76 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



The most unaccountable accidents ironi 

 the most inijirobablc causes will hap]K-n at 

 the best of times, and it certainly behoves 

 us to use every precaution against them. 

 There is no excuse for leaving water-jugs 

 and similar traps standing about. The 

 bird has no intention of committing suicide, 

 yet it finds its way into the jug and cannot 

 find its way out. This and many other 

 misadventures have happened to our know- 

 ledge, and we are anxious to save others 

 the pain and vexation they cause, for if 

 an accident docs occur it is usually to one 

 of the best birds or a particular favourite. 



In addition to the firs, trees and shrubs 

 of various tints of foliage, may be used, 

 for they not only give a set-off to the birds, 

 but a pleasing effect to their surroimdings. 

 Ferns, too, may be introduced, and so may 

 many of our flowering pot-plants, hung in 

 wire baskets at various heights and 

 positions, or from brackets at the sides. 



A few fantastically-shaped branches 



(from which all loose bark must be removed, 



for reasons which will here- 



The alter appear) mav be arranged 



^r"r''°K i" i-^'^tic fashion", and anv old 



of Perches. 



gnarled stumps or roots may 



be utilised in a similar way. The branches 

 are not intended for nesting-places, but 

 only as jjcrches. Nothing is more out of 

 character in a room such as we are describ- 

 ing than long, straight perches : but sub- 

 stitutes nnist be ])rovided. C.inaries are 

 not always on the wing, but will not often 

 visit the lloor. except to feed or on dllicr 

 matters of business. The trees tlieuiselves 

 arc not suitable for ]Hrching on, unless any 

 should have faii'ly substantial hrauches. 

 and some conil'oi'table resting-places must, 

 thereli)rc. be provided. The birds will soon 

 lind these out, .■iiid the (ihjcet ot using tlu' 

 sui)plemenlary i)ranehes is that the whole 

 ma\' look as natural and attractive as 

 ])ossible. II'. ill |)laee of such an arrange- 

 ment, one or more long jjcrches be used, 

 the result will he that the birds will 

 generally be seen sitting in a row, in not 

 very pietnres(iuc lashidii, on the to]>most 

 bar, to which I hey will also inunediately 

 retreat when anyone enters the room. 



To ob\iate this, all ledges over doors and 

 windows, nnist be rendered vmteiudjle, 

 and more tempting ])laces offered. The 

 l)ir<ls will most certainly please themselves 

 in their selection of favourite resting-places, 

 and the thing is to make their choice 

 comfortable for them and pleasing to oiu- 

 own taste. It takes a great many birds 

 to fill a small room, and a place may ajipear 

 tenantless while a score or two of birds are 

 l>erehed up aloft somewhere out of sight. 



Another commendable arrangement for 

 such aviaries is to ha\e a munber of short 

 perches, about three — but not more than 

 four — inches in length, on which only one 

 bird, or not more than a ]>air can rest, 

 fixed end-ways into the sides of the room 

 at various heights. This is easily done by 

 driving a wooden peg into the wall, and 

 then screwing the end of the perch to it, 

 tight up to the wall. The positions of 

 the ]>crches must be so regulated that the 

 droppings or excreta from the birds resting 

 on the higher ones do not fall on to the 

 backs of those perching on the lower ones. 

 These short perches prevent much fighting, 

 as they keep the birds well distributed 

 about the room. It will be lound that 

 each bird — or pair, as the case may be — 

 will elnim its own ])ereh. and always 

 make for it. 



Ordinary nesting-boxes are out of place 



in a well-furnished aviary, though they 



might be cast in a rustic? 



Nesting mould. The birds will 



Arrangements. 



select then' own nestuig- 



l)laccs in which to l)\iild. and not .1 little 

 annisement will be derived Ironi noticing 

 the ini|>ossiblc corners some will choose. 

 The slightest ])rojection will snlliec for one, 

 and it will spend a great amount of time 

 and lalmur in eonsl met ing its nest imder 

 eircunistanees ol seir-iuii)osed dillieulty. 

 Not unrre(iuently. sonic jilace will he chosen 

 oil wliieli it may seem .■ilinost iiu])ossil)le a 

 nest could rest ; but it will be found that the 

 Canary is not a bad architect, and generally 

 turns out to be the best jmlge of a site. 

 Domesticaticm, however, has impaired this 

 wonderful instinctive faculty, and it will 

 he seen that some will make attempts 



