many yeas and nays, the pleasant anticipations indulged 

 in, when the nest is at last finished, and the eggs are laid. 



Has not nearly every bird keeper experienced these 

 qniet though none the less happy feelings, and with what 

 genuine delight does he welcome the advent of the 

 young lives thus given into his care ? It is a moot point 

 whether the parents or their owner is the more proud of 

 the wee helpless mites, whose very weakness is a security 

 for their welfare. 



No matter how spacious our aviary may be, we must 

 always bear in mind that we are depriving our birds of 

 their liberty, and in return for taking this precious 

 possession from them, a possession for which men have 

 fought from time immemorial, we ought to use all the 

 means in our power to see that at least they want for 

 nothing in other respects. Clean and varied food, plenty 

 of fresh water for drinking and bathing purposes (the 

 latter not too deep, for I have known birds to be 

 drowned), gravel strewn over the floor with a liberal 

 hand, suitable perches, little swings, and hanging 

 branches — all these not only tend to brighten their 

 lives, but also to lengthen them, for it is reasonable to 

 suppose that the vital power is sustained and increased 

 by natural and cheerful surroundings. 



Study your birds' comfort as you would your own- 

 aye more, for you are the guardian of all the little lives 

 in your aviary ; lives which are as precious to tkem, as 

 are our own to ourselves. And if at any time, or 

 through any cawse, we may be apt to be careless of their 

 well-be»ing, let us think of those beautiful lines : — 



Hold ! Hold ! 

 We cannot give the life we take, 

 Nor reunite the heart we break. 



And remember it is as easy to deprive our pets of life by 

 neglect, as it is to take it by force. 



J. A. SwxN. - 



