So 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



jirominent, bright ])Osition, so tliat tlic 

 birds have no (hlliculty in finding tlic 

 seed ; not too higli up. but well away 

 from the floor. If it is stood on the floor 

 it is not only likely to become very dusty 

 and (Urty, but should there be any mice 

 about it is they and not tlie birds wlio 

 would feast on the seed. 



Three or four of these self-supplying ho))- 

 pers should hang in different parts of the 

 aviarv if it is a large one and contains a 

 good number of occupants. Tiie seeds 

 which are given in small cpiantities as tit- 

 bits may be placed in a small earthenware 

 vessel such as is illustrated among the 

 breeding-cage utensils {see page 69). The 

 earthenware vessel used for the sand in 

 cages mav likewise be brought into use. 



Water, i)lenty of it, fresh and clear, 



can be supplied from a large fountain, an 



ilhistration of which is here 



Water= given. It is simply a glass 



'^^^^^'^^ alobe with a long "neck in- 



and Baths. '^ 



verted m an earthenware i)ot 



open at tlie top. and furnished near the 

 bottom with apertures, the lower edges of 

 which are slightly liiglier 

 than the bottom of the 

 glass neck. Smaller edi- 

 tions maj' be placed on 

 suitable brackets, the only 

 thing required being that 

 there shall l)e some kind 

 of ]>crch or other restiug- 

 |)lace from wliicli the birds 

 can lia\e free access to the 

 water-holes. Let it be 

 boi'iic in mind Ihal though a bird's instinct 

 leads it to huild its nest, to look for food and 

 water, and to be in many resi)ects of a \vvy 

 inciuisitivc character, il has no intuition 

 which teaches it Ihal water exists for il, 

 not in hrociks or pools, hut in ;i glass globe 

 inverted in an eaii luuwarc put which ma\' 

 look to tlie bird as much like an (iiLiine of 

 war as anything else, i\Iany Canaries. 

 when changed from one cage to anotlici' 

 and i'e(|uired to put their heads throni;li a 

 hole into a formidable-looking eovei'ed-in 

 rccc|)tacle in search of what they had been 

 accustomed to (iud in an open vessel, 



OKINKINC; FOUN 

 TAIN. 



have never foimd their water, and have 

 died before the matter coidd be renieched. 

 It, is therefore necessary, in using covered- 

 in vessels in the aviary, to see that young 

 birds and new-comers find their Avay to 

 them ; a " general management " hint, 

 but not f>ut of place. 



The drinking fountain illustrated has 

 an advantage over the conical drinking- 

 vcssel with a lip. as the glass globe can 

 be lifted out of the earthenware jar and 

 thoroughly cleaned, likewise the inside of 

 the jar. Water kee])s nuieh cleaner in a 

 jar of this description with apertures 

 through which the birds can })ut their 

 heads to drink tlian in vessels made with 

 the lip, which catch nmeh dirt, and even 

 the droppings from the birds, 



A bath is the last requisite, and nothing 

 is more suitable for the ))urpose than a 

 large shallow dish, which should be intro- 

 duced every day k)V an hour or two. If 

 this be done before sweeping-up time, 

 there will not be much dust. There is no 

 danger in lea\ing a bath in the room 

 constantly, pro\i(Icd the water l)e not more 

 than one or two inches deep : l)ut not nuich 

 is gained by it. because unless nearly all the 

 birds bathe at the same time, those which 

 are not in the humour to do so while the 

 water is clean will not bathe alter it has 

 become soiled. Familiarity with the bath 

 also seems to do away with the desire to 

 use it ; whereas, if it be introduced only 

 for a short time during the day, the birds 

 splash into it '" head over ears "" almost 

 before it can l)e |)laced on the ground. 



On ))age SI we illustrate a room which 



is fitted n[i in a much sim|)k'r maimer for 



the successful kecjiing and 



A Simpler ]„.eedinii' of cauc-birds living 

 Aviary. . • 



together m grou|is. liiough 



it lacks the cla.boration of I he high-class 

 indoor aviary, birds can be kept and bred 

 successfully iiiuler these i)Iainer conditions 

 if Ihc room l)c not overcrowded — a reserva- 

 tion lo lie borne in mind under any con- 

 ditions. In lifting u]) siicHi a room all that 

 is necessary is first to distemper the walls 

 and ceiling, and then arrangx' the neees- 

 sai\' tittiuiis which are to make the room 



