92 Pkacticai, Bird-Kkeping. 



The size of the aviary is not so important an item as many 

 seem to think ; and, personally, I believe that more success is 

 likelj' to be attained by keeping a pair to itself in a large cage 

 than in an aviary with other birds ; a fact I have proved to my 

 own satisfaction over and over again, but if birds are to breed in 

 a cage they must of course be in tip-top condition. The reason 

 for this is fairly obvious : in an aviary thej^ have so many outlets 

 for their energy in flying about, fighting and searching for a 

 suitable site, that much of the vigour that should be expended 

 in breeding becomes dissipated in other directions, besides which 

 the smaller (within limits) the cage or aviary the easier it be- 

 comes to give each bird individual attention and keep up his 

 condition. 



The next important point is quiet or seclusion. Many 

 species will not nest unless they feel secure from their enemies, 

 and, consequenth', before the nesting season the breeding quarters 

 should be thoroughly overhauled, and all mice, rats and especially 

 cats, should be kept well away. There is nothing more disturb- 

 ing to birds than the nightly patroling of their premises by cats, 

 and this of itself is quite sufficient to prevent many species from 

 attempting to nest. 



We must now consider the furnishing of the aviary, and 

 as a preliminary should read up as much as possible of the birds' 

 habits when wild and try to imitate them fairly closely. In most 

 cases of cotirse an exact replica is impossible, and, therefore, 

 more success is likely to be obtained by studying the essentials 

 rather than the details. For instance, with species that nest high 

 up in trees the essential point is that the nest is placed well away 

 from the ground, and a nest-box attached to the roof of the aviary 

 is more likely to be appreciated than one lower down or on a 

 tree. A Kingfisher that breeds in a hole in a bank overhanging 

 water would take equally readil}^ to a box on the wall provided it 

 went in far enough from the entrance — the water would not be 

 essential. Each nesting-place should be arranged so that it may 

 be easily defended, and there should be very few perches near it, 

 only just sufficient in fact for the needs of the nesting pair, for if 

 other birds are able to settle near the nest it will probably be 

 deserted or the young destroyed. For those species which nest 



