and Aviaries 199 



with one stone, for both plants and baby waxbills 

 benefited. 



Such minute specimens of bird life would not be 

 in the least harmful to flowers in any way, and flitting 

 amongst palms and bamboos would add greatly to the 

 charm of a well-arranged winter garden. 



The orange-cheeked and grey waxbills are smaller 

 than golden-crested wrens, and beautifully neat and 

 compact in their plumage. 



They are quite cheap and common in the bird- 

 dealers' shops, but none the less beautiful for that. 



And the little Indian avadavats, too ; the male bird 

 rich red, speckled over with seed pearls, and the 

 female warm brown, and less liberally spotted. 



Then for the outdoor aviary. 



It must be built first. 



If you are opulent, you will probably go to a 

 professional builder of such things, but don't leave 

 the plan to him, for it may run the risk of being 

 unpractical and merely showy. 



Sometimes part of a garden wall is made use of, 

 with the flights in front, facing the flower garden and 

 the roosting-houses on the other side, perhaps in the 

 vicinity of tool and potting sheds. 



A high wall already well grown with creepers is 

 helpful, and doors can be constructed in it, as well as 

 bolt holes as ingress and exits for the birds. 



A good foundation should be laid — which advice is 

 not peculiar to an aviary alone — a foundation of con- 

 crete, which alone will keep out one of the biggest 

 plagues of life — the rats. 



