The Endurance of Birds. lOl 



Wherein lies the happy medimn ?. I think I can best do this 

 by a number of short jerky sentences. 

 By keeping the birds hard. 



By an entirely unhealed flight and shelter, yet con- 

 constructed on the night-drive principle. 



If the sub-soil is clay or the soil otherwise very re- 

 tentive (soggy), by securing the best drainage possible — often 

 raising the ground level of the inside of the aviary; six to 

 twelve inches above that of the ground outside, best secures 

 this — best of all, both drain v/ell and also raise the ground 

 level of the aviary. 



By providing plenty of cover, natural in the flight, 

 branches and furze in the shelter — by cover in the shelter. 

 I mean not merely branches for perching accommodation, 

 but a thick hvdge of twiggy branches and furze, not only for 

 perching but f(jr cover (retreats) also; but liiilc driving 

 in at night, will then be needed. 



By personal supervision, not leaving everything to the 

 discretion of the aviary-attendant, but by seeing that what is 

 required is done one's self. Leaving the birds as much free- 

 will as possible, but forcing them to the shelter whenever 

 weather conditions demand it — one is only qualirted to do this 

 by a personal study of the birds, and nothing can compensate 

 for the lack of it. 



To sum up, my present ideal is an unheated aviary, 

 constructed on the "night-drive" principle; the birds, during 

 the winter months to be driven in to the shelter, and conflncd 

 therein whenever their owner considers desirable — the number 

 of species which require more protection than that of four 

 walls is not great. Personal supervision. And, as a last 

 word, the shelter to be adequate must be as well lighted, 

 well ventilated and as free from damp and draught as a living 

 room. 



Again, 1 will say I hope I have not been prosy, I 

 have sought to make myself as clear and helpful as I know 

 how. At the same time I liave not sought to exhaust the 

 subject, lor I earnestly desire others lo lullow nie, 1 am 



