20 Early Experiences. 



and a.5 memory is still green as regards those early days 

 I shall try and recall some of them, and also include others 

 so that my readers need not experience some of the failures 

 which fell to my lot. 



Usually, when we have wise parents, one is not over- 

 burdened wi'th that necessary adjunct, " coin of the realm,"' 

 but again the wise parent will usually aid the youthful ex- 

 chequer, to any reasonable extent, for what they think is not 

 merely a passing whim; but (whatever the difficulties in this 

 respect^ youthful zeal, energy, and industry usually does and 

 can surmount them. 



My very early experiences were those gained from 

 grocer's "empties" converted into cages by own handiwork — 

 this takes me back for a longer period than I now care 

 to unduly think about, and I shall not refer to them, save to 

 remark that they were fruitful in experience as to how to trap 

 and keep my captures, which were further aided, as my bent 

 was observed,' by birthday and seasonable gifts of such books 

 as then existed dealing with bird-keeping and money to h_'lp 

 in my projects — with the writer his " fancy " has never wavered 

 and his zeal is as keen, perhaps keener than it was over 

 forty years ago — fhere now, I have " let the cat out oT the 

 bag," well it does not matter, there's nothing to be ashamed 

 about in that fact. 



Rightly or wrongly I do not propose to make an 

 earlier beginning than for those who are well into their 

 "teens," and who are fairly handy with saw, hammer cUid 

 chisel, willing to do a little thinking for themselves, and avail 

 themselves of any help that comes their way. To clear the 

 way and save words I will here remark that all my earlier 

 aviarie"^ were self erected, aided by the help of parents and 

 other &i the family — for those very fortiinatelv placed a 

 little of one'" oest behaviour and the denying one's-self of the 

 pleasure of youthful pranks, will secure much valuable help 

 from gardener, os .er, etc., enough! 



( To be continued) . 



