Parrakekts. 35 



to the bottom of the trench and then turned outwards at right 

 angles to the width of the trench, and the soil filled in and 

 rammed. With this protection, providing there are no old drains 

 below the site, the aviary nia}' be regarded as safe. 



Wakming. 



If only the hardy species of Parrakeets are to be kept, and 

 these introduced during warm weather, it will be unnecessary to 

 provide artificial warmth during the winter months, providing 

 the aviary is in a sheltered position and has been properly con- 

 structed. As a rule, however, the amateur is not content to keep 

 only the hardy kinds, but wishes to keep those from such habitats 

 as the Northern parts of Australia or Tropical America, and this 

 being so it is necessary to provide artificial warmth during the 

 English winter. For newly-imported birds also, some slight 

 warmth is necessary until they become acclimatised, even though 

 they belong to species whichare quite indifferent to cold when once 

 established. It is, therefore, desirable that an efficient warming 

 plant be included in the specification of an aviary for Parrakeets. 



If the aviary is divided into several compartments it would 

 be a good plan to be able to warm say half, that is, there would 

 be three of the inner portions warmed in an aviary of six com- 

 partments. 



Regarding the type of apparatus most suitable. Hot- 

 water pipes, heated by a coke or anthracite boiler provide the 

 most economical and safest means of warming. A row of two 

 four-inch pipes, one the flow and the other the return pipe, 

 should be found quite sufficient. The boiler should be outside 

 the aviary, in a small shed at one end, where it can be stoked at 

 night without disturbing the inmates of the aviary. If possible 

 the pipes .should run along the front of the building, just below 

 the doors into the flight, or the flow pipe may be carried above 

 the doorways and the return below them. The pipes should be 

 protected by a removable wire-netting guard. 



There are many good boilers on the market. The present 

 writer used a "Horseshoe" boiler, which was quite successful, 

 but there are others equally good. One word of advice regard- 

 ing the boiler may be added, namely, that it is false economy 

 to have a very small boiler, as in order to properly warm the 



