^fhe So7i7ieberg Aviaries. 33^ 



and the side toward the flight cage being entirely of glass, 

 which is protected by one -half -inch diamond. mesh wire. Nu- 

 merous roof ventilators and the openings for flight allow the 

 free circulation of air that is necessary to offset the heating 

 effect of the large expanse of glass. 



In winter, warmth is provided by hot-water pipes, 

 which encircle the room at a height of about six feet. These 

 are protected by eighteen -inch shelves, which, being covered 

 with sand, form convenient resting places for the birds. The 

 cement floor is carpeted with sand and has in its centre a 

 fountain, the pool of which measures four feet by five. Nest 

 boxes are attached to the walls in convenient positions, and in 

 one of these a single pair of Black-cheeked Love-birds has 

 reared nine young. 



The attached Flying Cage is dome -shaped, the lower 

 portion being covered with one-half inch bar-mesh Avire with 

 the transversals four inches apart, the upper part with one- 

 half-inch diamond -mesh wire. Water is suioplied in a pool 

 twelve feet by five, the depth gradually increasing to sixteen 

 inches. No living trees are included; but hemp, millet and 

 canary plants form a dense mass which it has been necessary 

 to clear in spaces. It has been found best to clip the tips 

 of the hemp before the seeds mature, as these might have an 

 injurious effect if eaten too freely by the birds. 



In this miniature jungle, Bob-white and Plumed Quail 

 were nesting, and as the place was disturbed as little as pos- 

 sible, it may be that other nests were hidden in the dense 

 tangle. Small, thick -topped trees are placed at frequent in- 

 tervals; and one of these contained sixteen completed nests 

 of various species of weavers. It may be added, however, 

 that fertile eggs are rarely laid by these over-zealous builders. 



This aviary and flying cage contained no less than 600 

 of very diverse species. Breeding re^sults have been quite 

 remarkable, when the size of the community is considered, for 

 the following young have been reared to maturity: California 

 Quail, Bar-shouldered Dove, {Geopelia humeralis), Scaly ""Dove, 

 "Wood Duck, Cockateel, Black-faced Love-bird, Undulated Grass 

 Parrakeet, Yellow Grass Parrakeet, SaftYon Finch, Gray Java 

 Sparrow, "White Java Sparrow, Cutthroat Finch, and (Zebra 

 Finch. 



