MANAGEMENT OF CAPTIVE BIRDS. 185 



Of course such an ideal arrangement is often impossible. 

 When there is no room in the compound for an outdoor 

 " flight," a wire-netting bow- window should be made to 

 project from the birds' end of the verandah, if possible, 

 as complete exposure to the elements, when they wish 

 it, is most beneficial for birds. Some Parrots, for instance, 

 will only bathe in the rain. If there is no suitable 

 place in the verandah, but plenty of room in the 

 compound, a small octagonal house should be built 

 outside, and the wire flight arranged round it ; the 

 house should be open on the north side, and its roof 

 well thatched to secure coolness. Or the house may 

 be built against a north wall, and a long wire plant- 

 house put in front of it. But house and flight should 

 always be on a masonry platform three feet high, to 

 exclude damp and vermm. 



The wire-netting also should never be more than an 

 inch in mesh, and for birds smaller than a Pigeon half- inch 

 mesh is necessarv. 



The flight should be turfed and planted with shiubs, 

 which are best in pots. 



Moveable Verandah Cages. 

 These are often called aviaries, but this term is best 

 restricted to the fixed structures described above. Cages 

 like these are very convenient, and birds of a Sparrow's 

 size or less live very well in them. They are generally, 

 however, made far too small. They should never be less 

 than three feet every way, and should always be support- 

 ed on legs three feet high. The roof should be ■ abled or 



