat. It build's
on the Ground, and lays four or five Eggs, and makes its Neft of dry Herbs and Strings
or Bents of Grafs, and breeds thrice a Year, in May, Ju ly , and Augujt, rearing the young,
very foon. The young Neftlings are brought up with Sheep’s Heart and Egg chopt together,
till they are about three Weeks old ; and when, they begin to feed, themíélves,
give them Oatmeal Grits, Hempfeed, and Bread mixt with a little boil’d. Egg, or Wheat,.
Oatmeal and Millet, and you muft obferve to give- them Sand, mixed with a little Hay-
Seed in the Bottom of the Cage, being what they delight in moft; as alfo, a frefli Turf
once or twice a Week, placing it in a Dilh of Water to preferve k frelh. Their Caga
muft be large, and without Pearches.
The Cock is diftinguilhed from the Hen, by his long Heel,, which reaches beyond his
Knee ; and having two black Spots on his Neck, one on each Side, like unto. a. Ring or
Collar; hisBreaft darker and morefpeckled with black, and a groffer Body.
Thole Birds you intend to keep for Singing, arebeft when taken in OBober and'November^
and then they ling a little after Chrijlmas ; you muft chulé-the ftreighteft, largeft, and.
loftieft Bird, and he that hath the moft white in his Tail, which are the ufual Marks of a
Cock. If he is wild and buckilh, tie his Wings for two or three Weeks, till he become tame,
and more- acquainted with you, then untie his Wings, letting him- hang in the lime Place
he did before, feeding him with white Oats, Bread, and Hempfeed; and when he begins
to ling, give him a hard Egg, Sheep’s Heart, or a little boil’d Mutton at Veal lliread fmall,
forbearing to give him any Salt Meat,, or Bread that is any thing fait, which is pernicious
to all Birds. _ Tfe