A CANARY MKKKDhK AMJ SOMK UF 

 Mr. J. rrcnf;Sro\X', ot Kishton. in liis Hre 



HIS I lUM'HIHS. 

 :diii;; Ktinm. 



CHAPTER V 



GAGES AND CAGli-M AMNG 



It is quite ])o.ssil)le to go to an extreme ; 

 to build with such strict resjard to the line 

 and |)hniuiict and to conduct our Httlc 

 estahhslimcnt with such |)ainl'ul order and 

 rcgidarity as si'rionsly to interfere witli 

 the eomrort ol' the ohjeets under our charge. 

 We iiavc a wliolesoine aversion to the 

 wliolc I'aniily of antimacassars, and tiuy 

 arc a large tribe. \'et we do not wish to 

 be understood as objecting to a well- 

 ordered J)reeding-r()oTn — anything but that ; 

 it is only l''rench jiolish, and a sort of clock- 

 work niechaiiisni wliich adniils ol' no de\i- 

 ation from a set line, that we object to 

 when they ((l)trudc themselves to the 

 exelusion of llii' eond'orl and well-being of 

 the birds. " Anything will do for a cage." 

 No ; anything will not do for a cage. 

 The anything-will-do system is bad from 

 end to end, and is born of a careless slo\ cn- 

 lincss which goes about with holes in its 



stockings. Tlierc is a fitness in things, and 

 a harmony which satisfies the judgment 

 and pleases the eye as much as Dutch gold 

 and stucco are repellent to it. If there be 

 one ])laee more than another in which we 

 like to see liandsome cages, it is in a work- 

 mg-man"s cottage. They help tt) cover his 

 walls, and am])ly repay any pains bestowed 

 in making them and in keei)ing them clean. 

 In fitting up a breeding-room with cages, 

 s|)ace can sometimes be economised by 

 utilising recesses. Wc refer 

 The Use of ,,, ,]|jj. .|j. l„.],,„yi„y to the 

 Recesses. . ^ 



sphere ol contrivances ; 



and we nrc told that a good contriver is 

 belter than lie lh;d hath a large a])petite. 

 Uecesses are also sometimes available in 

 rooms otlicr than fliosc set ap.'irt for birds, 

 and may e\(n be the imhi a\ailal)le sj)aec 

 at conmiand. They can be adapted to — 

 or rather eonxerled into— cages with little 



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