WELL-ARRANGFD GAGES. SHOWING FITTINGS. 

 A corner of Mr. liarnctts (the noted Crest Breeder) IJ'ird-roora. 



CHAPTER IV 



THE BREEDING-ROOM 



Site and 

 Surroundings. 



Of all matters conncftcd witli l)ir(l-kcep- 

 ing, that of the room, cjiiio, or aviary is 

 generally the lirst to 1)C 

 ronsidered, lor healthiness 

 oi' siirroinuhngs is cer- 

 tainly one of the most impoi'tiint factors 

 of our hohhy. It may be well to state at 

 the outset that pure air is essential, 

 whether the birds l)e kept in a warm, 

 cosy room or in an outdoor aviarv ; 

 and there are eireumstanees which may 

 make either of these general methods 

 advisable. 



A fancier's Canary room should be 

 seleetcd with some amount of care. Any 

 room \\ill not do. though too frequently 

 any room has to do, on the " Ilobson's 

 choice " ])rinciplc. The birds have to 

 spend their lixcs in it, and it is oidv a 



question of eonuuon sense to insist that 

 the conditions under which they live shall 

 be as favoin-able as possible. AVe say 

 " as ])ossible," because a fancier cannot 

 always have everything exactly as he may 

 \vish, l)ut is ol)ligcd to make the best of 

 things as he linds them. It is not every 

 liouse in which there is a spare room, or 

 in which the sjiare room is the most suit- 

 able for the purjKjsc ; Imt an elTort should 

 be made to secure one which has the full 

 benefit of thi' morning sun, Avithout, how- 

 c\cr, being cx])osed to the mid-day heat, 

 which renders the atmosphere of any 

 bird-room \cry uncomfortable. 



]{irds arc the most practical exponents 

 of the " early to bed and early to rise " 

 princi|)le we know of. and it is therefore 

 not well to place them in circumstances 



if* 



