90 



CANARIES, HYBRIDS, AND BRITISH BIRDS 



be effected in material. Tlie hiyliest point 

 of tlie roof should f)e kept sonic six or nine 

 inclics l)e!ow tlic top of tlic wall. ]}y tliis 

 means tlie work can be made more comj)icte, 

 while the edge of the roof which joins the 

 wall can be made more waterproof than if 

 it were taken up to the level of the toj) of 

 the wall. A little cement well mixed witii 

 sharp sand placed along this line will secure 

 this result. As an alternative the roof can 

 be taken up a little above the wall, so that 

 the back-edge can be covered with .1 stri|) 

 of sheet zinc and thus made dam])-proof. 

 The dooi's and other arrangements can be 

 made on the same lines as those for other 

 aviaries. 



It will be seen by the illustration that 

 this aviary has a covered-in house for 

 sleeping and breeding quarters, wliich is 

 made nice and light ]i\' means of a sky- 

 light in the roof. This arrangement would 

 naturally encourage the birds to take up 

 their nesting sites in this secluded s])()t 

 during the breeding season. The wood- 

 work of the roof can l)e covered with tarred 

 felt, corrugated iron, or sheet zinc : of the 

 two latter the zinc would make by far the 

 neatest job. as it can l)c made to fit closely 

 round I he glass skylight. It is. of course, 

 not alisolulely necessary to have the glass 

 skylight. A small window fitted in the 

 side would answer the purpose so far as 

 light is concerni-d. and would be easier fni- 

 the amateur to construct, hut it would not 

 ail'ortl so iiuicli light. 'I'lic doorwav into 

 the sleejiing (luartcrs of this a\iai-\ opens 

 into the flight, and this llight dilTers some- 

 what from the other cxani|)lcs. The top 

 is coNcrcd ui. .-ind one half of the front 

 and end lia\c glass windows, with the lowi'r 

 half closely boarded. These windows are 

 made lo o|i(ii outwards, like (tasemcnt 

 windows, with .-i closely 111 ting I'ranic of 

 fine wircwnrk inside, so that in I he 

 summer-time the glass windows can cither 

 be renioNcd or lixcil widcK o|)cn night and 

 day. In the winter llic\ can be kc|)l 

 olosetl. Willi the prill eel inn I Inis a ITordcd 

 many birds can he kept in this a\iar\- 

 during the winter which it would not he 

 advisable lo attempt lo retain in one of 



the more exposed flights. The top of this 

 aviary has to be co\ered as shown -the 

 zinc-, corrugated iron or felt fitting closely 

 round the skylight, the end glasswork 

 made all alike, and the door built just 

 one half of the end. 



On ])age 91 is an illustration of a charm- 

 ing aviary on a large scale in the grounds of 

 that well-known ladv avicul- 



A Model 

 Aviary. 



turist, Miss R. Alderseii. The 

 flight has a glass roof, and 

 runs olT flat at the front; to ]irevcnt the 

 birds injui'ing their heads shoidd they 

 fl_\' up against the roof, it has an inner 

 lining of " strainering "" stretched lightly 

 across an inch or two below the glass. This 

 " strainering "" is a transparent material 

 which jjractically obstructs no light, and 

 does not injure the lairds when they lly 

 against it. This large flight and covered- 

 in shelter or house are divided ofT into 

 sections -the flight b>' means of fine-mesh 

 wire netting jiartitions. In these compart- 

 ments groups of the dilTcrcnt birds can be 

 kept together, and allowed ])lenty of space, 

 both for shelter and llight. There is no 

 need for us to go into details of this aviary 

 as the illustration plainly shows its con- 

 struction. 



The site selected for this aviary is. how- 

 ever, worthy of a note, as it clearly I'cveals 

 the careful thought that has been given 

 to the welfare of the birds. The a\iary is 

 surrounded by trees, and so arranged that 

 while the trees do not ohslruct the light, 

 tlie\- alTord jirotection and shade, and 

 thus assist to keep the a\iary cool during 

 the summer weather, and in the winter 

 alTord protection against I he licrce winds. 

 In such an a\iary little or no dilliculty 

 would be experienced in gelling the slirul)s 

 to grow inside the wirework of the 

 llight. 



'I'o all, Iheri'fore. who desire an all tln- 

 \car roinid pleasure, .-ind lia\c the laeililies 

 wliert'with to eari'\ it out. we sa\ set up 

 an outdoor a\iai'y and kvv\> il well- but 

 not over-stocked. 'I"he lime spent in look- 

 ing alter the needs of the oeenpaiils is well 

 rewarded by the lessons k'arut and pleasure 

 jfaineil. 



