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Birds, always arranging tlie aviaries as near to nature as 

 possible. Of course tlie hen bird is the one to be con- 

 sidered. 



Procure the birds when branchers, and turn them 

 into tlie aviaries in pairs at once, so that they may 

 get strength to withstand the winter. When spring 

 arrives make a nest in the following way : Take one of 

 the ordinary china nests, and drill half-a-dozen holes 

 around the rim, line it with thick saddler's felt, (sewing 

 the felt tight to the nest, and gluing the edge of the felt 

 tight to the rim), then thread short pieces of string 

 through each of holes previously drilled, and tie it in a 

 suitable place on the tre^ or shrub in the aviary. You 

 may be certain that, if the pair build, they will build in 

 that nest. This nest has a great many advantages over 

 letting the birds build their own — the eggs will not fall 

 out through the nest being badly built, and if the birds 

 are too lazy to build the felt will protect the eggs. 



As to feeding, we must try and give as much variety 

 as we are able. I keep Pheasants in nn* aviaries, so my 

 birds get the Pheasants' food to pick over. In their seed 

 hoppers, which hold enough seed for a week, they have 

 canary, hemp, and German rape, as staple food ; and in the 

 breeding season I give fresh ants' eggs. In addition, the}' 

 liave as large a supply of greenstufFand wildseeding plants 

 «s can be found for them. Of course the aviaries must 

 be laid down in grass, for the birds get a great amount of 

 insect life from it. If shelter is wanted in the aviaries, 

 to make the birds more private in the breeding season, a 

 good thing to use is alder tree, because it grows quickly 

 and the birds do not destroy it on account of its pungent 

 taste. A good supply of coarse grit must always be at 

 hand, and if you decide to take the risk of letting the 

 British birds bring up their own young, (instead of 

 putting the eggs under feeders), give them egg and bread 

 food, so that they can eat it if they wish to : some will and 

 some will not. With the above treatment and pains- 

 taking care, I have been fairly successful this year, having 

 reared four Linnet-Siskins, nine Linnet-Gieen-fuiches 



