BIRD NEWS 



a detached structure, or it may be a 

 Can-to, fitted into some already exist- 

 ing corner. Be it wliat it may — witli 

 tlie fundamental principles already 

 observed; with avei'age care bestowed 

 upon the species of birds congregated 

 and attention given to their habits, 

 food and other demands; almost any 

 structure or any arrangement will 

 have a large measure of success. 

 The site is important; possibly in 

 this climate a north or northwest 

 frontage or frontage and ends would 

 suit most localities. A detached 

 building would have sun allround, 

 and would here need only special pro- 

 tection according to the direction of 

 prevailing winds and rain. It is well 

 to note in passing that birds dislike 

 wind, and should be protected from 

 it. Above all, don't place your seed 

 hoppers or feed boxes in the wind, 

 for it is as risky and unpleasant for a 

 bird to eat its spray-millet or German 

 rape, in a wind current, as it is for 

 some bald headed epicure to eat blue 

 points, or cracked crab at a window 

 ledge or ventilator shaft. 



The shed or inclosed portion of the 

 aviary wants to be light, roomy, well- 

 ventilated and free from drafts. Ma- 

 terial, wood, brick or re-inforced con- 

 crete. 



The foundations should be well 

 sunk into the ground and so con- 

 structed that rats, mice, or gophers, 

 cannot gain entrance. If elevated 

 above ground the piers, or posts, 

 should be capped with wire netting, 

 or other metallic cowls, which would 

 prevent vermin climbing up the sup- 

 ports. The elevated house has many 

 advantages, which render it a desir- 

 able class of structure. The floor 

 should be planed boards, grooved and 

 tongued, or else cement finished, and 

 should always have a slight incline 

 in order to run off water when wast- 

 ed. The floor independent of its 

 composition should always be liber- 



ally strewn with dry sea sand (never 

 red or yellow inland sand.) This 

 sand should, of course, be renewed 

 when necessary for sanitary pur- 

 poses. 



Walls- — or sides of the enclosure, 

 even when of wood, should be white 

 washed, smooth finished with no 

 nooks or dark corners to retain dirt 

 or hide vermin. 



The ceiling should be finished as 

 the walls, and with same precautions 

 as to vermin. 



The roof — Slates, tiles, or shingles, 

 as may be possible; but must also 

 be rendered vermin proof; must have 

 no space between ceiling and roof 

 finish. On no account should glass 

 enter into the roof; a green house is 

 good for plants, but very bad for 

 birds, causing sweating, feather drop- 

 ping, and even apoplexy. 



Glazed windows, movable, with 

 wire screens on the inside should 

 l)e placed in the shed; so that 

 abundance of light, sun and air can 

 be admitted at the same time be 

 under the control of the attendant. 



Entrance to shed should be by a 

 door in the rear or side. A most ex- 

 cellent plan for convenience or study 

 is to have a verandah, or closed cor- 

 ridor at the back of the shed, here 

 observation can be made without dis- 

 turbing the birds. This corridor can 

 be formed into a store-room to con- 

 tain seeds, cages and other bird-room 

 "fixins". The door must work upon 

 a spring to prevent being left open; 

 and it must have a bar, or latch on 

 the outside. In addition, inside of 

 the door may be a wire screen, which 

 will serve many useful purposes. The 

 front of the shed, facing the open 

 flight, maybe left entirely open; pro- 

 vided the shed is deep enough to 

 prevent rain from being driven in by 

 the wind. If this is not possible then 

 an overhanging eave, broad enough, 

 must protrude from the edge of the 



