The present interesting species generally arrives in this country about
the middle of March, and leaves it again the latter end of September or
the beginning of October, though I one year saw a pair in Hyde Park as
late as the 17th of November.
In a wild state they are generally to be found on downs and commons, and
in Sussex some hundred dozens are caught annually by the shepherds, who
sell them for the sake of their flesh, which is very delicious,
particularly in autumn, when they become very fat.
This is a very interesting bird in confinement, and is almost
continually singing; it will also sing by night as well as by day, if
there is a light in the room where it is kept; it has a very pleasant,
variable, and agreeable song, different from all other birds, which, in
confinement, it continues all the winter. When a pair of them are kept
together in a large cage or aviary, it is very amusing to see them at
play with each other, flying up and down, and spreading open their long
wings in a curious manner, dancing and singing at the same time. I have
very little doubt but a young bird, brought up from the nest, might be
taught to talk, as they are very imitative.
When wild the present species feeds entirely on insects, so that the
more it has given it when in confinement, the better. There are very few
sorts of insects that it will refuse, except the common earth-worm;
small beetles, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, most sorts of
caterpillars, butterflies, moths, earwigs, woodlice, the common maggots,
and almost all other sorts of insects it is very fond of, and the more
that is given it, the finer will be its song. Its common food is bruised
hemp-seed and bread, intermixed with fresh, raw, lean meat; also a
little of the yolk of an egg boiled hard occasionally for a change.